Review of Odyssey

[Dave]

kcuteus1 said:

Here is the my review.

the prayer-love this song...
[snipped]

Hi Kimberly, I agree exactly with most of what you said in your review. Here are my thoughts on it (if I exactly agree with you, I've left it out!)

You and I may be in a minority but I agree about the Bocelli duet. It's OK - but as far as I am concerned, they should never have handed over production and control to another studio in a foreign Country - as they seem to have done here. Big mistake, but as I said weeks ago, they will keep it in for "political" reasons. And, if I want to listen to Andrea Bocelli, I'll buy his albums! Some people will be impressed though, that Andrea Bocelli is on Hayley's album.

Both Sides Now - probably another minority opinion but again I agree; nice but overdone (too famous, overplayed.).

What You Never Know - I'm not too familiar with Sarah's version so any similarities don't bother me. I like it but it's not in my top 3 for the album.

Bachianas.This is one of the things I have wanted to talk about and now, you've prompted me! It does indeed "feel like" like parts have been processed in some way. I'm not sure how, but for example, I've never heard Hayley use vibrato as she does on some sustained notes in this track. It's almost as if they electronically slowed down some notes (without changing the pitch), perhaps to sustain them longer? I hope I am wrong but that's how it feels to me. A similar effect is present in parts of the new track recently played on Classic FM - Laudate Dominum - but I've never heard it anywhere else. I hope this is just Hayley trying out new vibratos but it makes me feel uneasy and slightly spoils for me what are otherwise great songs. But, I bet most people don't even notice it!

She Moves Through The Fair - I think it's a great performance and I can see its attraction to you and many other people. But, it feels slightly out of place on an album like Odyssey (in a similar way to how Wuthering Heights felt out of place on Pure, for me.)

Overall, Odyssey is a great album and I love it but that doesn't mean it's perfect and I do agree with some of your reservations about the production. If it was rushed out a little too soon, perhaps some of these (fairly minor) issues can be ironed out before the important UK and US versions are released - although time is now very short.

Cheers, Dave.

[kcuteus1]

Prue has very good production to me Odyssey I can not say that. My favs on player, ave miria, I say grace , and My heart belongs to you. The songs that I think I would skip are Bocelli duet, and both sides now.

[roger]

I absolutely love Odyssey and I stand by everything I said in my review. However, I do have one reservation about it which I haven't mentioned until now.

Every track is lovely and beautifully performed but do any of the songs have immediate impact which is going to attract new fans. The voice may do so but where is the song with the hook? Pure had several. For me it was 'Pokarekare Ana'. I know others who were immediately enthralled by 'Who Painted the Moon Black' or 'River of Dreams'. Others have mentioned 'Wuthering Heights'. So many songs from that album really grab you instantly. Odyssey however, lovely though it is, doesn't seem to have any one song that makes you stop dead in your tracks and listen. Only Hayley's voice does that. Is it enough?

Roger

[Richard]

Hello Roger!

I think there are two tracks on the Australian version of "Odyssey" that could hook new fans, but we've both heard Hayley sing them before. The first one is Caccini's "Ave Maria", which had considerable impact when Hayley sang it for her sound check at Classicalive. The second one is "May It Be", which grabbed me instantly the first time I watched Hayley's DVD.

There may yet be others on the UK version, so I will be listening to Classic FM with great interest.

Bye for now,

Richard

[roger]

Hi Richard,

I certainly enjoy Cacchini's 'Ave Maria' more and more but that proves that it did not have *immediate* impact - it took time to grow on me. It also helped to have seen it performed live but not everyone was fortunate enough to do so.

'May It Be' comes close to having immediate impact but I think the version on Odyssey lacks the dynamics that are present on the DVD version.

Keep trying folks, somebody may convince me!

Roger

[Dave]

Hi Richard and Roger,

Two songs that had immediate impact for me were pop songs - Never Saw Blue Like That and (surprisingly) My Heart Belongs to You. Surprising because, as you know, my tastes have a classical bias. Some other people have said they like them too, so they could make good singles and *that* (the singles - and some airplay!) would hopefully be the hook for new fans. What You Never Know is another possible single I think.

My Heart Belongs to You could still be released as a single even if it's left off the UK version of Odyssey (if that's what they do).

