Artist: George Michael
Album: Patience
Record Label:Sony

George Michael returns this year with his first new album of original material since 1996. I must disclose that I am not a staunch fan nor even a partial fan of his. In fact, when I have rarely reserved time to listen to his music, my reaction was similar to the one of meat sliding quickly off of teflon. With this in mind I decided to step outside my frugal opinions and attempt to listen without prejudice.

The opening and title track of Patience has a fragile yet alluring melody despite it’s somewhat abstract, pseudo social-political and quasi-religious lyrics. Yet, there is a tenderness in his voice that strengthens the song. Other songs attempt to reach the same heights but either fall flat due to sentimentality (My Mother Had a Brother), overt cheesy lyrics (American Angel), drama-queen histrionics on the hardships of fame (Through), or rubbery faux-soul singing. I am sure George Michael could out sing most of us, yet something with this record doesn’t click.

At times he seems somehow gelid and detached as if parched.

The music that does work on this record are more of the upbeat dance songs in particular, Freeek! ‘04, Precious Box, and Flawless (Go to the City). Most of the lyrics accompanying these rely on tacky sexual come-on’s and are musically long treaded jaunts across banal dance music. Yet, it proves to be entertaining and sometimes that is all you need. Mid-tempo pop songs like Cars and Trains and Please Send Me Someone also prove to be the perfect medium between the icy ballads and the sticky dance tracks.

Overall, some listeners will need a little patience to make it through this album. I personally, can’t say I dislike Mr. Michael for it, but can’t say that it would send me running back for more.

Artist: Laura Nyro
Album: Spread Your Wings and Fly: Live at The Fillmore East May 30, 1971
Record Label: Columbia/LEGACY

Most music fans are unaware of the force that was Laura Nyro. Radio rarely plays her originals as sung by her, but instead relies on more well-known covers by The Fifth Dimension, and Three Dog Night. She disappeared from prominence as a commercial artist shortly after this concert and her following record with Labelle, Gonna Take a Miracle. It seems fitting that this album (previously unreleased in any form) be the coda of the first stage of her career which shimmered with brilliance and fecundity.

Spread Your Wings showcases Nyro alone at the piano performing before a rapt audience shortly before the closing of the New York Fillmore. The concert mixes several rarities with covers of Motown and popular soul songs, with Nyro’s inimitable performances of her own classic songs.

Laura Nyro’s voice seemingly crawls out from the streets filled with corner teenage doo-wop groups, out of the protest music of the early sixties, from impassioned operatic phrasing, and from the wild abandon of John Coltrane. All of these influences combined together with her rubatic (free form) piano playing prove to be entrancing and powerful.

All the songs on this album are beautifully striking and passionately performed. There are multiple highlights, the noteworthy ones include her breathtaking covers of Up on the Roof, (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman; the scratchy and sweet wailing on I Am the Blues; and the hushed Nyro singing the loving tribute, Emmie.

So rarely does a solo concert sound this alive and captivating. You can feel Laura Nyro giving it her all on this record and the audience appreciating every nano-second of it. This is a great starting place for eager music fans wanting to hear something refreshingly different, yet comfortably familiar.

Also Recommended:

• Time and Love: The Essential Masters (Columbia)
• Stoned Soul Picnic: The Best of Laura Nyro (2 discs) (Columbia)