| | Macy Gray On How Life Is CD Macy Gray Discography of CDs
 (6 Customer Reviews)
"Do Something" was nominated for the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. "I Try" won the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. The song was nominated for Record Of The Year and Song Of The ... Full DescriptionYear.
It was no mean feat for an R&B singer debuting in 1999 to embody the aesthetics of vintage soul without resorting to retro '70s stylings. On her first album, Macy Gray manages to bring old-school values to a very contemporary sound. One is immediately struck by Gray's unique, sandpapery voice-something of a cross between Erykah Badu and Eartha Kitt. A powerhouse rhythm section ensures that the all-important groove remains the focal point of the arrangements, while production techniques borrowed from '90s DJ culture pop up throughout. Lyrically, Gray moves from the lustiness of the unambiguously titled "Sex-O-Matic Venus Freak" to the film noir scenario of "I've Committed Murder," all the while singing with enough verve and soul to ensure that her unique voice insinuates itself into the listener's heart.
Recorded at Paramount Studios, Sunset Sound and A&M Studios, Hollywood California.
Personnel includes: Macy Gray (vocals); Jon Brion (guitar, piano, Chamberlain, synthesizer, vibraphone, bells); Darryl Swann (guitar, programming, background vocals); Jinsoo Lim, Arrik Marshall, Bendrix Williams, Blackbird McKnight, Gabriel Moses, Miles Tackett (guitar); Ngozi "Guz" Inyama (saxophone); Jeremy Ruzumna (piano, organ, Clavinet, Farfisa organ, Moog synthesizer, background vocals); Patrick Warren (Chamberlain, synthesizer, vibraphone); David Wilder (bass, background vocals); Dion Derek Murdock (bass); Matt Chamberlain (drums, percussion); Lenny Castro (percussion); Kiilu Beckwith (programming); DJ Kiilu (turntable); Dawn Beckman, Musiic Galloway, Sye Smith (background vocals).
Rolling Stone (8/19/99, p.112) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...shadowy, classic and shimmering with contemporary nostalgia....Gray glides through the aural cinema like a destined star..."
Entertainment Weekly (8/6/99, p.64) - "...bounding from gritty urban funk to polished R&B and tumescent Princely come-ons...[MACY] shows how to use her versatile voice to project the albums ever-changing moods..." - Rating: B
Q (5/00, p.135) - Included in Q Magazine's "Best Soul Albums Of All Time"
Q (1/00, p.85) - Included in Q Magazine's "50 Best Albums of 1999."
Q (8/99, p.105) - 4 stars (out of 5) - "...her influences [are] Sly Stone, Aretha Franklin and Marvin Gaye....[MACY GRAY] bears the marks of all three, but with a decidedly modern feel....all 10 tracks are viable, both musically and lyrically..."
Muzik (1/00, p.69) - Ranked #11 in Muzik's "Albums Of The Year '99"
Muzik (8/99, p.82) - 4 stars (out of 5) - "...accessible modernsoul.free-spirited productions with warmth and timeless appeal in abundance."
Mojo (Publisher) (1/00, p.30) - Ranked #4 in Mojo Magazine's "Best of 1999" Hide Description On How Life Is Music | Category | Rock/Pop Albums, Rock CDs, R&B, Rap, Urban Soundtrack, Soul/R&B, Contemporary R&B, Enhanced CD | | Label | Epic | | Orig Year | 1999 | | All Time Sales Rank |  99   | | CD Universe Part number | 1140804 | | Catalog number | 69490 | | Discs | 1 | | Release Date | Jul 27, 1999 | | Studio/Live | Studio | | Mono/Stereo | Stereo | | Producer | Andrew Slater | | Engineer | Dave Way | | Personnel | Lenny Castro - percussion
Patrick Warren - Chamberlain, synthesizer, vibraphone
Matt Chamberlain - drums, percussion
Jon Brion - guitar, piano, Chamberlain, synthesizer, vibraphone, bells
Beck - programming
Macy Gray - vocals
Miles Tackett - guitar
Jeremy Ruzumna - piano, organ, Clavinet, Farfisa organ, Moog synthesizer, background vocals
DJ - turntable
Blackbird McKnight
List all 20 contributors
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Macy Gray On How Life Is Songs On How Life Is Music Review Average Rating: (4.3 out of 5 stars)   List All Reviews If you like "I Try"...