[Natasha]

Oh you guys are all so lucky!! I want to get "ODYSSEY" so bad. Your making me so jealous, LOL. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

I was going to wait till it came out here, but that's simply to long! Besides they might get rid of some of the best songs, lol.

I'm going to try my hand on Ebay and other online stores and see if I can't get my copy earlier! Wish me luck!

Natasha

[Oksana]

So far, I've only heard samples, but I agree with Roger that there are no big "hooks" (and samples are what usually sell CDs for me, so I'm perfectly fair in saying this).

However, I think Hayley has enough fans worldwide to stop singing commercial "hook" songs, and explore more intimate, elegant songs as Odyssey has.

[stephch]

I like Oydessy but I think it could have been better.

[kcuteus1]

i do not what to get into a big dicussion but I was lintening to the cd again and I found some other songs that I think could of has some work done to it. I think some of the stuff sounds to good to be ture. I hope I am wroung.

[Richard]

Hello again everybody!

I've had another thought. It was actually Hayley's voice that attracted me to "Pure" in the first place, not the songs, but they grew on me very quickly. The only song that had an immediate hook for me was "Across The Universe Of Time" when I bought an import version several weeks later.

Personally I think the songs on "Odyssey" are stronger, but I had listened to the clips several times before I heard the whole CD. Anyway, I'm sure all Hayley's existing fans do or will love it! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Someone, I totally agree with you. Hayley is now well established, so she can sing more intimate songs.

Bye for now,

Richard

[emmettb]

Hi Guys,

Very interesting reading everyones views of 'Odyssey', thanks.

My views of 'Odyssey' at present is, thats its a very good album, but its still a good bit away from 'Pure', because that was amazing.

I will give it time and judge it more when we have the other versions from Japan, UK and USA. I think 12 tracks for the OZ/NZ release is low.

The tracks that I really like so far are 'May It Be', 'What You Never Know', 'Quanta Qualia' and 'Never Saw Blue' (Although I was hoping this song might progress a bit more up tempo).

The song that really let the album down for me was 'I Say Grace', I liked Hayley's voice in it more like poppy style but I just found the song wrong for the album, it sounds like country music to me and a little bit chessy. I hope they drop this for the other releases.

I wonder how 'Odyssey' would have ended up if they would have gone ahead with the planned USA tour in April??


Emmett

[Oksana]

kcuteus1 said:

I think some of the stuff sounds to good to be ture.

Interesting point. I have a big problem with CDs on which the vocals and arrangements are so perfect and pristine they sound unnatural. I hope Odyssey doesn't use too many synthesizers. Hayley's voice alone is ethereal, so we need something more "earthy" to back it -- like real instruments.

[1littlegirl]

Well, I think the accompaniments in Odyssey are excellent, so you needn't worry about that, Someone. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is amazing.

I agree with you Emmett. "I Say Grace" did seem to be a let-down. It's cheesy and it doesn't seem to have a consistent melody.

[Joe]

emmettb said:

I wonder how 'Odyssey' would have ended up if they would have gone ahead with the planned USA tour in April??
Emmett

Hi Emmett,
I gave your question some thought. 'Odyssey' , according to the booklet, was recorded between Feb. and June 2005. That's quite a long span of time. Just look in the booklet at how many people were involved...all the conductors, the recording and mixing engineers, the studio staff, etc. A bit over the top I think. It must have been HUGE effort for Decca; hence the postponement of the USA tour. I wonder why Decca felt that Bocceli had to appear.

It's my opinion that Decca might have allowed Hayley a partial tour, in the bigger American cities at least. This would've been wonderful for Hayley, riding high after the PBS special at the start of this year. She would have gotten a foothold for 'Odyssey' as well. I fear that all of the work that Hayley has done in the USA for 'Pure' has been forgotten by the public.

Still, October sees Hayley again returning to the states (Easton, Pennsylvania here I come! and hopefully some good nationwide media coverage for Odyssey. This would propel Hayley back in the public's eye just in time for the rescheduled USA tour next Feb. and March.

Americans will definitely recognize more songs on 'Odyssey' than 'Pure'. I just know the new CD would be a huge hit in the USA when it hits the shelves in 8 weeks.