CD REVIEW: ANASTACIA – Resurrection

Label: Sanctuary / BMG

Release Date: May 5, 2014

Rating: 10/10

Reviewed by: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur

Noting a return to a bands earlier sound could be good or bad, but in the case of Anastacia, this is simply a return to form.  “Staring At The Sun” has the killer beats, heavier drums and rhythm, and features some great guitar.  The voice – that beautiful voice – rips this disc open from the onset and doesn’t let up.  “Lifeline” features a mellow tempo and scaled down instrumentation, but simply put, Anastacia doesn’t hold back on this track with her emotion and vocals.  “I Don’t Want To Be The One” is a beautiful piece that features an duet between a piano interlude and the vocals that strikes to the core and is one of the best ballads she has yet to record.  “Pendulum” is one of the more diverse tracks recorded by Anastacia to date.  The sound is heavier and more rhythmic, without coming off like a dance track.  “Dark White Girl” combines the mellow and the dance; the rock and the pop; the dramatic and the fun.  This song encompasses all that is right about this disc, especially the vocals.

“Stupid Little Things” is a killer track that gets the foot tapping, the head nodding, and fully displays the big attitude behind the even bigger voice that Anastacia is known for.  Taking time off to battle cancer and even record a covers disc has not dissipated the strength of this woman’s voice.  “Evolution” opens with synth sounds and morphs into a cool dance-like track that is highlighted by the range of Anastacia’s vocal style.  “Stay” takes the disc down a cool melancholy trail, that features piano and some synth created orchestration.  The instrumental track is simply the foundation for the soaring vocals that grace this track (and the rest of the disc).  “Apology” is another track that allows Anastacia to play off of a beautiful piano piece that doesn’t carry the track, but simply gives the vocals something to adhere to.  Disc closer “Broken Wings” books ends this disc perfectly, with a cool vibe that gives this vocalist room to run and explore her range, style, emotions, and simply put, her talent.

If you are wise enough to grab the deluxe edition, you will be treated to four additional tracks, highlighted by “Other Side Of Crazy” which combines a killer rock groove with a dance track, which creates a sound that fits not only the vocals, but the attitude behind them.  “Oncoming Train” and title track “Resurrection” are lush tracks that cover more of the ground covered on the ten tracks of the disc, while lending more credibility to the vocals and the emotion Anastacia has poured into this disc, especially the latter track.  The stripped-down and redone “Left Outside Alone (Part 2)” is a gem that needed to see the light.  As good as the funky rock version on Anastacia’s self-titled disc is, this take on the track is a cool jazzy track that adds more depth to Anastacia as a performer.

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Category: CD Reviews