Emma Bunton - Free Me

Following her massive success in 2003 with her brilliant singles 'Free Me' & 'Maybe' & her 2004 smash 'I'll Be There' everyone's favorite former Spice Girl releases her highly anticipated album entitled 'Free Me'. Recorded throughout 2003 in the UK & Spain, 'Free Me' is a diverse, energetic album that oozes sophistication. A marked maturity of sound is featured on this record which Emma herself describes as having, "a real 60's influence". The album features collaborations from such esteemed hit makers as Cathy Dennis, Yak Bondie, Simon Ellis & Henry from Zero 7 & is Emma's most accomplished achievement to date. A great pop record from a great pop star. 12 tracks including all three of the smash hit singles mentioned above, along with a 16-page full color booklet with some great photos. 19 Recordings/Universal. 2004. Album Description

New discovery because of the Spice Girls reunion tour...

I heard "Maybe" at the Boston Ma. show and fell in love with it.
Just got the cd thru Amazon and haven't stopped listening to it.
"Feel me","Maybe","I'll be there","Who the hell are you",and "Some thing so beautiful" are my favorites so far.
This cd takes me to a swinging 60's London scene everytime I listen to it.
Great Cd!


February 8, 2008

Great CD

This CD was great! I love the songs and the different sound and feel it has to it than other pop albums. Emma is very talented and shows it in this CD as well as her others! February 6, 2008

The Best Solo-Spice Album : Burt Bacharach would be Proud

Why is this still the best Solo Spice Album? It defies explanation. When it was first released in 2004, few people expected that "Free Me" would become a Cult Album that would find its' way into collectors' sets. Ironically, the older it gets, the better it sounds. In the United States it remains virtually unknown, but I highly recommend getting your hands on this, as its quite clearly one of the greatest female pop albums of all time (it really is).

If you like Brasil '66, Sergio Mendes, Dionne Warwick, and Burt Bacharach, then this is perfect album for you. That summery 1960s vibe envelops the entire disc, and not a weak track is to be found. My own history with this album is interesting - I've had it on three separate occasions and now finally have it on CD again, which is a treat. The mood that this album evokes is perfect - one reviewer called it a perfect `car' album, but I would say it works better as a lounge album or for a long midnight drive. The lush instrumentation and mood here is stunning, and everything just WORKS. I can't think of a better CD that evokes the 1960s better than this one.

Title track "Free Me" is a superb slice of the Bacharach Era, and its two remixes at the end of the album are equally listenable. If there are two songs that deserve trophies, they are "Maybe" (a cult favorite back in England) and "Crickets Sing for Annamaria" (try tracking down the rare music video for this one). The latter was initially an Astrid Gilberto track, and the Brazilian tropical influences are retained on Emma's more sprightly version of the song.

But there are more riches to be found here - "Breathing", an infectious, atmosphere-soaked uptempo ballad, is spellbinding in how many times it will make you reach for repeat. The slower, more languidly paced "No Sign of Life" is perfect for a lazy morning when you're making your coffee and settling indoors for the day. What I think makes this one of the Greatest Albums of All Time is its' immaculate detail to production and immense replay value. When I buy an album, I want to be sure I'll be listening to it non-stop, and that I can reach for it years later and still find something to play. Well, Emma's "Free Me" is that and more. Every track is a winner, and I guarantee that you will listen to this three times before you become unhealthily obsessed with it.

Very few female pop albums stand the test of time. In my opinion, only "janet" by Janet Jackson, "Variations Sur Le Meme T'Aime" by Vanessa Paradis, and "Calling" by Noa, have been true classics of their genre, and I can listen to these albums on repeat without ever tiring of them (since I've had them for more than a decade each, that is surely saying something!). To that elite club I can now add Emma's "Free Me". Years after its release, it remains as timeless and essential as the era that it so lovingly pays homage to. Emma herself would never make an album this inspired again, but I'm thankful we have this in our midst to relish, time after time.

An Essential Recording. Five Stars.
January 18, 2008

Emma, baby!

I finally bought this years after it's release & I really like it. My partner took it to work to listen to, and now he a girl he works with both love it. You've come a long way, Baby! ;-) May 12, 2007

Another under-the-radar surprise

The long and short of it is that this is a great, light, breezy collection. Perfect spring/summer music for driving with the windows down and the volume up. I love the touches of 1960s & 70s froth and the hint of samba. This would be great in a mix with Basia's early works, by the way. Just don't count on it working for you if you're feeling angsty or grumpy...I don't think it's got the depth to pull anyone out of the dumps. Oh, one other thing, her photos in the liner notes are stunning. January 30, 2007

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