Music Row Reviews UP! Favorably

[SHANIANUTS!]

http://www.musicrow.com/

SHANIA TWAIN
"Up!" (Mercury)

Not content to release just one version of arguably the most anticipated album in the history of country music, Shania Twain decided to release three. North America gets two discs with their purchase: green (country), and red (pop). The rest of the world gets a blue (world) and red. Each color-coded disc features distinctly recorded versions of all 19 songs. No wonder it took five years. The big question, of course, is whether all this effort resulted in a worthy follow-up to Come On Over. The answer is a qualified yes. At its best, Up! surpasses its predecessor and then some. The problem is getting there.

Up! starts slow, the single “I’m Gonna Getcha Good!” being the only repeatable cut of the first six. Most, like the title track and “She’s Not Just A Pretty Face,” seem to have all the right pieces but just don’t click. And then there’s the fourth cut, “Juanita,” which gives name to the irrepressible spirit flowing through all women. Yuck. Three cuts and a nap later, however, “It Only Hurts When I’m Breathing” stops the show. An exquisitely produced and sung broken-heart ballad, the song is the beginning of Up!’s redemption. Track eight is called “Nah!” and brings in some of that much-needed Shania sass.

The disc bounces along until you hit cut 12, at which point Up! reels off seven phenomenal songs in a row starting with “Ka-Ching!” Here, Shania is at her cliché-bending best. What could be a predictable song about money becomes an attack on materialism. “Waiter! Bring Me Water!” is the high point—a withering jab at every guy who’s been caught staring at someone other than his date. The song’s arrangement merits special mention, especially the crank-it-up-and-blow-the-speakers break. Wow. As for the two versions, I generally prefer hearing actual instrumental performances on the green (country) disc to the electronic sounds of unknown origin on the red platter. (Liner notes point to the official Shania Website for song by song credits, but they’re apparently not posted yet.)

Perhaps subconsciously holding to the power of threes, Up! rises in stages. Call the first half-dozen songs ignition. Lots of sound and fury but very little movement. Tracks seven through 11 are liftoff. And by the time cuts 12 through 19 are done, the album is orbiting safely, well beyond the reaches of the average earthbound artist or producer. Up! indeed.

[SHANIANUTS!]

SONG BY SONG REVIEW

Songs are listed in album order. Each cut is rated on a five-point scale. Preferred version indicated.

1. “Up!” (3.75, green) The first track is everything its title suggests—uptempo and earnestly upbeat, though not particularly uplifting. A capable pop song, well-produced, but lacking in goosebump-raising magic. The album, as Twain sings, “Can only go up from here.”

2. “I’m Gonna Getcha Good!” (4.00, green) One of many songs showing an eastern influence (and I don’t mean New York), the first single is the brightest light in the first half-dozen cuts. Industry complaints that it sounds like something from the last album make me wonder if people realize what a compliment that is.

3. “She’s Not Just A Pretty Face” (3.5, red) Again, the title says it all. The verses are well done—She is a soldier/She is a wife/She is a surgeon/She’ll save your life—but the chorus is ponderous.

4. “Juanita” (2.5, red) A Latin-tinged female-empowerment song that personifies the universal spirit of woman as “Juanita.” Yes, it is a bit goofy. And not in an endearing way. The album’s only glaring misstep.

5. “Forever And For Always” (3.25, green) Straight up love ballad Twain sings well. Pretty much what you’d expect, and therein lies the problem.

6. “Ain’t No Particular Way” (3.00, red) Sonically interesting thumper that wears thin after the first chorus. Lyrics find Twain urging listeners not to give up on love. She’d do better encouraging them not to give up on the album.

7. “It Only Hurts When I’m Breathing” (4.75, green) Whoa, where did this come from? A stunningly beautiful heartbreak ballad with smash written all over it. Twain takes a familiar cliché—“It only hurts when I breathe”—and gives it a meaningful twist. Lovely.

8. “Nah!” (4.25, green) Okay, now I’m listening. Volume’s up and that familiar Shania attitude’s back as she tells an ex, “It was good while it lasted, but now I’m past it.” Smiles all around.

9. “(Wanna Get To Know You) That Good!” (3.75, green) Great-sounding midtempo with a weak heartbeat.

10. “C’est La Vie” (4.0, green) Despite the carbon-copy “Dancing Queen” chorus, a winning hook and groove power this recycled concept to respectability. The daily grind can freak your mind/But life isn’t all that bad.

11. “I’m Jealous” (3.5, green) In this ballad, Twain’s jealous of the moon, wind, sun and anything else with access to her lover.

12. “Ka-Ching!” (4.5, red) In the hands of, say, Nelly, this title would spawn a song of frightening banality. Thankfully Shania eschews the obvious, instead railing against a world that teaches people to “earn as much as they can possibly/Then turn around and spend it foolishly.” More eastern influence. The song-opening Pink Floyd homage is a nice touch.

