You can feel it all over
I got a bunch of CDs for Christmas, which is wonderful for me, because I never get to buy any CDs anymore. Partly due to lack of funds and partly because I don't have the time to keep up with what's out there. A good chunk of those CDs were Stevie Wonder albums - music I've had on my wishlist for a while and never really got to listen to. I'm still listening through all of it, it takes a while to digest 3 Stevie Wonder records.
"Songs in the Key of Life" is the longest one, including 2 CDs and I don't know how many tracks. A lot. That record is unbelievable. I feel a little silly saying this now, as it's been out for over 30 years and is considered a classic. So, it's a little bit like discovering hot water. I know I wasn't even born when that album came out, but still, I feel like I should've known more about it than its name. On the other hand, there are so many hits on that album, that actually everybody has heard it at some point. And that's the thing. This CD has so many good songs, it's almost too much to listen to at once. It takes you from bouncy happy awesome dance songs to beautiful ballads to some really serious social criticism. While some might think that's silly or chaotic, I think it actually has a lot of coherence. To sound really corny, that's how life is. Plus it's different to throw together a bunch of songs until it's enough for an album than combining songs illustrating the different very personal situations in one's life.
But most of all, the music, the songwriting is just amazing! I am so stunned someone could actually release an album like this! Nowadays I'm happy if a CD has 2-3 really good songs. But more than 10?! Some songs are 7 minutes or longer, yet you don't get tired of it. It's perfectly produced, it's rich, but not annoying, it's intense but not exaggerated...
Anyway, I will not attempt a serious review of "Songs in the Key of Life". I just had to let you know it's on my top-ten-list of favorite albums ever. Now don't ask me what the other 9 are because I never remember. But this one, it's really good. Go buy it.
Posted at 12:57 PM on February 08, 2005
Stevie's great, isn't he? I don't know much about his albums or anything like that either, but I always liked to watch him perform when he would be on TV when I was younger. My all-time favorite was when he was a guest star on the Cosby Show when his car wrecked with Denise's (I think it was Denise driving..)
Saw your parental commentary and pics re: potty training. You might want to look at this book at your local library: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0671693808/103-8570218-6507869