Punishing Kiss

The instrumentation is good for the most part. Her vocals are overdramatic too often. I quite liked Passionate Fight. The last song is a real drag though.

4/5. Had no idea who this was but the Broadway background shines through and surprising it translates so well through a studio album. This was really good with dramatic and well-written songs from multiple artists, through Ute's powerful voice with great instrumentation following her lead. Felt like I was listening to a play, missing the talking parts in between the songs.

Enjoyed this but wouldn’t put on again. Too close to (listening to) Elvis Costello.

Album 223 of 1001 Ute Lemper - Punishing Kiss Rating : 3 / 5 It was like listening to a female Leonard Cohen with a bunch of guest performers who seem like Leonard Cohen. Pretty relaxing sounds, actually. Very interesting listen. Interesting. Not necessarily musically outstanding.

Musikaalimusiikkia, paljon fiilistelyitä ja tunnelmointia. Taustamusiikiksi sopivaa, mutta aktiivisessa kuuntelussa keskittyminen herpaantuu nopeasti. Ei yhtään huono, varsinkin kun en ollut koskaan kuullut ko. artistista.

The first song was great, I loved it. Great vocals, and lots of influence from Bjork, Kate Bush and even Shirley Bassey. The rest, though, were all in show tune style, which I didn't really like but understand that is her background. That being said, I also felt there were Bond theme vibes occasionally,and maybe this was a type of audition for her to potentially sing a future James Bond theme...which I think she would have been brilliant at. If I can find her singing non-show songs, (I bet she'd be a great jazz singer!) I would definitely listen to her again.

The fuck…? I have never heard of this artist, but this album is fun. Kind of like Goldfrapp meets Liza Minnelli. YMMV but this is so far mostly pretty good. She’s a great vocalist.

Lyrics were intense music was good

This one really does feel like a punishment to me. Can't even get to the end

Feels like the soundtrack to a stage show. I enjoyed the quirky lyrics. Fave song is probably Die Dreigroschenoper: Tango Ballad

Bit of a puzzling inclusion on the list as Robert Dimery barely seems to know that continental Europe exists, but hearing Neil Hannon appear in a song and then reading that this is a side project of his, it suddenly makes sense. Really, Dimery shoulda included The Duckworth Lewis Method if he wanted to add some more Hannon - a cricket themed indie pop concept album would have provoked some delightful reviews from our cousins across the pond. 😆 This album is alright, I guess - some of the songs work a lot better than others. Fave track - "The Case Continues" for being Bond theme-esque, and "Scope J" for being Bond credits music-esque...

track 2 review: what if we took some of Nick Cave's worst impulses (bloated overwrought murder ballads) as a template for an orchestral music singer showpiece? what. if. guessing it's basically the same for the rest of the authors. will I regret not listening to each to see if this deserves a 1 instead of a 2? no. music: hated. (⌐■_■)

This sounds like the soundtrack for a musical that doesn’t exist, which makes it very unappealing to me. Impressive vocalist, can imagine someone loving this, but not me.

Oof. Absolutely not. First album on here that I couldn't get through.

This is not for me. Ute Lemper is an excellent vocalist. Hopefully she's doing some Disney soundtracks and making a living. Including this on the list feels like someone's pet project. We all know someone that tries to get you to like music that you just don't for whatever reason: "C'mon man! You HAVE to hear this!!!" It's okay. Very heavy-handed. Maybe for another time. Elvis Costello jumped the shark a while back when he tried to do a Country album (yeah, I said it). Considering skipping blatant attempts at taste making on this list in the future.

Not my usual vibe but fairly enjoyable. Little water song I was thinking sounded like a female Nick Cave and yeah, sure enough 🥲

22 Based on this scale: 1 - 0 to 19 2 - 20 to 39 3 - 40 to 59 4 - 60 to 79 5 - 80 to 100 Cabaret music. She has a good voice, but it's cabaret music. This is about as high a score as it can get.

Soft 3

A bit too musical and dramatic singing to me.

Major “Miranda Sings” vibes but I don’t think she was trying to be funny. Wow. That was rough.

Well that's a trip!

An interesting one. I've never heard about it or even seen the cover. Interesting moody songs. Some moments of the album feel very intense.

Mid

Part You Throw Away, Case Continues

Strange album. It sounds like it's way older than from 2000 somehow. If lining up all of the different famous artists on the album cover was going to be selling, it unfortunately didn't contribute to it being actually good. Ute sounds like a competent singer, but the songs just weren't for at all.

Ugh, this started off mediocre and quickly deteriorated to bad. I love musicals so this should be right up my alley but it is not. It sounds like a collection of musical numbers that got rejected from the good musicals. The songs are all over the place and I didn't think any of them were particularly good. "Tango Ballad" might have been the worst offender, where I needed to skip it due to the vocals. I initially thought "The Case continous" might be an ok number until the line "If sex was an olympic sport we would've won the gold" which is so cringy it sounds like something Zapp Branningan from futurama would say. The more I think about it the more confused I get about how this album made it on this list. Other one stars I've given have just not been my cup of tea or I could at least see they did something different. While this might not be as bad as other one star albums, and some songs are even ok, this is bland which might be worse than being bad and different.

Weird. No thanks

Meh

Ugh! Shite! Who needs any form of talent eh? Middle class masterbation

This album is worth a listen for fans of cabaret, chanson, and art pop. It showcases Lemper's talent and versatility as a singer and interpreter of songs. It is also a tribute to the legacy of Kurt Weill and his influence on modern music. However, the album is not too my personal taste. I felt that some of the songs were too similar to each other and lacked variety. I appreciate the artistic value of the album, but I won't be listening to it again anytime soon. I would give this album 3 out of 5 stars. It is an important album that deserves more attention and appreciation than it has received, but it is not for everyone.

