Idina Menzel - I Stand(Music review by Paula Felps as posted on Walmart.com)About the Album
Having already made her name as a musical actress on both the stage and film, Idina Menzel is now taking her talents as a singer/songwriter to a broader audience. For her third solo album, the Tony Award-winning actress from the hit Broadway shows Wicked and Rent melds her theatrical training with pop sensibilities, and the results are absolutely outstanding. For this outing, Menzel has teamed up with producer/songwriter Glen Ballard, the genius behind Alanis Morissette's multi-platinum 1995 album, Jagged Little Pill. Ballard, who also has worked with such well-known names as Celine Dion, Christina Aguilera and Annie Lennox, co-wrote more than half of the songs on this disc. But don't expect the kind of frothing venom found on Morissette's Pill; even in its most painful moments, I Stand is a beautiful, thoughtful album. Far more polished than Menzel's first two (independent) releases, this major-label debut is an incredible showcase of both her musical and emotional range. Opening with the title track, Menzel immediately establishes a sense of power and confidence. "I Stand" has a theatrical feel to it and would be right at home on a Broadway stage. It's an anthem that declares her undying faith in a better world and encourages others to do the same. It's a rousing start to the album, and she only continues building momentum from there. The disc's first single, "Brave," is another collaboration with Ballard, and it's surprisingly vulnerable, even as it searches for strength. As a relationship comes to an end, she stands at the doorway to her future, trying to gather her courage and find hope in the remnants of her life. It is a completely compelling cut that Menzel delivers with warmth and conviction. Like a toned-down "I Will Survive," "Brave" sees her gradually collecting her power and finding the self-encouragement to move on. On "Gorgeous" Menzel unleashes an irresistible, upbeat chorus with words to match; on "Don't Let Me Down," she delivers a powerful, haunting message. Written by Peter-John Vettese and James Blunt, "Don't Let Me Down" is another case of reaching deep inside to find strength and encouragement. Again, it comes off as anthemic and delivers a lasting sense of empowerment. Although largely upbeat and encouraging, Menzel does offer up a couple of cuts for those who want to lick the wounds of a broken heart. "Better To Have Loved" takes an old adage and expands upon it with heart-wrenching detail, while "My Own Worst Enemy" looks at her ability to destroy the very thing she has worked so hard to find. "I Feel Everything" is the Ballard/Menzel update of Morissette's "You Oughta Know." Although not nearly as direct or outspoken, it is wracked with the lingering pain of a broken relationship, and Menzel nails the emotion in every note. Menzel wrote "Forever" herself, and it is a beautiful, wistful ballad that looks sadly back at a love that was supposed to last forever. She tries dissecting the relationship to figure out what went wrong but ultimately is left hurt and puzzled by love's shortcomings. With I Stand, Menzel steps into a new realm. Here, she will be accessible to fans beyond the scope of musical theater or her independent releases. And it is here that she will be allowed to become the star that she is.
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