Braun, Norine - Now & Zen

Year of Release: 2002
Label: Braun And Brains Music
Catalog Number: n/a
Format: CD
Total Time: 46:29:00

Nobody could ever say Norine Braun stays with one style or formula on her album Now & Zen. She is all over the musical map, stretching out her vocals into pop, rock, hip-hop, jazz, spoken word, blues? well you name it and she has it covered. Albums like this always interest me and keep me captivated. Eclectic is the operative word here and it is obviously Braun's modus operandi to present variety with her projects.

The two tracks that I thought were the most engaging musically and lyrically were ?Buffalo Nights? and ?J'en Suis Desolee.? The catchy pop flavorings and rhythms are what hooked me with those tunes; I found them to be quite beguiling. I never enjoy rap or hip-hop and somehow Braun was able to change my mindset and my feet found a groove and my head was bopping. This caught me be surprise entirely. Just when I condemn a style of music for one reason or another it turns around and proves me wrong.

The best way to describe what Braun does beyond offering tremendous selection of styles is to say that her music is over the edge into the realm of avant-garde yet not overtly risqu?. Each style presented will certainly be clear to your ears. To keep the listener focused on the message in every song, the artist brilliantly executes a cross-cultural mixture of sounds and emotion. This CD was different, original, and primarily fresh and inviting. I am a happy customer.

Tracklisting:
Jade (3:34) / Now & Zen (3:59) / Intimate Hour (4:39) / Buffalo Nights (4:55) / J'en Suis Desolee (4:16) / I'm the 1 (4:05) / Survival of the Richest (2:42) / Gently (3:57) / Maya (1:03) / Understanding (3:30) / Maya (0:52) / Be Brave (2:39) / Lucky 13 (5:00) / Move The Clouds (3:58)

Musicians:
Norine Braun - lead and background bocals, rapper and whistler, rhythm guitar
James Bowers - lead guitar, bass, keys, drums, percussion, harmonica and violin
Corbin Keep - cello

Discography:
Modern Anguish (1996)
Miles To Go (1999)
Crow (2000)
Norine Braun and The Moodswings (2001)
Now & Zen (2003)
Evolution Of The Blood Star (2007)
Acoustically Inclined (2008)

Genre: Other

Origin CA

Added: October 19th 2003
Reviewer: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck
Score:
Artist website: www.norinebraun.com
Hits: 2154
Language: english