I didn't really understand any of this

Ute Lemper’s Punishing Kiss is a bold, ballsy showcase of her strong, theatrical voice. While she brings real power and personality to the songs, she isn’t weighed down by the larger-than-life fame of someone like Streisand — which is honestly a plus. The album is mostly pretty inoffensive and easy to listen to, with a few genuinely great melodies shining through. 3/5.

Nicht so meins.

Bombastic, overwrought vocals throughout. Technically might be great singing talent but I can't appreciate the songwriting or genre at all.

The Divine Comedy *and* Costello? This is going to be awful. ... Yep. Awful.

Best Song: The Case Continues. Suave, sultry. Sounds like it could be a Bond song. Worst Song: Die Dreigroschenoper: Tango Ballad. Far too campy for me. Also, much of the lyrics seem wholly unfit for the instrumentals, so the vocalists have to rush the phrasing to finish in time. Overall: Nice vocals paired with nice songwriting here, although (seemingly be the nature of the project) the songs are really eclectic, which detracts from any sense of cohesion the album might have.

This was so up-its-own-ass it was crazy. Cabaret is a unique genre to cover on this list but maybe not be terrible?

This sounds like a Broadway musical gone wrong, terribly wrong. It's a shame because they had some interesting things going on.

What a squad! This is a very cool art music collaboration from artists I'd never have put together. I guess I can forgive Elvis Costello for being a total derp.

This album is so cool! It's like if Mitski was in a Disney movie. And of course Tom Waits. It feels very dramatic and showey like it's part of a gritty broadway musical, I'm here for it.

Interesting, and diverse but it really just isn't my jam.

For a rock singer, Ute is a pretty good stage singer. Her over-emphasis on a LOT of the songs made it feel like I was listening to a cast recording of some Broadways show. It was all... a bit too much.

Meh. Lemper's got a decent voice and the whole album felt like a cross between old-timey jazz (Sinatra style) and baroque or orchestral. I didn't mind it, enjoyed certain parts a fair bit, but I'm not going to go out of my way to look for more of her stuff.

Wow, I liked this much more than I expected. I figured this was going to be a 3 after reading description. Instead, I found the album captivating from start to finish. She has a very dramatic singing style that just works. I've been listening to the album for days and want to keep on listening. I'll call that a 5. Favorite tracks: Little Water Song (great start to the album - pulled me right in), The Case Continues, You Were Meant for Me (particularly the ending), and Scope J (mysterious, somewhat bizarre, but I really liked it). EDIT: In retrospect, I think I scored this too high. I enjoyed it, but definitely shouldn't be a 5. Rescored to a 4.

god its so boring. its a little interesting and the orchestra is great but god its soooo boring

Little Water Song - 7.5/10 The Case Continues - 8/10 Costello: Passionate Fight- 8/10 Weill: Die Dreigroschenoper Tango Ballad - 8/10 Couldn't You Keep That to Yourself -8/10 Streets of Berlin - 8/10 The Part You Throw Away - 7.5/10 Split - 8/10 Punishing Kiss - 8/10 Purple Avenue - 8/10 You Were Meant for Me - 8/10 Scope J - 7/10 TOTAL - 94/120

Strange but two or three songs were listenable.

Weird, kind of intangible. Really not my vibe, but sort of awesome.

Some fun tunes but nothing I'll come back to

WHY DOES THIS GUY LIKE THE DIVINE COMEDY SO MUCH

If this was punishing in any way I might have actually enjoyed it.

Thought I’d hate it but the humour and gothiness pushed me through

Punishing Kiss? Punishing listen.

I was expecting to strongly dislike this, as I usually dislike cabaret style music, but this was not bad. Yes, it was a bit dramatic and cabaret-ish, but it wasn't over the top on that front and was balanced out by interesting songs and guest performers. Still not something I would listen to regularly but I'm glad to hear it once. 3 stars.

Je ne connaissais absolument pas (mais beaucoup des invités des compositeurs, si par contre). Excellente découverte. Je n'ai pas aimé /Die Dreigroschenoper/ mais tout le reste c'est ma came (notamment /little water song/ et /you were meant for me/). Impressionnante maîtrise vocale, bonnes instrumentations.

J'ai vraiment vraiment bien aimé, c'était une super découverte. Les chansons sont très bien choisies et très bien interprétées, et l'orchestration en mode intense est fort bien employée. Une cool façon d'aborder les chansons à la Tom Waits ou autre qui peuvent parfois manquer de musicalité.

For all the precisely articulated drama, this gets pretty meh pretty quickly. And record that focuses on top-class vocals compromises itself with lines like "If sex were an Olympic sport/We'd have won the gold." She's got a strong voice (obvs), but this doesn't come off. The horns are too much here, the strings too syrupy there, not to mention several moments where the songs feel overpowered by unnecessary emoting. "Tango Ballad" is lurid lyrically, but musically excellent. Odd that most of the standout moments are about the sounds more so than the vocals (see end of "Passionate Flight" and the intro of "Die Dreigro" and the accordion solo flourishes on the Tom Waits tunes, which seem most suited, among the contributors, to her stylings. This is not exactly Kate Bush, but more for people who like a certain old style of talky cabaret singing and don't mind a bit of anachronistic udpating. Perhaps she should stick to lieder, chanson and Weimar schtick.

This was an album that feels like it could’ve been made for a play or a movie. Not quite sure the overall appeal of it other than for people who like to feel superior over others. The singing was good from Ute Lemper. The other people singing brought it down a little. Overall there isn’t anything I find worth revisiting here. 3.9/10

Totally worthless and actively detrimental to music.

