Merry Melodies Week Review: Crazy Love by Michael Buble

I've already told you how I adore jazz and big band standards. If I were born fifty years ago, I would have been one of the girls in a ponytail and poodle skirt tearing for the front row to see the Rat Pack live in action. I just love a man that can croon romantic melodies that seem to be written just for me. So, when I won the latest Michael Buble album entitled Crazy Love at a Twitter party, I was ecstatic. While I hadn't owned any of his previous albums, his hit single "Home" is one of my top ten favorite songs of all time and his cover of the Nina Simone tune "Feelin' Good" is another iPod delight.

Canadian singer and songwriter Michael Bublé has sold over 22 million albums worldwide. His previous album, 2007’s Grammy winning 'Call Me Irresponsible' was a #1 album in over 15 countries. His 2005 CD 'It's Time' holds the record as the longest running title to remain on the Billboard Traditional Jazz charts – a full two years. It sat in the number one position for over 80 weeks! He has had two #1 singles, "Everything" and "Home", which was also a #1 hit for Blake Shelton on the Country charts. His latest album, Crazy Love, is described by Buble as " the ultimate record about the inevitable roller coaster ride of relationships."

As for the recording process, Buble commented:

"I started this record knowing I was going to record it differently than my previous ones. I dug way deeper and was more introspective on this one. Basically, I sang the truth - made each song autobiographical - and you can definitely hear the difference. I went back to the way my idols made their records. I wanted an organic feel - so people could feel like they were in the studio with me. The musicians and I all sat in the room, recorded it right from the floor and we let the sounds all come together and bleed into one another. It's not contrived. Not too perfect. It just feels really good."

Track Listing:

1. Cry Me A River
2. All of Me
3. Georgia on My Mind
4. Crazy Love
5. Haven't Met You Yet
6. All I Do is Dream of You
7. Hold On
8. Heartache Tonight
9. You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You
10. Baby (You've Got What It Takes)
11. At This Moment
12. Stardust
13. Whatever It Takes (Bonus Track)

I have to agree with him. This album does not disappoint. It's the album that Harry Connick Jr. should've made. Rather than the phoned in, boring, karaoke performance of Connick Jr.'s Your Songs, Buble breathes new life into old classics and delivers them with energy and enthusiasm. Buble's creative compositions maintain the genuineness of the originals but inject his own fresh sound. Ray Charles' sentimental "Georgia on My Mind" and Van Morrison's ballad "Crazy Love" have been done to death. But Buble add his own perspective to the song and makes them sound less "then" and more "now". The only song that fell a tad short for me was the Eagles' "Heartache Tonight", but I wasn't a big fan of the original so that could be why I didn't care for it as much as the others.

Aside from the title track, my favorites were the vibrant leading track, "Cry Me A River", which has the gusto for a James Bond soundtrack, the sensual bonus track "Whatever It Takes" and the fun, upbeat first single "Haven't Met You Yet", co-written by Buble, which you can watch for yourself (and swoon over) here:



He effortlessly transitions from cheery and spirited to slow and romantic. Buble's voice is simply irresistible. I can listen to this album from start to finish, over and over and still crave more.

Bottom line: I have crazy love for Crazy Love, and would highly recommend this for any mother, grandmother, daughter or friend. I can't think of any woman who wouldn't enjoy this.

BUY IT: You can purchase Michael Buble's Crazy Love online at Amazon.com or at any major music retailer (ARV $9.99).

Disclaimer: As I noted above, I won this CD in a Twitter giveaway contest. I was not obligated nor was I compensated in any way to review it.