The Sea

I may be going out on a limb here but I believe that in 10 years this album will be as revered as Marvin Gaye's HERE MY DEAR. It is what contemporary music should strive to be: honest & emotional.I was truly saddened by the death of Corinne's husband and worried (selfishly) that she'd pull a "Sade" & disappear from the music scene forever or at least for a very long time. However when I heard that she had a new album coming out, I was cautiously optimistic - I mean really after such a loss I didn't expect sunny, happy songs & anticipated sad songs expressing emotions about her loss.I've been listening to this album on & off for months now and have gained a huge appreciation for it. It's better than her debut in a different way; this collection feels cathartic, moody & simmering - the same excellent musical arrangements & tender vocals coupled with intelligent lyrics can be found & yes there's also a little melancholy but it's a creative step forward for her music.As we all know as music fans, a lead single can slow, kill or boost a project and although I love I'D DO IT ALL AGAIN, the video was really sad and because Corinne is one of those people who radiates "goodness" it really hurt to watch the video while listening to the track because I could feel her pain. But as I listened to the album over and over, I really couldn't pick which other track they could have released first. I suspect that a lot of people who supported her debut felt the need to pass on this project for this reason but like I said in the beginning, years will go by and more people will listen to this album and be unable to put it down.My favorite tracks are:CLOSER - so glad they've released it as a single, its a sexy mid-tempo track;THE SEA - tender, sweet ballad;THE BLACKEST LILY - frisky up-tempo 60's vibe;PARIS NIGHTS/NEW YORK MORNINGS - another fun up-tempo track (loved the video, the dress she wears in it give me LIFE!!);DIVING FOR HEARTS - haunting lyrics;LOVE'S ON ITS WAY - amazing lyrics that really speak to present day world conditions & like her lyrics, I too pray "love is on its way and that it won't be too late"I hope that people who bought it and were disappointed give it time and a few more listens while those who didn't buy it upon release, discover it.

To me Corinne Bailey Rae is the essence of great music. Her first album put her in a position where most artists cannot even dream of being. Her first album I would say is summer, where as 'The Sea' is more the fall/winter season. But that doesn't make it any less interesting. I think it might be better. It shows her incredible talent off so well. She is such an amazing singer/songwriter with a voice like no other. Her music is so intimate and personal. She writes from experience and that is easy to tell. It makes her music very easy to relate to, also one feels very connected to her listening to her music. Rae experienced a huge tragedy in her life recently, and this album reflects that. Which I admire - she is a brilliant songwriter. But the album is not just about sadness. It's a perfect combination of all of the ups and downs life brings to each one of us. Some stand out tracks to me are 'I'd Do It All Again', 'Closer', 'Paris Nights/New York Mornings' - really you can't go wrong on any of the tracks of the album. It's a stand out album.Corinne Bailey Rae's The sea is an album that should be in everyone's library.

corinne bailey rae's 'the sea' is a darkly seductive follow up to her debut album. in her debut album, rae took a quick dip in to dark, seductive territory; on this disc she wades right in and brings back some wonderful sounds.although the whole album is a treat, my personal favorites run right in a line from the beginning of the disc. 'are you here' must be inspired by the boyfriend she lost tragically a few years ago. and if it isn't, whoever this man is or was, he is wonderful. rae's voice floats like silk over the dense rock-textured refrain this song. and she is even more transcendent on 'i'd do it all again', the second track on the collection.she hits a rhythmic stride in 'feels like the first time', which features a piano riff straight out of the early recordings of aretha franklin, and stays in this vein for the funky, high spirited 'the blackest lily'. then, she pays a tribute to prince styled soul with the ballad 'closer'. this phrase is so over-used, and i apologize for using it, but 'closer' is HOT! no, HAWT! and i wasn't ready for it but now i can't get enough of it.and i can't get enough of this cd. it was one of the best investments i made in 2010.

...but, rather, submerge. Corienne has done it again; given us an album filled with hidden chambers discovered over time. I'm a bigger fan of Ms. Rae than ever. I liked The Sea more the 2nd time I played it than the 1st & the 3rd time I found myself trying to sing along even though I didn't know the words yet. Compared to the 1st CD, her sophmore album definately has a brooding, darker current running throughout; she has scar tissue now. Even when Corienne sang of heartbreak & frustration on CBR, there was underlying hope & optimism. On The Sea, however, the sad songs are just sadness made pretty; there are no irrepressible peeks of buoyant cheer. That said, there are songs, like Paris Nights, & Paper Dolls to make you bop your head & the overall feel of this album leaves a warm sense of satisfaction. I really liked I Would Like to Call It Beauty. My favorite is Blackest Lily, it jams with a raw bluesiness that brings to mind a live music set in a smoky cavern of a hole-in-the-wall juke joint, the bourbon burn blooming sweet in your chest. The lines "I was afraid of nothing when you called," "I wanted it more than I ever knew" & then later "you laid a trail to lead straight to your door" are examples of the lyrical treasures that await you.