13. “Thank You Baby! (For Making Someday Come So Soon)” (4.5, green) One of the few times on the record that totally obvious works. And does it. The message—relief at finally finding The One—is tied to enormous hooks. Reel me in.

14. “Waiter! Bring Me Water!” (5.00, red) The Far East creeps back in over a growling bass line. She’s trying to find a way to cool off her guy—you know, the louse with the wandering eye. Anthemic chorus. No matter how many times I hear Mutt Lange’s layered backing vocals, they still floor me with their allure. And oh my, the break is absolutely heart-stopping. “Gargantuan hit” doesn’t begin to do this song justice.

15. “What A Way To Wanna Be!” (4.75, green) Okay, so there’s a good bit of irony in hearing the obsessively polished Shania complain about the pressure to be picture perfect. But while this song’s not quite India.Arie, it’s a well-intentioned expression, to her young fans in particular, and a jaunty little rocker to boot. The red version is dance club-ready.

16. “I Ain’t Goin’ Down” (4.75, green) From the perspective of an unwed teenage mother, it’s still a life-affirming message (Up!, remember?). If you’re able to resist this ode to perseverance you’re a hardcore curmudgeon.

17. “I’m Not In The Mood (To Say No)!” (4.25, red) Shania takes another overworked phrase and flips the script for this airy bouncer. “I don’t like sittin’ down doin’ nothin’,” she sings. Nineteen songs recorded three times? No kidding.

18. “In My Car (I’ll Be The Driver)” (4.95, green) The wheeled version of “Honey, I’m Home” only better. For you there’s nothin’ that I wouldn’t do/You can put a hole in my shoe/But in my car I’ll be the driver. The musical bed is a brilliantly-arranged, painstakingly-layered masterpiece. Not that anything less was expected.

19. “When You Kiss Me” (3.25, red) Great sounding heartfelt ballad that never takes flight.

Chuck Aly, c.aly@musicrow.com

[Jealous]

Cool, thanks for posting that review!!

[SHANIANUTS!]

You are most welcome. You can also make comments to or thank the reviewer - his email address is at the end of the second post.

[Eilsel]

That was mostly a great review, but I think the first 6 songs are great, not "sleepers".

[Lucila]

I have to agree with 99% of what that review said. I often find myself skipping the first half of the album. The ballads are moving, and Nah! is awesome. That has to the most honest review I have ever read on Shania's music.

[Marine]

I agree with about 70 percent of Chuck's review. Not bad.

[Cheyenne55]

Why is it that all the songs I love are reated so low. Geeez. I love I'm jealous, UP and Not just a pretty face. Not in the mood is a sure Hit maker.


To top it off. Waiter! Bring Me Water!” Is one of my least favorite songs.


Oh, well, for the most part his review is very good. I just don't agree with the songs. But then, thats why there are so many fans, not all of us agree with what songs are the best.

[Claudia]

Well, you know the best thing about this review is that it's just that...a review of the music. And this is a Nashville publication. Compare it to the CMT & Tennessean reviews where the music is secondary to "shania's goal of world domination" or the number of exclamation points in the booklet. You can tell when critics have an agenda. This review was the way it should always be done. But has there been one review that hasn't mentioned Dancing Queen? Over and over again. I wonder if we'll hear anything from ABBA? So many different ears are hearing the similarity, you know they will too...

[twaintrain]

I thought the review was good, but I also thought he put down some of the best songs. The first six are great in my opinion. I was surprized he thought "Waiter!" and "In My Car" were so great, critics usually eat those two UP!

Well, everyone's entitled to their opinion. And here's mine: all the songs are great! :)

[jen]

I thought the review was a good review and I also liked the way he liked red on some songs and green on others. That just proves the whole idea of having two different versions.Sometimes you like the pop and sometimes you want that country!!

[Man!I_luv_Shnia]

i agree with you there !! everything is good in this album... We've been waiting so long but it was worth it! :)
UP UP UP!!!
take care all shania fans!

[razorbac]

perhaps music row has learned from it's mistakes:)

[moshe]

I agree with about 60% of the review.I
don't agree about the first 6 tracks."UP"
IMO isn't that strong,but "Juanita" I think
is superb."Pretty Face" I like,but agree
the chorous is a bit weak."Nah!" is superb,and
"Ka-Ching!" brilliant.
Any review is just one persons opinion,and
everyone will have their own fave tracks.
But IMO even the weaker tracks on the
album are better than most of the rest
cominmg out of Nashville

[SHANIANUTS!]

Originally posted by moshe
But IMO even the weaker tracks on the
album are better than most of the rest
coming out of Nashville ...so true!

[aFinn]

Originally posted by Claudia
Well, you know the best thing about this review is that it's just that...a review of the music. So true!

Even if I happen to have most opposite songs we prefer :p
the review clearly is a review.
The other "reviews" have barely mentioned any songs names etc..

[SHANIANUTS!]

Many reviewers are lazy or have their preconceived notion of Shania and her music. They should not be critics.