Author: Jernej Vene
Artist: Bolton, Michael
Label: Universal Music Group
Release: 2009
Length: 45:16
Rating: 2.9/5
The descendant of Russian emigrants has been known to the wider pop audience since the mid-eighties. He was born in 1953 as Michael Bolotin in New Haven, Connecticut. He cut his first single in 1968 for Epic. In the seventies he made two full-length records, and some people compared his voice to Joe Cocker’s. Bolton is a notch more polished, at least when it comes to the raspiness. He also has two records with the little-known band Blackjack behind him, and ever since he set out on the thorny path of a solo career in 1983, he first put out two albums of slick, polished hard rock that didn’t bring him much success. The second one especially, called Everybody’s Crazy, got a friendly reception from critics and specialist listeners. In 1983 he made a name for himself as the writer of the ballad How Am I Supposed To Live Without You, which he wrote for the sadly late Laura Branigan. Six years later he recorded it himself, and it became his biggest hit. The golden years of multi-platinum sales came to an end in the mid-nineties, but Bolton still learned to stay friendly and down-to-earth after his time at the top of the charts. Fame goes to most people’s heads, and then the trouble starts… Michael Bolton also kept his career ticking along nicely with cover albums, the most successful of which are both from the Classics series, and he even ventured into opera arias, which can only be welcomed as an amateur experiment. Michael Bolton is one of those sincere interpreters who color mellow ballads, rock tunes and faster, half-soul numbers with a sorrowful voice. One World One Love is his first collection of new songs since 2002. In between he experimented a lot with cover albums and orchestral reworkings of classics, which has been the trend among older rockers in recent years, with Rod Stewart leading the pack. It really is hard to keep a successful career going, especially in today’s music climate, without trampling on your own name.
When it comes to interpretive skills, Bolton has never disappointed. He shows off his top-notch vocal chops on the current record too. But you can definitely hear a touch of 2009 in there as well, especially in the production. As far as the sound goes, it’s all clear: the foundation is crafted with watchmaker precision using the most modern tools, and the production team added some instruments as much-needed puzzle pieces to complete the final picture. Two duets, or rather one and a half, along with the almost obligatory covers, add some extra variety to One World One Love. Just how much of an impression the young Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, aka Lady Ga Ga, made on the veteran’s soul is clear from the glowing tribute he dedicated to her in the liner notes. The two clicked on the track Murder My Heart, which isn’t a real duet, since Lady Ga Ga only helps out with backing vocals. Still, it’s a successful marketing move.
Michael Bolton has jumped on the train currently riding the charts, but the question is whether it’ll win him the main target buying group, namely young people under 25. That’s surely a question for experts outside of music, too. The songs honestly don’t bother me, quite the opposite: some of them could easily be sung by one of today’s famous young starlets and would surely top the charts. The young production team and some of the co-writers, Ne-Yo among them, have reaffirmed Bolton and bolstered his confidence.
With the current record One World One Love, Michael Bolton has once again served up lovely, dreamy lyrics and sweet-sounding melodies. Ever since Bolton’s career shifted from hard rock waters to gentler, mellower currents, his audience has changed too. His fan base includes more and more women, reportedly more than three quarters of it. Michael Bolton is a singer whose voice spans four octaves, which isn’t exactly a common trait among pop stars, and listeners recognize him by his timbre in an instant. And since Bolton is American, his producers always go all out to put everything in exactly the right place, because great record production is part of success in America. On some albums he also tackled a few old hits, and on One World One Love that chance went to Sign Your Name by Terence Trent D’Arby and Crazy Love by Van Morrison. With his powerful, velvety voice and devoted interpretations, he always reaches the hearts of female listeners, without drowning in sappiness the way Julio Iglesias or Barry Manilow do.
Lineup
Michael Bolton – vocals, guitar
Michael Thompson – guitar
Lady Ga Ga – vocals
Ne-Yo – vocals
Production
Michael Bolton
Track list
1. Ready For You
2. Just One Love
3. Need You To Fall
4. Hope It’s Too Late
5. Can You Feel Me
6. The Best
7. Murder My Heart
8. You Comfort Me
9. Sign Your Name
10. Invisible Tattoo
11. Survivor
12. Crazy Love
