Pink.....and Blue! (M!ssundaztood - P!nk)

Member Name: paulhanton

Product:	M!ssundaztood - P!nk
Date:	23/08/08 (178 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Surprised me with some stunning tracks.

Disadvantages: Lot's of silly, poppy rubbish.

M!ssundaztood - Pink

Now I don't remember getting this CD, my wife denies buying it and my son says 'yeh right, as if'.

So how it got to us is a mystery, but as I am converting (still) my CD's to iTunes I thought I may as well give it a listen, especially as I recognise some of the songs. Released 2001.

~~Genre~~
I'm really not sure what I would call this....pop? pop-rock? Pop-punk?

~~~The Tracks~~~
1. Get the Party Started
A single hit, quite up, catchy, fun, okay, bit girl power for me 6/10.

2. 18 Wheeler
Soft rock, a la Sheryl Crow, decent tune, good voice, but boring as hell. 2/10.

3. M!ssundaztood
Hip hop back beat synth style, then she tries to sing/rap over the beat, it is just wrong, does not work at all. Then a minute or so in she begins to rap less and sing more and music comes in, bass guitar, bit of trumpet, piano. The same verse and chorus over and over, just builds in more music as it progresses, okay. 6/10.

4. Dear Diary
Nice guitar riff opening, feels good, then a sultry, sexy, almost whispering Pink comes in, good start. It gets better, she is clearly talking to her diary. Reminds me a bit of 'All Saints' style R&B, yet has clear individuality to it. I actually quite like this. 7/10.

5. Eventually
Strong bass and drums start with a few organ chords thrown in...almost like the intro to 'Whiter shade of pale'...(this chord structure continues throughout as an undertone, quite clever), then we hear another side to her voice, strong, sultry, controlled, mature, very soulful, jazzy and bluesy. Angsty ballad of a song. She is much better suited to this style of singing than the punky pop. 8/10.

6. Numb
Strange little start, back to the whisper rap, then gets a bit rocky.....been trying to think who she reminds me of.....Hazel O'Connor.....don't like this, never really takes off. 2/10.

7. Just like a Pill
I remember this coming out, I liked it then and still do. Very Sheryl Crow again, or alanis Morisette and also reminds me of 4 Non Blondes, which comes as no surprise as they helped produce this CD. I do like this, good mix of light, touch in the music and quite heavy lyrics, really works. I also like the almost 80's prog rock chorus, 8/10.

8. Family Portrait
Best song of the album, by far, great video too if you get a chance to watch it. Big bass and drum backing, few violins coming in and out. More importantly her voice is very strong and believable singing a quite heart rending song. The ending where she is singing/crying almost is quite magnificent, really, it is, and it always surprises me just how good it is. 10/10.

9. Misery, featuring Steven Tyler
Steven Tyler of Aerosmith? Yes!, blimey. Starts all soulful and bluesy and she actually sings a bit like Aretha, honestly, quite surprising...then Tyler comes in and does a verse all bluesy....honestly, suspend belief and listen to this, it really is very good, she can sing, and they should do more of these duets.....the guitar at the end and 'shoop, shoop' really, really work, becomes almost gospel and her final vocal solo, great voice, in fact, stunning. 9/10.

10. Respect, featuring Scratch
Haven't got a clue who is scratch is and don't wanna know, what a useless cliché of a song. 1/10.

11. Don't Let Me Get Me
Oh please, this is a complete rip off of female soft rock, could be Sheryl Crow, Shania Twain or anyone else, certainly not individual, not unpleasant, but damn boring. 2/10.

12. Gone to California
Synthesizer backing intro with a strong reverb vocal....has a very 70's soul/funk feel but she does not quite pull it off, close, but no trophy, the sax' solo pulls up the rating for me somewhat. 6/10.

13. Lonely Girl, featuring Linda Perry
Interesting intro, nice drum work, she sings this well, she is good at angsty stuff. Little bit formulaic and 'expected' but okay. 5/10.

14. My Vietnam
Very unexpected to find a song, even a title like this on this album. Really good use of drums and sound effects as the intro builds, then a nice repetitive use of guitar chords. The song is not about Vietnam, more about her life angst and her upbringing, dunno how much is true, but this is the 2nd such song on the CD...not as good as family portrait. 7/10.

15. Catch-22, bonus track
Not one for me....bonus? no thanks, too much like track 1. 2/10.

~~~Finally~~~
The pink cd cover and the picture of her do the CD no justice.

There are a lot of naff tracks on this CD, and yet....and yet, there are some stunning tracks that, if you did not have pre conceived notions about her, you would be hard pressed not to like. I have transferred tracks; 5, 7, 8, and 9 to my iTunes library. Worth getting if you can buy for less than £3 (you can).

Still don't know who bought it in our house, but I am happy to confess if needed.

Surprised of Barnsley!

Summary: Missunderstood - Pink