Where You Live

I have no idea why this was my first Tracy Chapman album. I simply wasn't that familiar with her output beyond one or two very well known songs and I'd always suspected her albums would contain lots of fairly unforgettable stuff. 'Where You Live' was a wake up call against my blind prejudice. Chapman's lyrics are considered and reflective, never glib. There is an honesty about these songs that will instantly connect the listener, assuming you're a sentient being. Track after track is well crafted - no fillers here. Why oh why in the world of popular music are so many really good musicians and songwriters of both sexes apparently 'niche' when their appeal could actually be so universal? I'll certainly be buying more of Tracy Chapman's past and present output and I'd urge you to do the same.

Another one of her best albums with excellent production and sound quality also being very good value for money nowadays.

One of two really good Tracy Chapman albums I bought (the other was Let it Rain). Lovely soulful voice.

good

I bought this album around five years ago, listened to it once and then filed it away. Recently, I've rediscovered it and had it on the stereo quite a times. It's a real shame that I'd given "Where You Live" such little attention at the time, because further exploration and review of it reveals it to be very good indeed and the kind of album you really need to give at least two or three plays to start to appreciate. In fact, the whole album requires a little effort on the listener's part to stay with Tracy, as this isn't exactly a commercial release. There are many downbeat, lyrically tough songs and little to lift the spirits - so if you need cheering up, Tracy's seventh studio album probably isn't the best record to listen to. Don't let that put you off, though, as there are some truly fine compositions on "Where You Live". Album opener "Change" is a lovely track and is also the closest thing that this album has to a potential hit. "Talk To You"is probably my favourite song on the whole collection, a wonderfully heartbreaking tale of a relationship on the cusp of crumbling. "3,000 Miles" is deliberately bleak, both lyrically and musically, and would be very good if it wasn't so repetitive. "Don't Dwell" is a beautifully sombre, magnificently delivered, jazzy piece of brilliance, "America" is a defiant, angry song with a sparse, but powerful, beat which tackles her country's violent history of inequality and imperialism and "Love's Proof" is a tender, heartfelt message to the object of their desire, for them to forget yearning after somebody they can't have and pay attention to the person who is there, offering love. The greatest strength of this album is Tracy's voice, sublimely dignified, beautiful and graceful. She has the skill and taste to never over-embellish and overly-complicate her songs, leaving plenty of space for the other musicians, who really do a wonderful job on this exquisitely produced, accomplished piece of work. There are a few tracks I don't particularly care for and, given the subtle nature of "Where You Live", I certainly understand why I passed this album by at the time, but I now have a greater appreciation for what is a rather fine collection of Tracy's work. I won't forget about this album again, that's for sure.

I knew it would be spot on before I received it! A timeless easy listening cd. Really quick delivery on this item too.

BRILLIANT MUSICIAN AND SINGER

If you are into tracy then you must get this album,the lyrics are superb and music is outstanding go get it.