Ms. Gray...Take a Bow
The sophomore album is never an easy obstacle to overcome, especially when the debut album in question is the successful, multi-platinum "On How Life Is" (OHLI). Macy Gray rose to the surface of a talent pool made up of boy bands, teen temptresses and Seattle leftovers with a sound unlike anything we've ever heard. With a unique sound that is part child, part 2-pack-day-smoker, Ms. Gray knocks our socks off once again.

The first track, "Relating to a Psychopath" could just as easily fit on Beck's "Odelay" as it does on "The Id". It's a psychedelic rock and R&B jam that sets the entire mood for the cd. "Sexual Revolution" is a 60's song for a millennium crowd--sassy, sexy and completely groove-worthy. The stand out "Sweet Baby," featuring Erykah Badu is reminiscent of Gray's first album, but with much richer orchestration. "Gimme All Your Lovin...," although lyrically disturbing, is such an incredible song musically, that you can overlook the rather morbid lyrics. "Don't Come Around" is a jazzy blues ballad in which you can't help but hear Aretha's influence. "Freak Like Me" and "Harry" are the album's guilty pleasures--pop songs that are so well produced that you forget that they're pop songs. And finally, one of my personal favorites, "Forgiveness," which is smooth like butter and an all-around beautiful song. I only wish that it ended the album.

There are a few "odd" choices, for lack of a better word. I could definitely do without "Hey Young World," even though it's cool to see Macy do a song with Slick Rick. The other complete Miss is the freaky "Oblivion," which is part Cabaret, part Fiddler on the Roof and part Carnival Sideshow. It honestly has no place on this otherwise flawless album, and takes my rating down to 4 stars.

Buy this cd with an open mind and don't expect to hear a boring carbon copy of "On How Life Is" or you'll be disappointed. "The Id" stands on it's own as a unique and worthwhile sophomore effort. Miss Gray...Take a bow.

Hot on the heels of 'On How Life Is' comes Macy Gray's 2nd album, 'The Id'. And like its predecessor, this album is an impressive mix of catchy melodies, freaky lyrics and Macy's unique voice.

While there really isn't anything that screams MASSIVE HIT like I Try did, there are a large number of standout tracks on the disc, with a good blend of mid and uptempo songs. The highlights on the album include the somewhat rock-y 'Relating to a Psychopath', the jaunty and fun 'Sexual Revolution' and the tender 'Sweet Baby'. However my favourite track is definitely the bizaare circus/carnival tune that is 'Oblivion', which includes sparkling lyrical gems like 'I eat my marimbas' and 'I tingle when I sing/Bling bling bling ting ting ting'.

I could have done without the instrumental 'Blowin' Up Your Speakers' though, which threatens to do just that with its weird cacophony of noises.

However, on the whole, this is a great album and is definitely worth spending your money on.

Though Macy Gray's public image may cause many to believe she is a little wacky, in her newest album, "The Id," she reaffirms what is going on inside of her head.

With this new music, Gray admits to being a "psychopath," but she remains unafraid to "express what is taboo" in her.
By delving into her own instinctual subconscious, Gray has created an album filled with records that stretch her talents as an artist. Each track is not only funky and original but also enjoyable individually.

Gray's debut album, "On How Life Is," established her as a leader of the soul singer revival, but since then the industry has seen an influx of youthful, soulful singer/songwriters.
With this new album, Gray shows why she still rules the genre.
She experiments with inventive beats and explicit lyrics, composing each song with accuracy, while demonstrating a skill that is a cut above the others.

She expresses in songs "Gimme All You Lovin' or I Will Kill You," and "My Nutmeg Phantasy" why the title of her album suits her Freudian indulgences.

Gray sings: "It's amazing what a gun to the head can do/My baby loves me now as hard as he can/My methods may be suspect/But you gotta get love however you can!" She fills the tracks with brassy horns, organs and other orchestrations, creating a new sound in her music.

With each song composed uniquely separate from the rest, Gray seems, at times, as though she is allowing the album to go somewhere it does not belong, but then she pulls it back to its center with a simple lyrical phrase.

In the disco inspired "Sexual Revolution," she sings: "Everybody break it/Every rule, constriction/My papa told me to be home by now/but my party has just begun."
T
he track "Sweet Baby" proves again that she has an extensive ability to write ballads. Erykah Badu sings back up on this record, but Gray is the spotlight singer as she wails, "Sweet, sweet baby/life is crazy/but there's one thing I am sure of/that I'm your lady/always baby/and I'll love you now and ever."

"The Id" showcases Gray's carefree and optimistic perspectives on life and love, and many of the songs are steeped in free love sensibilities.

Gray's voice may not suit everyone's liking, but her introspective lyrics and musical ability should be appreciated for their individuality in an industry that is oversaturated with manufactured sounds and voices.

Macy Gray did more than just avoid the sophomore jinx she went in a totaly different direction! The Id has to be the most complex and musically focused album of the year so far! The main talent Gray has in her favor is her voice. Raspy, untamed and soulfull Gray's voice is like Billy Holliday's after the worst breakup of her life! The soul in Gray's voice is almost unmatched by any other vocalist in her genre save Badu, Stone, and Arie! The album flows in such an easy on uncontrolled atmosphere that she covers every disapointment from love to therapy. The tracks "Sweet Baby" and "Relating To A Psychopath" are the standouts from an excellent disc. If you don't like her voice you should buy the disc and try to fall for it or you have missed some of the best R&B of the past few decades. With her passion fueled freshman disc and her mind numbing follow up Gray has built a library that is already bound for history.

Let's get past Macy's gravelly voice and eccentric behavior...once you're able to put that aside, you will realize that Macy Gray, the artist and songwriter, is incredibly talented. Remember, even when Billie Holiday sounded her worst, she was at her best, and the same goes for Macy!!

This CD, THE ID, once again features wonderfully tight, eclectic material as Macy's first CD ON HOW LIFE IS did. She is able to blend all types of music (funk, soul, blues, rock, folk, jazz, reggae) into something really refreshing. Other R&B acts could learn a lot from Macy's diversity instead of sticking with the same old tired beats and samples. There is more of a concentration on old school R&B mixed with funk and rock than was present on the previous CD. Also featured are the outstanding background vocal assistance of fellow neo-soul sistas Angie Stone (teamed up with hip-hop artist Mos Def on "My Nutmeg Phantasy"), Erykah Badu (the first single from the CD, "Sweet Baby", even though you have to really listen for Erykah's voice) and Sunshine Anderson ("Don't Come Around", sort of the kind of slow jam that Prince would do in his hey day) on several cuts and even does a decent reworking of Slick Rick's hip-hop classic "Hey Young World (Part II)". Rick also makes a guest appearance on that song.

Just like the tune "I've Committed Murder" from ON HOW LIFE IS raised a few eyebrows with its subject matter, so will the deliciously funky but dangerous "Give Me All Your Lovin' Or I Will Kill You". Equally good is the disco-inspired "Sexual Revolution". The hidden track "Shed" uses an old Pointer Sisters bassline (from "Yes We Can Can") that will definitely get you up and moving. In truth, just about everything here is superb. The only track that could have been left out was the instrumental "Blowin' Up Your Speakers", which isn't music at all, just a lot of feedback coming through your speakers. But if you liked Macy's first CD, I guarantee that you will love this one as well. A must have.