Breakdown

by

Melissa Etheridge

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My intial review (written after only 2 or 3 listens) is gone but now I've have several months to live with this disc and played it dozens of times as well as see her live for the 8th time. This CD has really grown on me. It is far more introspective than anything she has done before and closest musically to the underappreciated "Never Enough" album, but only in that it's more an "experimental" sound (like Never Enough was). The album starts strong with Breakdown, Angels Would Fall and Stronger Than Me, all three are fairly typical Melissa songs about the pain inherent in relationships- whatever kind they might be. Angels, the single, is actually the weakest of the 3. The first taste of something different is the brooding power ballad Into the Dark. Moody and atmospheric may best describe this descent into the soul. "Enough of Me" return to a more rock tone with lyrics that cut to the heart, perhaps her best ever. "Truth of the Heart" follows, an enjoyable song but not anything special. The dance rhythms last seen on Never Enough resurface on "Mama I'm Strange" a lament/declaration of alternate sexuality with a fun beat and happy feel. The emotional highpoint of the record is "Scarecrow" The imagery is disturbing and heartfelt. It took me 7 or 8 times through the album before I could listen to this track without crying. It's a tough song to follow which is why i think "How Would I know" is the weak link on the CD. It's only an OK Melissa song and it's placement on the disc guarentees it's unmemorableness. The final two songs (on the regular release)are ballads, both packed with typical Melissa emotions and by themselves are strong songs, but placed as they are, they end the album on a low note (although it's hard to see the song "Sleep" anywhere else but ending the disc)

The 3 bonus songs are easily as good as anything on the album, although the first one, "Touch & Go" is the weakest, souunding like a leftover from earlier days. "Cherry Avenue" ressurects the dance beat and fun attitude of "...Strange" and makes getting enhanced disc worth it. Lyrically "Beloved" sounds like a rewrite of previous Melissa lyrics and being on the same disc as the similar "My Lover" makes it hard for this track to hold it's own, although taken by itself it is a wonderful peice of music.

A final note: the "enhanced" packaging is shoddy, with liner notes & lyrics only available in the multimedia portion, which needs to be closed down to play the disc on your computer. Very poor design.

I am a die-hard ME fan and could not wait to charge to the store for my copy of Breakdown. When pressed to come up with a word to describe my first impression, I'd have to say "disappointed." Gone were the hard-edged rockers with the biting lines that made you smile the first time you heard them (see Brave and Crazy for those). Missing were the sexual innuendos and flirtations of Never Enough. Instead, I found Melissa to have mellowed to the point where I wondered what could have gone wrong. But the more I listen to Breakdown, the more I realize that it's what finally went right that brought about this change. Being a new mom myself, I guess I was hoping that Melissa would confirm for me that Moms Can Still Rock when they want to. Needless to say, I did not get that affirmation from Breakdown; rather, I came away with a sense of loss. Although it is a beautiful, poignant, well-written and strong album, I am having a hard time letting go of the album I had hoped it would be. I just miss The Old Melissa.