It's That Girl Again

It's That Girl Again, and That is Some Seriously Great News!
Okay, so I purchased this album from Ammy last year under a different account name, and it's been a long time coming--both the album and my review! I was so happy to see her put out a new full-length solo release that tripping over myself to pre-order it wasn't even debatable. Fifteen years is a long wait since The Sweetest Illusion, and I will be totally honest. The first few plays were disappointing once I got past the lucious opening track, "If Not Now Then When." More of her Astrud Gilberto affectations? Partly, yes, but then I realized that, unlike the general predictability of Sade's sparse catalogue or the snooze-inducing repetitiveness of Enya's short and disappointing releases, this lady is actually going in a surprisingly different direction while still able to maintain her signature sound. After several plays, I long ago decided this is her best album yet. Everything is familiar, yet more broadly emcompassed on ITGA, and it is richer by far for the lack of stagnancy. "If Not Now Then When," the catchy aberrations of "Blame it On the Summer," "Two Islands (which is stellarly beautiful in a Rippingtons with vocals kind of way)," and the highly spirited merengue of "Winners," are all so much of what we've come to expect as far back as her days in Matt Bianco. It's the pretty popisms of "A Gift," the soul stirring and haunting "There's a Tear," the dark Vampira-like tango of "Love Lies Bleeding," and the title track with its candid, soulful, autobiographical musings that are really genuinely surprising and more than welcome to this long-time fan. It may take you a few plays like it did me, but if you are a true Basia fan, you will be rewarded for sticking with it and seeing the true mastery of a great singer-songwriter who's still got a lot more to give her fans, both old and new. Bravo, Basia, and a very heartfelt welcome back to you. Don't take so long next time, hey?

Basia - still amazing LIVE in 2010
I just came from seeing Basia (and Danny White) at Club Nokia in Los Angeles. By the way - a very intimate space for a band of this status. We were lucky that she and Danny played here. I have to say that I did write a poor review of her latest album - many of the songs had an eastern european dark tone with the exception of a few REALLY stand out tunes. IF NOT NOW THAN WHEN is one of their best compositions ever. Anyway - I write this new review to tell you how amazing Basia sounded, looked and related to the audience. She is the "same girl" we always loved. She was pitch perfect, charming and funny still!...and such a pretty face and smile - u can't take ur eyes off her beauty no matter what age! It been years since she performed and as nervous as the audience was to "hope" that she was still as good. Basia was equally nervous...but as soon as she sang her first notes we were all back on track again! Fans aligned with "star". The sweetest part was that she teared up big time after the 3rd song -she told the audience she was a little nervous about performing in LA again (we are kinda harsh here...)...before she could finish her sentence the audience PLUS balcony stood in standing ovation for a full minute...she wasn't even given a break to talk...she cried a bit. I think or HOPE now that her talent and sweetness is loved by Americans everywhere and we are awaiting the next BASIA album! Rumour has it that her and Danny are already working on something. Long story short - she was great and did several songs from this new CD. This CD is the least of her other ventures (including the recent MATT'S MOOD by Matt Bianco - which actualy woudn't matter if Basia hadn't sung on it! - so lets just be real about Matt Bianco). Basia - we love, support and care...we can't wait for the next!

a very great album !
After a long silence ( exept a "return" with Matt Bianco in 2004 ) Basia is back - and she still have this kind of energy ... Greats songs for the whole album - and if you liked the previous Basia's songs - you will definitely love them as well. An excellent album for a great return.

Basia is Back!
I love this album as a whole. I have been a Basia fan since I was in college twenty years ago. "It's That Girl Again" rates with "London Warsaw New York" for me in terms of the quality of all the songs overall. I have been listening to this album pretty much nonstop for the past week since I received it in the mail, and bits of the songs will go through my head unbidden even when I'm not listening to the CD! Very catchy, groovy tunes here with the same quality that Basia has been giving the world all along. My favorites are "If Not Now Then When," "Someone for Everyone," "I Must," and "They Don't Know About Us." "Winners," "A Gift," "Two Islands," "Everybody's on the Move," and "Blame it on the Summer" are also good, solid songs. Just so you all know where I'm coming from, I've never been a big fan of Basia's ballads and tend to gravitate toward her more upbeat songs. It's strange to me that she decided to name the album after the least appealing song on it. I still haven't listened to the song "It's That Girl Again" all the way through ... I just think it's boring, and it doesn't move me at all. There seems to be more passion in Basia's singing than ever before. I wasn't expecting to be impressed or surprised by this new offering, but I absolutely was, and I'm reminded why she is one of my top five artists of all time. I love her voice, and she's one of the best in the world at interpreting a song whether it's self-penned or a cover.

She's Back!!
I saw Basia live in concert about 15 years ago--she is an amazing performer. It is GREAT to see that she's back again with a new album. I hope she comes to NY..that's one show I won't miss. She has a style that's all her own....Buy this CD--you won't be disappointed.