Grace Jones Hurricane Review; "This is my voice, my weapon of choice"

You old skool Grace Jones lovers will love the new album; it's a return to form. Like Grace says about her own 80's output in an interview, trying to steer away from the term '80s revival'; 'There is some Eighties music that is just timeless.' And that's how it is with this album.

I just listened to it twice now and it just glues itself to my soul easily, which is not a given with me when an artist is out of the picture for such a long time as this; this is Jones' first album in 20 years. Artists I love as much like Kate Bush did not really impress me with their latest effort. But to me the anticipation for this album was as great as Bush' Aerial, but Grace does not dissappoint.


The entire album is grounded in dub and most tracks here are as timeless as her Compass Point material back in the 80's; most songs fit her voice like a glove. My personal immediate stand outs are This Is Life, Corporate Cannibal and Devil In My Life, as they are somewhat more firmer/rougher/daring than the rest of the album.

The rest of the material is more subtle, but able to grasp me just as well, even though in a somewhat other way; some songs you know you just have to listen with headphones on; the many layers in the music, from freaky sounds to violins and squeezed rubber duckie sounds are everywhere.

Even though she stays true to her earlier found style and sound, this does not mean it's a step back; it's a re-afirmation of all the things that make Grace Jones an icon to many. Grace is just Grace. Her voice's limitations are in a way also her plus points; that deep voice that talks, growls and just draws you in.

I am totally in love with this album.

Kewl interview HERE; http://prince.org/msg/8/285527
[Edited 10/15/08 5:37am]

Sounds like it's worth checking out.

Read an interview with Grace that mentioned 2 shelved 1990's albums that I'd not previously been aware of - "Black Marilyn" and "Force of Nature". Anybody got any info on these 2 albums?

I'm on it.

thanks I´d forgotten about this release.

MattUK said:

This is life is pure insanity! I've played it 20 times. It's really intense love!
[Edited 10/14/08 14:04pm]

William's blood is the hybrid industrial/funk track that Bowie never did!

"I've got william's blood in me..."

"LETTTTT MEEEE GGOOOOO!!!! WHOOOOO!"

WTF! The amazing grace finale! FIERCE!!!

Corpotate Cannibal is scary!

It creates impact in the listener.

"And the men...eating machine!"

It's so uncanny that she can have this effect. 3 strong tracks back to back.

so this has been released already?

I'm Crying (Mother's Tears) is very Private life for the next generation in terms of rhythmic paterns...the subject is so diferent. Grace sings about mother and pain.

Is it me of this a personnal song...
[Edited 10/14/08 14:14pm]

SoulAlive said:

Well Well Well is very retro-grace à la Island life!

Song great guitars in it!

Track 5 and I haven't skipped a song.
[Edited 10/14/08 14:17pm]

Hurricaine...the intro is very atmospheric...crickets and other stuff from the wild.

"I am woman...i am son...I can give birth to she...I can give birth to son..."



soft as a brise!


This track is impressive! the beats are insane!
[Edited 10/14/08 14:20pm]

Love You To Life is a nice track. I thought it was maybe the weakest of the set, but it's suprisingly good

The background vocalists are sweet!

"So strange...we are so diferent somehow...."
[Edited 10/14/08 14:27pm]
[Edited 10/14/08 14:27pm]
[Edited 10/14/08 14:29pm]

Sunset Sunrise...i love the bass in this track and the marimba.

"we live together...but we die alone!"

This song wins because of the strong chorus and that motherfucking bass!
[Edited 10/14/08 14:34pm]

Devil In My Life....the intro scares me!

"speak of the devil and it will appear"

The production of this track is so well done. The transitions between the various elements (it's very subdued bohemian raphsody....) are great.
[Edited 10/14/08 14:39pm]

I need it.
[Edited 10/14/08 14:38pm]

Don't make me get over...

Imago

Well...overall this is truly one of the best albums of 2008 and I mean it (not creating hype as I usually do)

9/10

My favorite track is This is life.

this album is kicking my ass.

i've been waiting to hear this all year, and now that i finally got to experience it, i am SO HAPPY that it's not a disappointment.

my favorite part of the album so far is the end of "william's blood" (which is a fantastic song, it reminds me of something from lovesexy), followed by the intro to "corporate cannibal". the juxtaposition of the uplifting, soulful, gospel-sounding "william's blood" melting into the pitch black evil satan darth vader bitch funk of "corporate cannibal" is a thing of sheer beauty.

and i don't know what's going on with the title track, but i like it. i don't know whether to dance or to stop, drop and cover, though.

"let me fly" I love this part!
[Edited 10/14/08 14:51pm]

Is she touring anytime soon in US?

Don't make me get over...

Imago

i consume my consumers
with no sense of humor

Legalized criminal


digital criminal

eat you up like an animal!

I'm Crying (Mother's Tears) is very well written. Grace wasn't been so personnal since...well..ever!

This album wins where Donna Summer's Crayons failed. It's cohesive, it's true grace jones, without being too retro or being to current age. It's a challenging album

MikeMatronik said:

Don't make me get over...

Imago

MikeMatronik said:

Anxiety said:

MikeMatronik said:

This album wins where Donna Summer's Crayons failed. It's cohesive, it's true grace jones, without being too retro or being to current age. It's a challenging album

i think this album wins where madonna's crackety ass failed.

Anxiety said:

MikeMatronik said:

This album wins where Donna Summer's Crayons failed. It's cohesive, it's true grace jones, without being too retro or being to current age. It's a challenging album

i think this album wins where madonna's crackety ass failed.

Don't make me get over...

Imago