Product Description

Seventh solo studio album from sultry Canadian jazz chanteuse, and her first to feature original material - she co-wrote half of the album's songs with husband Elvis Costello. A reaction against her typecasting as a "jazz singer", this also features covers of popular tunes by Joni Mitchell, Mose Allison and Tom Waits, recast in a dark, melancholy, musicallyarticulate style.

Track Listing

1. Stop This World
2. The Girl In The Other Room
3. Temptation
4. Almost Blue
5. I've Changed My Address
6. Love Me Like A Man
7. I'm Pulling Through
8. Black Crow
9. Narrow Daylight
10. Abandoned Masquerade
11. I'm Coming Through
12. Departure Bay
13. I'll Never Be The Same

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #19605 in Music
• Released on: 2004-04-12
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 60 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
In The Girl in the Other Room, singer and pianist Diana Krall changes direction by interpreting modern standards by Tom Waits, Mose Allison and Joni Mitchell, as well as compositions by her and her new husband, Elvis Costello. Krall's jazz piano credentials come through loud and clear on her Count Basie-styled version of Bonnie Raitt's "Love Me Like a Man", but it's the collaborations with her spouse that reveal untapped emotional nuances in her velvet voice; many are reminiscent of Bill Evans's moody, impressionistic pieces. The title track, as well as "Narrow Daylight", "Abandoned Masquerade", and "I'm Coming Through" deals with love and loss. "Departure Bay", a picturesque ode to her hometown of Nanaimo, BC, proves that this is the start of something big, and that two heads--and hearts--are better than one. --Eugene Holley, Jr, Amazon.com

Customer Reviews

It's a grower - give it time, then Oh boy!
I'm a huge fan of DK and I love her treatments of the great jazz ballads but I was ready for something new. I didn't know what to make of this album initially but by the third listening I knew it was going to be one I couldn't live without.
I love singers in their own words; they seem to have a special power and whilst the covers on here are great it's the new songs that stay with you - and stay with you - especially Departure Bay. One of my top ten all time albums.

Unfortunately tuneless
If, like many, you are catching up with DK then you will doubtless be uncertain about this one which uses original material and shows the influence of Elvis Costello. A casual audition suggested that familiarity might be rewarding (her other releases certainly benefit from repeated listening) - but this one only becomes tiresome. Voice and playing up to standard but material not so.
Worthwhile perhaps if you are suicidal and need something to tip you over the edge. Buy cheaply if you must check it out yourself - this will appear regularly in the 'bargain' listings...

Back on track after the shambolic 'Look of Love'
Reading the other reviews of this album I guess people fall into two camps. Those who hated the comercialised, over orchestrated, no piano, souless offering that was 'Look of Love' will love this tighter, more minimal, altogether more satisfying offering. Those who liked having Ms Krall's sexy alto voice swamped with swirling violins will probably hate this album. Even the album photography distinguishes itself from the aforementioned aberation, no strappy stilletos and short skirts here! It would seem that record label executives have finally worked out who she is; a musician not a pop diva.

I cannot express how glad I was to hear this album, with tight stark arrangements of piano, bass and drums occassionally joined by other instruments. Her takes on some "non-jazz" material are refreshing and very enjoyable, and the original material already sounds like classics.

More of the same please!