I've only recently gotten on an Annie Lennox kick and about the time I was becoming interested in her music her new CD comes out. It's fate I tell ya...

Anyway...what a sophisticated and brilliant work this is. From the liner notes (on the back cover so even if someone wasn't to buy the album they could still read Annie's words to her fans) which are compelling and honest to the pulsing beats and haunting vocals, this is a CD I won't be without for a long time.

Again about the notes on the back cover. In several short sentences she welcomes listeners new and old. Discussing her motivations from everything from lyrics to an in-depth explanation of the cover...it's clear this is an artist to be reckoned with.

I love Pavement Cracks (what a hook that song has), Bitter Pill, and Honesty. All the songs are easy on the ear and not only leave you humming the tune but also missing every minute you are away from them.

Throw away your teeny-bopper and boy band CD's, toss your British imports and bootlegs...this is THE CD to buy.

It wouldn't be realistic for anybody to claim not to listen to pop music at all. That's what makes it more difficult to produce a masterpiece-album in pop than in any other genre. In this sense , and in many others, Annie's 1992 album "Diva" was a true triumph in adult pop music. With this album she showed us her amazing capacity to blend different musical disciplines (soul , funk , rock , pure pop , electronic...) and an eclectic collection of arrangements; though creating a conceptually rigid album. The album was backed up with perfect production an excellent audio-visual "diva" concept (remember the album sleeve and the Grammy-winner video) which helped the album eventually become a cult artistic collection of words, music and images.
My devotion to "Diva" at first made it difficult for me to believe that she would ever be able to produce an album that good again. Having listened to "Bare", now I have second thoughts. Bare is a collection of beautiful and exquisite music and lyrics. The overall structure is consistent in musical , lyrical and conceptual preferences. "A Thousand Beautiful Things" is one of the best openings I've ever listened to. It's elegant , stylish , complex in vocal arrangements and thereby a perfect sample of what kind of songs we encounter in the rest of the album. "Pavement Cracks" is a catchy , beautiful electro - pop piece in the 80's, particularly Eurythmics style. I think it possesses the spirit to become a classic in the long run. My favourite piece is "The Hurting Time", a hypnotizing , charming ballad which extremely suits Annie's vocal characteristics , enables her and the musicians to improvise and add their emotions to the melodies. The successor to this masterpiece is another source of beauty; "Honestly". Two different but simultaneous lines of wonderful lyrics and melody, superb production and arrangement. This song deserves multiple listenings before coming to a conclusion about it. "Wonderful" is wonderful in its uplifting , stimulating and catchy soul spirit. Great chorus radiates Annie's passion and energy and pulls you deeper into the album. This is just the right moment to encounter "Bitter Pill"; a beautiful mix of soul , pop and dance tunes. "Loneliness" is another triumph in the album, with the best lyrics and an incredibly beautiful mixture of rock and pop sounds. "The Saddest Song I've Got" is classically Annie. Intimate , touching , perfectly performed , hypnotic. Could be a tear jerker. "Erased" is a strong , splendid , eclectic song containing sounds ranging from soul to rock, simple and beautiful synthesizer melodies , powerful drums and superb vocal arrangements. "Twisted" is a warm, charming, catchy pop piece which perfectly lets Annie use her voice in a relatively broad range. Perfect vocal arrangement at the ending. The album is closed with "Oh God", maybe the most intimate, sincere and emotive song of the album. Its sad but beautiful lyrics and Annie's fabulous interpretation (you get the impression that she was crying while singing the song) make you sit and rest for a while before doing anything else.
Human voice to me , is the most beautiful musical istrument. It's technically not capable of operating in an interval of frequencies as large as a piano maybe ; and it's also monophonic, but it's the most natural instrument. It also has the ability to let you express your emotions in the most pure and direct way if you know how to handle it.
Annie Lennox definetely knows how to handle her voice. Her singing style not only fulfills standard technical requirements for her to be considered a qualified singer, but it also enables her to interpret, deform and reform the lyrics she sings. She has a great capacity to put second, third meanings, subtexts between the lines of the lyrics she sings just by using her voice. Actually, I must admit that, I'm in love with this woman's voice. It's the best female voice I know in mainstream music. And in "Bare", she once again showes us that she has no limits in using her voice and producing great pop music.
"Bare" is a brilliant pop album with very high IQ and EQ. A must for every popular music listener.

This is Annie Lennox in her finest hour. Having just recently gone through the painful breakup of my own marriage, when I listen to this album it actually gives me peace. Her lyrics, the music, and her brilliant voice give me strength and hope. The first time I heard it in its entirety, I felt changed. The song "Hurting Time" is haunting, yet it has such a pretty melody, which she sings to perfection. You can really "feel" what Annie is singing about - which is rare in most popular music. She certainly conveys her sadness and anger, but what is most refreshing is that it's not about blaming "him" - it's compassionate and honest. She is truly an amazing artist. I've been a fan for many years, and between her "Diva" album and "Bare," I am getting the healing and inspiration that I need to move on. Some friends have questioned why I would listen to such a sad album...I tell them it's much more than sad - that it's cathartic for me to hear her and that she is courageous for creating something so beautiful out of her loss. It's actually quite uplifting. This CD contains the most meaningful music I've heard in a long time...

One of the best things about Annie Lennox is that her integrity as an artist is unquestioned. She doesn't make records for the money -- she's got enough of that. She hardly makes records at all. When she does deign to return to the studio, it's because she WANTS to, because the muse is calling.

"Bare" is Annie's brilliant return to the music scene. The album features many different musical styles: rock, pop, soul, alternative. But the consistent theme running throughout is that Lennox has been through hell and it's a terrible place, but she's working through it and getting on with life.

The entire record is very strong, with each song leading perfectly into the next. Of course, there are standout tracks. "Loneliness" is my personal favorite. It's as close to a rock anthem as Annie is likely to get, and it's extremely well done, with poignant lyrics, soaring vocals, and insanely catchy hooks.

Another gem is "The Saddest Song I've Got." And, yes, it is very sad. But Lennox's rich, deeply textured alto carries the melody so beautifully, you almost forget you're about to cry.

Speaking of that voice, it sounds even stronger and certainly more mature than ever. Lennox doesn't rely on vocal acrobatics to make a point or prove she's a great singer. Instead she simply sings with passion and conviction, letting her naturally gorgeous voice stand on its own.

"Bare" is a wonderful addition to the Annie Lennox catalogue. Thank you, Annie, for hanging in there. Thanks for sharing your talent and your hopeful spirit with us.

Annie Lennox, though eternally cool, has never been "hip" or "in fashion". As a solo artist, and also with Eurythmics, her appeal has always been outside of the mainstream. Not one to follow trends or shamelessly exploit herself (take note Madonna), Annie makes timeless musical and visual statements that work as well today as they did 20 years ago - and they will work as well 20 years from now, too. Segue to her latest solo project, the stunning "Bare", which re-affirms Annie's place on the world's musical stage, and also cements her status as one of the premier singer-songwriters of the last 20 years. Who would have thought in 1983 that 20 years later, the gorgeous woman with the orange buzz cut would be considered one of rock music's most talented and respected artists (and an Oscar winner to boot)? If you're the type of person who appreciates intelligent, thoughtful, articulate music with a message (and with a brilliant pop sensibility), then "Bare" is the album for you. Also check out Annie's "Diva" and Eurythmics' "Be Yourself Tonight".