Punishing Kiss is a 2000 classical/pop album by German singer Ute Lemper. Ute sings tracks with/from the backing band - the Divine Comedy - and compositions from other artists such as Nick Cave, Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, Philip Glass, Scott Walker, and Kurt Weill. There is also a French version of this album containing three bonus songs entirely in French. This album performed decently well in Europe and specifically the UK. Ute Lemper is a beautiful singer and it was nice to hear these tracks, although it's not the type of music I'm usually into.

Had some difficulty to finish the album. I tried it before but the songs did not stick, just like on this occasion. Too much late-period Elvis Costello and too little Divine Comedy perhaps.

These are mainly redundant covers of in some cases quite nice songs, and toward the end it becomes a struggle to keep listening.

I love Ute's voice and the other artists on this album are amazing but in all it doesn't quite do it for me

Extremely dramatic, story driven lyrics. Interesting

Unlike a lot of reviewers here, I've been exposed to some of this kind of European theatrical avant garde music before (Bowie was a fan of this style, and a few of his deep cuts lean in this direction). While it's not my usual thing, I don't dismiss it out of hand. This definitely had its moments, but overall I found it to be quite inconsistent, which makes sense given the wide variety of songwriters involved. I'm not mad that I listened to it (always good to try something new) but I certainly don't agree that it's essential listening.

"I mean it's alright" - Cupcake Lover

😑

An interesting album for sure. Dramatic vocal stylings. Unique songs that fit her voice and style well. I especially liked The Case Continues and the opener Little Water Song. 3.5 stars

Outoa, musikaalimaista, tylsähköä, outoja lyriikoita. I had the brain, you had breast??? Russians are going

Punishing, yes. Kiss? Not nearly as pleasurable.

I like the backing band, and the instrumentation, but it's a bit too dramatic for me after a few songs.

It's not terrible, the instrumentation and songwriting is generally pretty good. Her voice is the main thing turning me off, it doesn't sound very good to me at all, especially when she really tries to push it. Also the cabaret angle just sounds a bit goofy in here too. Can't see myself coming back to it.

Tellement d'éléments intéressant pour que le produit final soit complètement oubliable. Je ne sais pas l'expliquer, mais tout semblait si grandiose et si drabe à la fois. Malheureusement ça m'a complètement laissé indiférent, et c'est exactement le genre d'album dont je doute le besoin d'inclusion ici. 4/10

Felt like I was listening to the recording/score to a theatre show. Didn't really enjoy much here, but it definitely was an interesting listen

This sounds like a musical from another era and the fact a lot of the songs are covers it's hard to tell. It has an interesting sound that oddly appealing at times. Not my music of choice, but it is okay to listen outside of your comfort zone sometimes, right?

A complete nobody collaborates with famous avant-garde musicians to produce a cinematic stream of music that takes from classical, jazz, ambient, cabaret, and world music. It really does sound like a movie soundtrack, a mix of classical arrangements and loud synths. There's a lot of interesting instrumentals with unusual rhythms and instruments, but it goes too quickly and doesn't ever satisfy. I also hate Lemper's voice, and it feels like she's singing on top of the music. But sometimes it feels the other way around, like how "Split" keeps repeating and dragging on for her, which is a shame considering I liked that song's premise. The only tracks where her voice goes well is Philip Glass's "Streets of Berlin" and the second half of "You Were Meant for Me." I also hated Tom Waits' contributions, literally does nothing except play an accordion, doesn't matter if it's smooth and jazzy. I wonder how much more I'd like it without the vocals. Ones where I really liked the instrumental: Case Continues, Passionate Fight, Streets of Berlin, Split

Fun in some sense, but just not for me. The cabaret/opera atmosphere is deftly produced, but it enters a campy territory that I'm not entirely a fan of. I respect it, but I won't be going back to it.

Highlights: "Couldn't You Keep That to Yourself," "Split," "Tango Ballad" This just made me wish the songwriters were singing it. Costello and Cave have great voices for this stuff. Kate Bush fans will be able to handle the vocal bombast at face value, but Lemper's style matches better to campy, fantastical lyrics, and the problem is that a lot of the songwriting here is excellent. I want to enjoy the knot in my stomach from the bitter, cutting lyrics and cruel, shocking changes without being bowled over by this giant ham. In other words, the production is unmistakably late Walker. By the finale, it has lost its entire mind in a blathering juvenile morbidity but gets points for effort and musical daring.

Alright, I was preparing to have to defend another record that you lot were overreacting to because it’s an atypical entry to the list and doesn’t fit neatly into some weird box of preconceived notions that you cling to. Then in the second track, this line: “If sex was an Olympic sport, we would have won the gold”. Add multiple songs from Elvis Costello and Tom Waits to the list and I’m left not seeing many redeemable qualities here. I’ll probably listen through to the Phillips Glass track, because I love me some minimalism, but after that, there’s no reason for me to continue. I’ll probably listen to Stereolab’s “Dots and Loops”, which should be on this list. Have I mentioned that before? Oh, yeah…only about 100 fucking times.

Oof, tough listen. Barbara Streisand and Bjork had a love child, who sang James Bond theme songs on Broadway.

Conflicting: It felt like I was watching a show on the New York Broadway which I was a bit bored of. I have to say I was expected a lot worse but then again my expectations were rock bottom. I don't think I'll be coming back to this anytime soon bc it just never really captured my attention and felt like it had all been done before (like in a musical).

Well, that was……..interesting. Great voice but the whole album felt like a theatre person trying to sing their favourite songs their way. Extremely difficult to enjoy 2/10

So ~*dramatic*~

Quite boring to be honest, dramatic sounding without actually sounding dramatic.2/5

This is kind of weird and sort of sounds like a movie soundtrack but it is not.

Simply can't imagine a lifetime in which I must listen to this before I die.

