Let's Make Out! (C'mon, just a smooch...)
His new solo album, the 12-track You're Only Lonely, is a mostly covers collection whose sole (soul?) function is to show off Malo's all-world pipes. The album art and the quiet musical vibe hark back to '60s cocktail cool and conversation pits. This is music for lovers only (or at least friends with benefits). Sure, Rod Stewart has ruined covers albums for everyone, but Malo's disc is unmistakably original. He puts such heartbreaking spin on J.D. Souther's title track ("When the world is ready to fall on your little shoulders") and Etta James' version of At Last, it's as if you're hearing them for the first time. On Willie Nelson's Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground, Malo invites some powerhouse gospel mavens to join him, but that's mainly to make his vocal derring-do even more impressive. Two versions of Randy Newman's heart-wrenching Feels Like Home appear on You're Only Lonely: One Malo performs alone, the other a duet with country darling Martina McBride. Both renditions are sublime, but I flinch at the idea of boozy karaoke couples butchering the duet for years to come. After all, some songs are for listening purposes only
Born with one of the smoothest, most seductive voices in popular music, the Mavericks' Raul Malo is a classic "phonebook singer," a husky, hirsute 40-year-old who could croon the Yellow Pages and have you naked by the time he gets to Air Conditioning Contractors.
Sean Daly is the pop music critic for the St. Petersburg Times. His CD collection -- from Journey to Dylan, Prince to U2, Public Enemy to Stan Getz -- is much bigger and better than yours.
10 Must-Have Mavericks Songs:"The Air That I Breathe""What a Crying Shame""Dance the Night Away""Tell Me Why""All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down""Something Stupid""I Want to Know""Shine Your Light""Time Goes By""All That Heaven Will Allow"
Posted by: Sean Daly | July 25, 2006 at 04:00 PM
As good as he is on CD, Malo is even better in a live setting. Saw the Mavericks a few years ago at the 9:30 Club in DC and was blown away. While their original songs were great, it was their ability to take well-known songs (Air That I Breathe, All that Heaven Will Allow) and make them their own that was even more remarkable.With the Mavericks supposedly defunct, do yourself a favor and catch Malo live. You'll probably have to travel to do so, but it will be an experience you will never forget. P.S. - I'd add Malo's "I Said I Loved You" from his first solo CD as a bonus track to your Must-Have list, Daly.
Posted by: Guy | July 25, 2006 at 08:55 PM