So back in November...

[bovil]

...John Barrowman released a new CD, Another Side.

It's difficult to listen to.

Not because it's bad.

Barrowman is a musical theater wonk, and has this glass-clear musical actor's voice. He's done two CDs, one of Cole Porter songs and one of Broadway showtunes. They're pretty good.

This one? It's another cover album. No big surprise there.

It's an album of '70s and '80's pop power ballads.

Lushly orchestrated.

You don't believe me?

Check out this cover of Air Supply's "All Out of Love."

Yep, that's what it's like.

It's not bad, but it's sure strange.

Comments

Re: ???

[bovil.livejournal.com]

That's the whole album in a nutshell. Pretty much the worst hits of the 70's, with a few exceptions.

"Time after Time" isn't bad. "Your Song" is pretty good, but it's a bit Moulin Rouge.

His cover of "You're so Vain" is fabulous, though. Absolutely smashing.

Re: ???

[rmjwell.livejournal.com]

He could've done disco.

The one I thought was the odd duck was his {p;oce cover, Everything You Do Is Magic.

I would love to see him in a Baz Luhrman production, though. Much moreso than Ewen McGregor.

Re: ???

[bovil.livejournal.com]

Every Little Thing She Does is Magic is probably the farthest out there, and the latinesque horn section is just wrong.

On the other hand, if Barrowman is going to cover a rock singer, Sting's lyrics benefit from his clear enunciation.

Re: ???

[rmjwell.livejournal.com]

Good point; maybe JB can do an entire album of "lyrics you never knew."

The singer that Barrowman reminds of the most in an Anglo kind of way is Ricky Martin. JB doing Livin' La Vida Loca would be... amusing.