Nice surprise, really like the songs and the atmosphere, so 4 stars. If her voice was a bit rougher like Lotte Lenya singing Weil/Brecht it would have been 5.

i wonder if this is what theatre music sounds like to people who don’t know what theatre music sounds like

Really don't like this at all. Pompous overblown almost like a series of failed Bond theme songs. She has a great voice but the material/arrangements suck. 2

#20: I don’t not like this. Its ok I guess, but not something I'll rush back to. Kind of boring with a beat. One of those records you see in market stalls that no body buys. The Case Continues was the best song for me.

Versiones de canciones cantadas como pop clásico. Se me ha hecho un tanto de bola. Un 2.

Just because a lot of well-known artists were paid homage or contributed to this album is weak ass reason include it. Ute has a great voice, sure. But my god the whole tone of this "record" is off-putting. Is it the culled together dregs of a dreadful musical that never made it to production? Is it some sort of cabaret pop fusion I'm just not jiving with? What is this?? I don't even think it knows what it was trying to be. Better left to the rubbish bins and $1 record crates.

The Divine Comedy are my favourite band but I’d somehow never got around to listening to this. Ute Lemper has a great voice but these do occasionally sound like cabaret covers of stuff Neil Hannon, Scott Walker and Nick Cave do better themselves. It’s not essential by any stretch of the imagination but it’s considerably better and more interesting than a lot of the reviews on here suggest. It’s a 3 but I’m feeling generous so go to 4 as I know I will come back to listen to it again Edit - much as I like it and think it was harshly judged by lots on here I can’t stick the 4 so a 3 feels fair

boring elevator music, not even good singing, tough to get through even

Not for me. Beautiful voice and like Neil Hannon accompanying but its a fairly bland record.

Strong 7

love the Divine Comedy so this was a pleasant surprise - another commentator called it "James Bond themes about normal life" which sums it up well. Enjoyed this a lot!

Pop. Clásico. Un poco aburrido.

Why? Why is this album included? It is not good. Is it because several other artists wrote songs for her to sing? It was a struggle. It didn't start off too bad but then it just got progressively weirder. Also no need for the super weird ten minute song at the end. Stay away.

A covers album even in a 1930s pre-war German Cabaret style is still a covers album, and I don't really see a covers album as much of a 'must-listen'. 3/5.

Dramatic and strange, but not in the way that I actually like. Many of these tracks would fit in a bad Phantom-inspired musical. I feel vaguely guilty for subjecting the cat to this album.

Ugh.

Songs vary a lot depending on the writers, I think the Divine Comedy tracks are invariably the most interesting and fun. Most of the rest is pretty dull and uninspired.

Not for me

Lemper has a quality that would be awesome for a stage musical

I ALREADY RATED THIS YOU IDIOTS

Operatic wonderment, 4 stars.

oh my god this was AWFUL. So theatrical and extra and genuinely I have no idea what I just listened to. This is one of the strangest albums and not in a good way.

Struggling very very hard to at least respect the time and effort involved in putting a grand package like this together ... ... ...ok no but the schmaltz is immeasurable and as I suffer very very slowly through song after song and try to find anything to enjoy I think "of course nick cave has *something* to do with this" albeit obliquely. It's ironic that I save my 1s for the unlistenable gargling-up-phlegm sounds of Nick Cave or low-fi talentless alt-hacks recording their angsty attitude on 4-tracks while middle aged white dudes from Chicago fall all over themselves writing 2000 words trying to explain to their co-worker in the food review department how this THIS is the past present and future of what music should be... ...have I gone off-track? I shouldn't feel bad - spend a million dollars on the greatest mixers/producers and musicians and this is the drek that's produced - it's actually quite hilarious. I won't put the punishment solely on Ute Lemper since she apparently didn't write them but these are some of the worst *songs* I've ever heard. #4 Tango Ballad I'm looking at you especially. This album makes me want to re-evaluate my interest in music altogether. This is tragically, shockingly, comically, and definitively awful. 1/10 1 star.

All right, but not for me.

did you guys ever see "Loqueesha"? there's no reason you should. it's a very bad movie with a very bad premise. but, like, if you watch it (maybe because you, like me, are an appreciator of bad movies), you see that, despite having an awful script, no stars, and a terrible "actor" in the lead role ... the film still seems technically very competent. it's no Marvel movie, but it's far from "Birdemic" levels. it's well-lit, the sound is good, most of the side actors are better-than-local-theater quality. it's just inexplicable how such a terrible idea and lead performance somehow had enough money behind them to make the finished product a quality representation of the Extremely Bad Ideas that were behind the whole thing. so yeah. this album. I guess the main difference is that the presence of names like Nick Cave and Tom Waits mean that in my metaphor, the equivalent would be if Lars Von Trier and David Lynch got together to produce "Little Nicky." addendum: my god, this album is so bad without this Neil Hannon guy. and then it is SO MUCH WORSE when he appears.

Apparently, if you stand in front of the mirror and say "indulgent" three times, Ute Lemper appears and starts screaming this album in your ear.

Unlistenable. I can't Not my CUPPA

Really beautiful.

The first couple of songs were very good. Especially Lempers's interpretations of Nick Cave's Water Song and Kurt Weill's Tango Ballad were spot on. I didn't like some of the later trackson the album, although that has more to do with the source material (e.g. two numbers by Tom Waits). The album is expertly arranged, and Lemper is givig her all with her versatile and powerful voice. It's a pity that some of the songs are not all that interesting. 3.5/5

I actually really liked this

Show tunes wow

Pretty interesting project, a little excessive at times though. 3.5/5

This is one of the lowest rated albums on the generator? It's pretty good, at least for me. The last song kind of dragged, and it's what I was worried the whole album was going to sound like before I started it, but everything else was fun. It's interesting to see who worked on which songs. My favourite songs were Split and Punishing Kiss.

