Macy Gray – On How Life Is

Macy Gray
Artist: Macy Gray
Title: On How Life Is
Label: Epic
Rating: 7/10

Macy Gray has a booming voice. It is as savory and powerful as the many great women’s voices that she claims as her mentors; Billie Holiday is her most obvious influence, but you also get the feeling that Tina Turner and Nina Simone had roles of no less importance in her vocal training. The best thing about Gray is that she wrote every sweet song on this album. Talk about talented. On top of that, she even co-wrote some of the music. We may have stumbled upon a phenomenon.

The words of inspiration on “Do Something” are sure to get you motivated with the repeating line, “Get up and do something/ how will you make it if you never even try?” Gray has no problem getting brutally honest. “Caligula” finds her singing “He wanna fight and make me feel like nothing/ never lovin but we’re always fuckin.” And she never trips on her tongue on the ultra sexual “Sex-o-matic Venus Freak” as she slips and slides through, “When my hands are tied/ 69 positions and/ whip cream all over my skin/ lick you from bottom to roof.”

I have to warn you that “I Try” may trick you into believing that Tina Turner guests on this album, but it just isn’t true. Gray’s vocal versatility is amazing and would be as intimate whether you caught her late one evening singing in a nightclub or you were lying in bed with your eyes closed and only her voice to carry you to sleep. The other thing that will catch you is the great musical backdrop. Tons of samples, synthesizers, and programming serve to do nothing but enhance your Macy Gray experience.

“Still” stands out as one of the catchiest tracks on the record. I just hope her voice isn’t too real for radio. You’ll find no simple pop nonsense here, nothing but straight talk, from the heart and mind of Macy Gray. Be prepared for someone who has more than one hit and a lot of misses. “The Letter” finalizes what is a solid piece of work. If you haven’t experienced Macy Gray, I advise you to check her out immediately.

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