After hearing Macy Gray on SNL for the first time I ordered this CD on the strength of "I Try" and believe me, if you like that one song you will love the whole CD. Besides her voice, which I love, she has a vast array of stories in her songs. You can't go wrong with this CD.
Submitted by a reviewer (bethel, oh) 
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
 the very best!!!
I really like Macy Grays cd!!!It is very good.My favorite song is ''I Try''.I really like the music video to it!!!You go girl!!!
Submitted by unica (embudo,nm)
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MACY GRAY IS AWESOME
Macy Gray is an awesome artist! Her cd is great, so I would adivse you to buy her album!
Submitted by a reviewer (coral springs, fl)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No this is great- go buy it!
macy has a great voice- the underlying feel of the tracks hint of blues, R&B, but unmistakenly, her voice and the beat gives you an idea that you aint gonna just be sitting on your couch, falling asleep.
its a cool blend of R&B & trip-hop.
it will keep you wanting more.
if your into the new-age black music, go out and get this CD now!
Submitted by a reviewer (singapore)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No The Third Wish
If I had to use my last wish for a CD,I wouldn"t be disapointed if Macy Gray"s "ON How Life Is" was the answer. Will alive album follow? Three Wishes
Submitted by a reviewer (New York, N.Y.)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No List All Reviews | Have you heard this album? |  |
Purchase On How Life Is CD To buy, Click on price to add to cart | N Sync No Strings Attached CD (2000)
On How Life Is album
 $9.75 
NO STRINGS ATTACHED was nominated for the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album. "Bye Bye Bye" was nominated for the 2001 Grammy Award for Record Of The Year and for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.
It would be easy to dismiss N Sync off the cuff as the second band to reach popularity in a passing fad (the resurgence of photogenic boy groups). With the success of fellow Orlando-ites Backstreet Boys, one might assume N Sync would be forever overshadowed. However, when you sell 2.4 million copies of one record in its first week, you've pretty much earned the removal of the epithet, "passing fad." On NO STRINGS, N Sync pulls off feats of wonder through taking a formula and injecting ...
| | Smashing Pumpkins Machina: The Machines Of God CD (2000)
On How Life Is CD music
$14.19 
On Smashing Pumpkins' fifth studio album, prodigal drummer Jimmy Chamberlain was brought back into the fold as bassist ...
| | Sting Brand New Day CD (1999)
On How Life Is music CDs
$12.65
BRAND NEW DAY won the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Pop Album. "Brand New Day" won the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Performance.
BRAND NEW DAY continues Sting's sophisticated approach toward pop music as he once again collaborates with ace musicians on material that knows no cultural or stylistic boundaries. Not surprisingly, the tantric guru chooses love as the theme for this eclectic collection of songs.
Sting's cross-cultural forays range from a collaboration with Algerian singing sensation Cheb Mami on the Ofra Haza-meets-William Orbit "Desert Rose" to the bossa nova-influenced "Big Lie Small World." There's a jazz patina throughout--guest ...
| | Tracy Chapman Telling Stories CD (2000)
On How Life Is songs
$6.39
There's nothing particularly fancy about Tracy Chapman's particular brand of folk-rock; she just blends the folk into the rock more appealingly than most anyone out there. Her music has enough verve to have vaulted her out of obscurity twice. Her fifth jaunt, TELLING STORIES, continues her charming consistency with ...
| | Red Hot Chili Peppers Californication CD (1999)
On How Life Is album
$15.65 
| | Capitol Steps Live At The Shoreham CD (1985)
On How Life Is CD music
$11.99
| | Bass Ryder Kick It Down Lo CD (1999) Edited
On How Life Is music CDs
$13.89
| | Sweet Honey In The Rock Women Gather CD (2003)
On How Life Is songs
$12.89
| | Hed Kandi: Twisted Disco 2003 CD (2003) (Import) United Kingdom
On How Life Is album
$24.55
| | Byrdie N Flight CD (2004)
On How Life Is CD music
$13.45
| | House Deluxe Vol. 9 CD (2005)
$37.59 | | Bright Light Fever Presents The Evening Owl CD (2006)
On How Life Is music CDs
$12.35
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