Mello-dramatiskt. Inte riktigt min kopp heroin.

Sounded a bit like a Bond soundtrack in parts.

Bloody terrible! Best summed up by another review I saw, "sounds like the soundtrack to a musical I don't want to see."

Someone I’d never heard of before. But taking a glimpse at the cover, I notice a lot of artists I dig, so safe to say, I was intrigued! And the record turns out to be pretty cool, there’s a dark comedic nature within songs that I liked. But also some very frail moments with great orchestral scoring. Pretty good! 7,5 out of 10

This theatrical, often overdramatic and musical-like pop music is not my type of music even if she can sing really well. The last avant-pop song is probably the most interesting, it stands out and is something different from the rest. But otherwise it isn't my cup of tea.

Rating: 6/10 Best songs: The case continues

So interesting. The Divine Comedy are one of my all time top five bands and yet I did not know they had collaborated for this. Just a really interesting listen.

Meh

Very strange and not my cup of tea. Not boring anyway.

Not for me

What a weird, overwrought album. You can tell she does a lot of musicals

not 4 me

It's not on Spotify but no bother, I can't stand this type of music. Best Tracks: No idea

Lots of musical talent contributed to this album! Split was a great duet, I liked Purple Avenue as well. The sound and style of the album wasn't really to my taste overall, but I won't knock the album for that.

Sounds like the Turner Classic soundtrack from a German band singer/ double spy type movie.

I’m sure that this appeals to some people but not really for me.

I wish zero stars existed as an option here, because this was by far one of the worst things I've ever heard. I wish I could go back to the person I was 58 minutes ago. I'd now like to sit down for a couple hours with someone who loves this album and try to work out which one of us is completely insane.

Average. Lyrics kinda interesting.

Ok. Scott walker esq

Just sounded like I was listening to a shitty musical with bad songs.

I was excited for this bc yay Germans & cool guest musicians. I was a little dissapointed.

Not at all my thing 1/5

"If sex were an Olympic gold we'd have won gold". I DON'T GET THIS ALBUM! Is it cheese or parody? West End musical or an East German Divine Comedy? My apologies I just don't know where this sits. Is that the point?

I would only listen to this if someone I hated was in the same room as me and I wanted them to be miserable.

Loved her voice. So passionate, seductive and emotional. Liked the songs. You can tell that Nick Cave and Tom Waits were around. I am listening to this a couple of times more.

Really love the voice, old style cabaret singing on Tom Waits and Elvis Costello is something I never knew I needed. What I didn't need was dude from Divine Comedy singing on here at all and his songs just really dull the whole record. The Kurt Weill written song I get but it isn't for me, I can't knock it for that though so it's a 6.8 for me

Great if you love show tunes.

Seemed like this record had a lot of potential to be pretty cool, given the names involved. And it is, but it isn't really what I was expecting or hoping. The orchestral, chamber pop nature of the all the arrangements lends a nice juxtaposition to the darker subject matter conveyed in the lyrics, but it just really isn't for me. That isn't to say it wasn't enjoyable to listen to.

Got quickly bored by this. Most songs flirted with being good but just lacked something. An album with Nick Cave, Philip Glass, Tom Waits etc., should’ve been great. Instantly forgettable

Ute has a voice for stage musicals and most of these songs seem to have been written with this in mind. Largely reminded of me Andrew Lloyd Webber stuff which I can't stand so it was tough going. She has a good voice, quite like purple avenue which was mostly acoustic but the album is a 1 for me.

I've found this one hard to rate. It is a bit daft, and I don't like Ute's voice. There are glimmers of good stuff - I have a lot of time for the type of lyrical, story-telling songs but a lot of the lyrics are on the poor side, a bit on-the-nose. Considering the talent on the album (Divine Comedy!) I am disappointed. I am reviewing this late, and have to say I concur with the group. Would have given a 1.5 (rounded to a 2) if I hadn't read everyone else's reviews, but I did and I largely agree. 1.4.

Ute has a decent voice but I didn't particularly enjoy the album, it's not really my kind of music. Ending the album with a messy 11min song also left a sour taste. Highlights: The Case Continues You Were Meant For Me

Considering the names listed on this album, I thought this would be good. Not what I was expecting and did not enjoy it at all really. Not for me

not bad

why is this on here? who is ute lemper?

Some of this should be good. But it wasn’t.

Hadn't heard of Ute Lemper before, but thoroughly enjoyed this. Sultry, dark, caberet. I appreciate that this list has albums like this on it. Suffers a little from early 00s super shiny production. Favorite tracks: "The Case Continues", "Streets of Berlin", "Tango Ballad"

It’s a 4.

Interesting album to rate. Obviously they are covers, but there is artistry in their selection and arrangement. Surprisingly enjoyed it all. It was baroque and a bit goofy at times. But the record is good and the songs stitch together to tell a story.

I imagine super rich people listening to this when they get nostalgic for the late '90s.

Not my type of voice. Too dramatic and theatrical. Sound not incarnated.

