This Time ..... It's Personal

by

Michael Ball

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If you think Michael Ball is only good at showcasing big musical numbers and belting out high pitches, then you should listen to this album. The same Michael Ball will give you different feelings and you probably will re-look some of the songs that you've already known for a long time. I have to say that Michael's singing is mesmerizing. His exquisite vocal delivery and his empathy with the songs contributed the best to the artistic appealing of this album.

For the first time Michael tried his voice in American country tunes, and it is surprisingly good. Songs like "If Tomorrow Never Comes", "The Dimming of the Day", and "The Dance" simply couldn't get better. "You Bring the Best Out of Me", which is a song specifically written for Michael by Paul Carrack, is a song about the singer himself. The words are very sincere and Michael sings it with such emotions and true feelings. Michael co-authored two songs in the album. They can't be more different in their styles. "Just When" is a touching romantic love song, flowing smoothly. "Never Coming Back", with its story-telling approach and deep punchy rhythm, expresses the feelings of struggling and desperation. A little surprise comes from Andrew Lloyd Webber's "No Matter What", for which Boyzone already set the standard with their smash hit version. There is no doubt that Michael gave this song his unique charm by adding his personal touch in it.

This is an album that is well produced and packaged. The orchestration, the sound mixing, and the recording are superb. You won't regret for every penny you spend. Please do yourself a favor after a whole day's of work: light the candles, get a glass of wine, and enjoy the wonderfulness Michael brings to you.