George Michael - Older

Older & Wiser

When it came down to the 90's, George Michael really did have a huge share of blows. He lost a major court battle with Sony music, in regards to demanding to be released from his contract due to artist rights, as well as dealt with the devistating deaths of his then partner, and his mother from complications of cancer. Nevertheless, he continued his way into his music. Unfortunately, that wasn't there in America because of a long-term absence from making music. George went on to Dreamworks SKG in America for his 1996 album, Older, which sadly wasn't there in record sales in America. He still showed his status overseas with the album selling over 8 million. Unfortunately for American die hard George Michael fans, Older had been out of print for a very long time until just now.

The 2008 re-release of George Michael's 1996 album Older, has finally made it to C.D. yet again. In response to the surprise success George has recently had with his music returning to the American airwaves thanks to the ABC show Eli Stone, and his second greatest hits collection, Twenty-Five earlier this year, Older still feels like a breath of fresh air. While the songs have been remastered very well, the album doesn't really add any gimmicks or extras from the original release. Still, the album contains a lot of classic songs that feel more subdued and intimate, in regards with his 1990's surroundings of life. The album includes the mellow and somber hits Jesus To A Child and You Have Been Loved, all the way to the strong dance beats of Fastlove and Spinning the Wheel. The songs here show a feeling that is much deeper in heart and soul, than what George had showed with success with his earlier records, Faith & Listen Without Prejudice Volume 1, that matches the deep and dark moods within the soul of the album.

All in all, Older shows what George Michael has done best throughout his career, and that really is making quality music from the soul, not for overexposure or cheap tricks, unlike other acts today that are just about hype than heart like Miley Cyrus or Britney Spears. If you have not yet heard the moods from Older, you now have a second chance to hear what feels more than just Jesus To A Child, and just simply the heart and soul of a great overlooked treasure that is George Michael.

Album Cover: B

Songs: B+

Price: B 1/2+

Remastering: B+

Overall: B 1/2+

1,500th Review!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! August 11, 2008

Finally, An Older Song

Back in the mid 90's, George Michael's career was in a downward spiral in the United States. With a heartbreaking demand to be released from his work with Sony Music, and a tragic loss not just him losing in the U.K. courts, but also with a pair of devistating deaths including the death of his mother and his former lover, Anselmo, he had so much to really fall upon of. But, that didn't really stop George from making high-quality songs from the heart, and that showed with a drastic move to Virgin records overseas, and with his American contract being bought from the Dreamworks label. This led to a deep and thoughful album that still stands that George really had grown up.

The release of George Michael's overlooked album Older, his finally made a surprising return for die hard fans for your MP3 Player. The album was sadly overlooked from the American music industry, but a strong-seeler in the U.K. and still all throughout Europe, as a surprising #1 U.K. album. The songs here are a bit more somber, relating here to more Soul and R&B oriented rhythms. Nevertheless, they actually sound great and bring in a depthness that reminds those George Michael fans about a great voice. The songs here are strong, and include the hits Jesus To A Child, the hard-hitting Dance song Fastlove, as well as deep songs like You have Been Loved, as well as Spinning The Wheel, and the little-known Star People, and a sense of shallowness from the title track.

All in all, While we've seen some of the songs return earlier this year with George Michael's second greatest hits album Twenty-Five, Older does those die hard fans of what makes George Michael a strong singer from beginning to end. If you've heard all of Older before on C.D., you now get a second chance to listen to this delightful album of George Michael. Yet even 12 years after its original release, Older is definitely a strong suit of songs that are more than just a fastlove.

Songs: B

Price: B

Mastering: B+

Overall: B June 27, 2008

This Is NOT a Remake of FAITH, But It Is Still His BEST

This post "FAITH" CD suffers the same fate as "Listen Without Prejudice". After the smash success of "Faith" most of GM's fans wanted and demanded another remake. Like his previous CD release, "Listen Without Prejudice", George Michael went down a different path. On the first few listens, "OLDER" doesn't grab you the same way as "FAITH" did.

But this is one of those rare CD's that rewards the listener APLENTY if they're willing to give the songs some time. With each repeated listen, layers of instrumentation and subtle shadings start to come thru the mix. George Michael has NEVER sounded as subtle as he does here. He shows maturity, growth, and depth not only in his songwriting, but also in his singing. He does not go for the jugular like he did almost a decade earlier (nine years separated the two CD's releases) with his still best-selling "FAITH" CD. When this CD was released in 1996, GM was almost a decade older (hmmm.....maybe thus the title's name?).

I can only applaud his courage and willingness to take risks, even if it means taking a dive commercially. I don't think CD sales for "OLDER" were as bad as "Listen Without Prejudice". Many fans have speculated if "OLDER" might be "Listen Without Prejudice, Volume TWO", but George Michael has never admitted or confirmed this, so we will keep guessing. Parts of "OLDER" are so moving that I am almost close to tears, especially listening to it late at night when the world is asleep. This is one CD to be savored and enjoyed for its painstaking attention to details. It shows what great care George Michael has gone to present a product that is close to his heart. It also shows what a great artist George Michael really is and how we've taken his name and dragged it thru the mud just because of a careless indiscretion in a Hollywood men's restroom, a fact he will probably never live down (a sad shame). I wish his longtime fans will give "OLDER" a chance and get grooved to the beautiful songs George Michael has presented us. Hell, he even throws in "FAST LOVE" which sounds like a carry over from "FAITH". All in all, a beautiful work of art from "Curious George". Well done. March 30, 2008

LOVE IT!

Does George Michael ever come out with a Bad CD?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Must have! December 21, 2007

Every night without fail!

I accidentally discovered this CD when visiting a potential lover at his home. I realized later on that it was the music that turned me on, not the guy. Bye bye Bill, hello George! This music is so tender, so sexy, so heartfelt, I swoon every time I listen which is literally every night I'm home. The more I listen, the more I love it! October 26, 2007

More reviews at Amazon.com ...