Now here's an interesting story. Ute Lemper, a German singer and actress known for her performances of Kurt Weill's "avant-garde" compositions, suddenly decided she could also perform something that would be more akin to "indie-pop", and called The Divine Comedy's Neil Hannon to help her reach that goal. It's the sort of story that could be used for a nice indie film about a "fish-out-the-water" main character, with a lot of endearing little scenes and situations... No erase that: obviously with a title such as *Punishing Kiss*, and knowing Lemper's usual trade, you may expect a result that would feel closer to a "film noir" than a comedy, with many dark or even "out-there" moments. But on the page, that's a proposition that sounds worthwhile, at least. So let's take a seat in the "1001 albums" theater, and watch how the whole flick pans out... The first two tracks, "Little Water Song" and "The Case Continues", are great, with impressive orchestral instrumentation backing Ute Lemper's theatrical voice as intensely as for ones written for a James Bond theme song (a comparison often made in the reviews here, even though said comparison doesn't fit with the rest of this *long* album--more on that later). It's also fascinating that you can *instantly* recognize those two songs were respectively written by Nick Cave and Neil Hannon. Lemper does awesome work here, effortlessly turning each of those unmistakable writers/performers' inflexions and stylistic traits into her own. And the songs per se are thrilling, as you can expect from those two insanely talented songwriters. Two impressive scenes at the very start of the film, then. Unfortunately, most of the other ones quickly disrupt our suspension of disbelief. And without it, how can we be "transported" by an album, then, just as a good film does? To put it in a nutshell, *Punishing Kiss*'s main fault is going into an overkill mode that soon turns out to be, well... quite *punishing* in the first sense of the word for the average listener. And this in one way or another. Sometimes the fault lies in Ute's "forced" performance--fitting for a Kurt Weill/Bertolt Brecht number like those she usually specializes in, but sounding pretty awkward for more "regular" pop songs such as the other ones Hannon contributed for this record (along with other tracks penned by Cave, Tom Waits, and Elvis Costello). And even the single Brecht/Weill cut performed in here sounds overbaked and awkward, actually--which means there might be ways to be a little more subtle for those type of avant-garde cabaret songs to convey what's great about them nonetheless--as "difficult" as they are. This here is a minor complaint, however. If the rest of the songs had been properly thought out in their execution, I wouldn't blame a Brecht/Weill number to predictably go "over the top"... Other times, the blame lies in the choice of songs and arrangements (some of whose didn't age that well, especially for those late-nineties rhythm patterns). Such choices turn the whole tracklisting into a sort of hodge-podge, to be honest. Tom Waits is a fine songwriter, but I'm not sure Lemper translates his songs that well here, contrary to what she does with those Cave and Hannon cuts heading the first side of the LP. It's as if Ute and Tom's respective theatrical antics do not match, surprisingly enough... And well, when it comes to Elvis Costello's contributions--and just as for mostly everything the British "rocker" has written starting in the middle eighties--his songs are predictably too meandering and chatty for their own good to seal the deal. The witty lyrics pile on, the rhythm patterns go through unexpected changes, Lemper sings them as "expertly" as she can... And yet one can't help thinking a lot of energy is here spent for quite pointless ends--with Lemper unwittingly adding a layer to Costello's usual information overload, an extra layer that might elicit yawns on most listeners' part. Overkill often leads to "ultimately boring", after all. Especially when there is *not one* striking melody to speak of in the songs you're playing. A third cut from the LP still makes a strong impression, however: Philip Glass's composition "Streets Of Berlin" (and it's a very rarely recorded one, if I'm not mistaken). The typically repetitive Glass strings only turn up at the end of the tune, but they do create an impressive finale for this one. Unfortunately, the LP also suffers from a lack of self-editing that drowns those potential good moments into a whole indeterminate ocean devoid of any real stakes. And putting a late-career 10-minute Scott Walker composition at the very end of the album doesn't help at all. Make no mistake, that composition *is* impressive for listeners with a knack for off-kilter and/or moody experimentation. And it's unrelentless in its darkness. But after so many pointless tracks, it merely sounds like an über-pretentious afterthought to add "substance" to the whole thing. Ironically, as "avant-garde" or "original" as *Punishing Kiss" tries to be at times, its main flaw is thus more akin to the ones seen in Hollywood blockbuter movies than those displayed in independent films. The cast is impressive (Lemper, Hannon, Cave, Waits, Costello, Glass, Walker...), and a vast array of equally impressive logistical means have been used for the project (many musicians, a full orchestra behind them...), along with a lot of ambitious thoughts to fuel said project beforehand. And yet, the end result sounds way too "calculated", and devoid of meaningful dynamics and energy. Worse, it could even look a little cynical and opportunistic at times--not a "money-grab" exactly, but something without any clear "artistic vision" behind it. So much for our initial expectations then. What could have turned into a "kiss of death", promised during the first two tracks of this record, thus merely ends up sounding like a tease with no genuine intentions behind it. But maybe that's the sort of expectation we should have dismissed from the get-go here. Sometimes, in "film noir", the "femme fatale" is just a lost babe in the woods, after all. Number of albums left to review: 646 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 177 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 99 (including this one)

Second day in a row I've got an album that really makes me question what criteria was used to create this list. Again, not an album that I hate but it's an album of mostly cover songs (why would there be a cover album on here?) in an adult contemporary style. Not a fan of this one. Standout Tracks: N/A

Ute has a pleasant singing voice. She is a good storyteller, with lyrics and the instrumentation of interest. It plays like a soundtrack to a musical.

Self-parodying levels of smug pompousness. At least the arrangements were alright. A dissapointing record.

Nick Cave, Elvis Costello, Tom Waits ja vielä Neil Hannonkin mukana, what's not to like? Kovin kaunista tämä, eeppista ja oopperallista olemaan kuitenkaan liikaa mitään näistä ollakseen selkeästi pop-musiikkia. Aivan varmasti kuuntelen uudestaan.

Vähän omituinen. En oikein ymmärrä ketä varten tämä on. Sanat iha jees kyllä. 2/5

Vähän hidas mun makuun, mutta selkeesti hyvällä tyylitajulla tehty. Aika vaikuttava kööri mukana.

Muutama ihan vaikuttava tunnelma, mutta ei tämä oikein lähtenyt. Vähän kummallinen sekoitus hissimusaa ja musikaalimenoa.

Tiukka ääni ja melkoinen lauluntekijäkimara! Osa biiseistä genressään oikein hyviä, osa taas jäi vähän kädenlämpöiseksi. Varmaan 3/5.

