Moonlight Serenade
,
Carly Simon
's fourth collection of
standards
in 25 years, digs a little deeper than her previous outings. Perhaps it's the plethora of
outings by popular artists --
Rod Stewart
's done three in a row -- perhaps it's because of her pedigree and background; perhaps it's simply because she thinks she can pull it off; and indeed she can. She delivers these 12 songs with panache, savvy, and just a touch of sass. Produced by
Richard Perry
, these tracks are not so much elegant as enigmatic.
Simon
appreciates the
swing
inherent in delivering a
standard
, even if it's a
ballad
. Her smoky voice lends itself well to
"I've Got You Under My Skin"
and
"My One and Only Love,"
and her sense of theatrics is drop-dead gorgeous on
"I Only Have Eyes for You,"
which is a bit of a radical reworking that actually works. The slippery delivery on these songs -- her read of
"All the Things You Are,"
for example, may be considered vulgar by some, but it's utterly lovely and brave -- is what lends them their unique, sexy character. This isn't for everyone, but it's a winner nonetheless. ~ Thom Jurek