Why this album is selected is a mystery to me. Of every cover song the original (or alternative) interpretation is better and less over the top. Divine Comedy as a band has created great original material on other records.

I really thought I'd like this album while listening to the first two tracks. They were interesting and she's a good singer. She showed a ranged of emotion and the music was interesting. It just didn't go anywhere after that. She sounds flat and the music is just boring.

Like it

Like a box of Ferrero Rocher, one Ute Lemper song makes you think this is the best thing ever. But after twelve the richness makes you feel a little bit sick. When you add in Neil Hannon as well, we really are at risk of diabetes. If you could discipline yourself to listening to this as one track a day that would be best.

Un mélange cabaret jazzy parfois assez désagréable. Une écoute assez pénible, terminée par un morceau de 12 minute affreux. Plus jamais ça.

Not a fan of show tunes and that is what this really reminds me of. It isn't bad for what it is, but I don't think I would ever seek this out to listen to it again. Overall I give it a 3/5 (which is good for something I don't ever want to hear again!)

Versiones de canciones cantadas como pop clásico. Se me ha hecho un tanto de bola. Un 2.

puf, menudo rollazo. Por los nombres de los autores pintaba bien, pero ...

Very operatic / musical.

Oh dear. No thank you "if sex were an olympic sport we'd have won the gold" Yes, I'm sure that's both true and something anyone wants to happen

At first I thought thought this might have some interesting orchestral arrangements but then it just... kind of fell flat. Don't think I'll be going back to this one anytime soon Split did catch my attention as the first one that had a bit of energy and some back and forth reminiscent of a musical soundtrack 2/5

I was OK with this initially, but as it went along the songs just didn't sit well.

If making an enjoyable album was an Olympic event, these people would not get a gold medal.

Felt like there was a musical going on in the background while the rest of my brain was trying to tune it out. Nick Cave does "it" again.

Uh...

Not sure what to say, unusual. Some good, some less so. Reminded me of songs from a musical like phantom of the opera etc

Je ne comprends pas les mauvaises notes, en tout cas c'est tout droit dans mon allée.

Patricia Kaas a réuni tous les 2/5 de la liste pour lui faire un album je pense

Pretty bland across the board with like 2 or 3 actually good songs. Solid 2.

interesting slow music

When you see a Decca label on a pop record you know you're in for trouble. Sort of styled like it's show tunes for mum's but not sure what mum would want to hear this. Awful.

I liked it. Had a very dramatic storybookish nature to it. Very showy

Absolutely not for me. I can't imagine this being somebody's favourite album. I would not be their friend

Vermoeiend

Ik kende alleen All that jazz van haar van een ander album en dat verafschuwde ik al toen ik er op moest dansen tijdens toneel in vwo5. Was al bang voor de rest en dat heeft ze ook helemaal waargemaakt!! Echt holy shit na 3 nummers werd ik al manisch dus dikke vette 1

Fuck off

No thanks.

I had a busy day and had to listen to this as background music while talking with others. This is definitely not the right way to listen to this bad boy. I wanted to get the New Year off on the right foot and not be behind on my 1001 homework so 3 it is.

It says a lot for an artist when some of the greatest songwriters of your era write an album’s worth of songs for you to perform. It’s fun listening to the songs and trying to guess who the songwriter is. I can hear Nick Cave’s voice in the epic first song and I was sure that he must have done his own version, but apparently not. The one Philip glass contribution is easy to pick out as is the first Elvis song. The Case Continues, by Neil Hannon is maybe my favourite on the album - I especially love strings. My co-judge and I saw her perform this live at Massey Hall in 2001 with a bunch of Kurt Weill and Jacques Brel songs thrown in, so I have a slight bias.

I was excited to see that she's covering songs by respectable artists such as Nick Cave, Elvis Costello, Philip Glass, Tom Waits, Scott Walker and Kurt Weill. How could you miss right? It turns out she should have named the album Punishing Tripe instead. Gawd this was awful, pure dreck. The aforementioned artists should sue to have their names removed from the credits.

Happy when it was over

This is a difficult one to rate after one day of listening. I was shocked that this was something from 2000. It sounded much older. I don't know Ute Lemper and don't know if this is a typical sound for her or this is something unique. The songs sound like they are from musical theater - which isn't really a good thing for me. I think with time and more study, I can start to appreciate it more. Time will tell... for now, 2.5 with potential for more.

December 28, 2022 3* 1st cabaret-esque record Points for the theatricality and eclecticism on display, conjures up a stormy Broadway musical thought I knew what I was getting into with the Walker track (based on “The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore”), the brief break from dissonance was a goosebumps moment, but it definitely felt its length The album leaves me more curious about The Divine Comedy/Neil Hannon, and about Ute Lemper’s career (sounds like this English crossover was kind of an anomaly) HL: the Tom Waits ones, “Little Water Song”, “Punishing Kiss”, “You Were Meant For Me”, “The Case Continues”

This album has a dark and monumental sound, kind of in the vein of Scott Walker. Like other reviewers, I was hopeful seeing songs by Nick Cave, Elvis Costello and Tom Waits, but ultimately the album mostly left me cold. I don't know anything about Ute Lemper and have no idea if all her music sounds like this. I do know Neil Hannon though, and his fingerprints are all over this album. As with much of his work with Divine Comedy, I had difficulty feeling much of a connection to this music. It's well-constructed music that is awfully heavy handed and draggy in its execution. 57 minutes of this is beyond enough and I was weary of it long before it was over. Lemper is a talented enough vocalist, if a fairly bland one. I keep thinking these songs would work better if someone else were singing them. Fave Songs: Purple Avenue, Passionate Fight, The Part You Throw Away, Couldn't You Keep That to Yourself, You Were Meant For Me

Ute is wel een paar mooie samenwerkingsverbanden aangegaan, maar eigenlijk helpt het weinig; te saai voor mij.

Interessant en sfeervol album

Eerlijkheid gebiedt mij te zeggen dat ik het niet heel aandachtig beluisterd heb. Wat ik ervan mee kreeg was 1 grote James Bond soundtrack. En ik hou niet zo van Jamers Bond.

Ik kende dit niet en was echt benieuwd, maar amai, wat een verschrikkelijk album. Strontvervelend gewoon.

I'm not unfamiliar with concept albums but this is more of a musical that's uninteresting. It's very dramatic and the style is similar to a James Bond film intro. Some of the lyrics are hilarious in a bad way. Just to give an example: "My only crime was passion, wild and uncontrolled If sex were an Olympic sport, we'd've won the gold" I can't rate it 1/5 as it's not terrible and there's been worse albums.

Meh. Not sure what this was meant to be.

This was great. I liked how eclectic and witchy the sound was. It reminded me of Ys by Joanna Newsom but less consistent.

sonzão de muito sentimento, grande produção

Not saying you can't have a good jazz album solely made up of covers of songs, but it certainly would be difficult. A good cover respects the original while also adding the covering artists signature flair to the song. These covers don't sound like their originals so she has that going for her. Where she falls short is that the flair she adds isn't really enough. It wasn't enough to interest me very much. Like a boring James Bond intro song. Technically good and it's not unbearable, but I'm going to choose not to bear it in the future. 3/5

This seems like one of those albums that didn’t make a splash commercially or critically but the book compiler has decided ‘fuck it, we’ve not had any German cabaret singers interpreting rock’s most melodramatic songwriters, let’s stick this in’. And you know what, I don’t mind it. It’s something different. Not a genre I'd usually listen to but a bit of Bond-theme bombast every once in a while is no bad thing.

Overly dramatic

Music written for the stage (theatric, not concert) really only works for me if there is a context for it; like an actual stage production. Other than that, it doesn't do much for me.

Sounds like a compilation of JRPG soundtrack songs through the years.

Not for me. Just a strange one. Listening to it made me feel like o was wearing skinny jeans after a meal and I am just in the train home looking forward to getting in and taking them off. That’s what this hour felt like to me and after the hour I threw a Christmas playlist on which in this scenario would be stretchy pyjama pants

I like art music but I fucking hate this.

Boring songs sung by a technically good but boring singer, with boring arrangements.

Heel wat James Bond gehalte. Weer een leuk album ontdekt

Punishing Kiss is quite engaging in that it has this enormous big screen sound and energy about it that convinces me overlook some of the musical shortcomings and just feel the emotion in the delivery. It pulls it off enough for a 3/5, it treads that fine line of being a pastiche of itself but still serious enough perfectly imo.

Never heard of Ute or this album, but obviously do know a lot of her contributors. It's been absolutely trashed on the site, but I really quite like it. It's not exactly groundbreaking, but it's lyrically clever, her voice is beautiful, and she tells some really fun stories. The people who compare this to hotel background music clearly haven't been listening properly, it's way too hard-hitting for that. Shades of musical theatre and bombastic Bond theme tunes in places, pretty melancholy in others, I think this is great. 3, pushing close to a 4.

Not my taste, but beautiful music!

I'm not sure why anyone would think you need to hear this album before you die. 1/5

вау вот это вау оч оч круто

Eh. It's alright. I mean, I liked a lot of the instrumental stuff, everyone featured did a good job, but it's mostly just forgettable. I listened to this album a few hours ago, and I've already forgot everything about it, but I enjoyed it enough in the moment. Like I said, it's fine, but it really overstayed its welcome. 2.5/5

if it was instrumental it would have been wonderful, but what is she on about? 2.

not my vibe

Unexpectedly I really enjoyed this. 4*

Well that was weird. Initially didn't like it but played louder it did grow on me. Bit Bond-themey...

I find this kind of saccharine high drama symphonic music really grating. Her voice dos nothing for me. I think this album may be geared toward the German Musical enthusiast set. The only thing worse are the terrible lyrics. Anything with Tom Waits association I always figured I would love, but I suppose rules are made to be broken. Blech. Excuse me while I bleach my earholes.

This album is fucking hilarious. Ute Lempter is the female German version of John Mulaney. I feel like this is a in a 57 minute SNL skit of cabaret absurdity. For example... "your head is a big red balloon" "my pretty breasts are piled high with stones ... and tiny little fishes enter me" "if sex were an Olympic sport, we would've won the gold..." and from the whorehouse song... "I got the brain, and she supplied the breast ... " It's all so terrible. If this is supposed to be serious, then it's really sad and ... terrible. But if this is a huge joke (which it seems to be), then it's great. It did get tiresome after the first 30+ mins., but this album was a welcome bit of levity on 1001.

OMG I feel like I was dropped into a well of 3rd-rate musical actors performing for their selfie debut on MySpace. Cringy, as the kids say. No can do.

Combining Nick Cave, Elvis Costello, The Divine Comedy, Tom Waits, and Scott Walker was never going to win me over. Ute Lemper’s “Punishing Kiss” sounds nothing like any of those artists that she worked with, but reading those names on the album cover couldn’t have made me less receptive to Lemper’s work. Though it may not have mattered. Lemper’s background in musicals like “Cats” and “Cabaret” and the pairing here with classical music was never going to be in my comfort zone.

I can’t take any album in which the line, “… and she supplied the breast…” appears (Tango Ballad). The guy singing that song is terrible as well. I like when Ute sings some of the time because she sounds like a Bond villainess. But she also says, “If sex were an Olympic sport, we'd've won the gold.” I just can’t take this seriously.

This is beautifully arranged. Vocals are very emotive and the storytelling is really nice. Very intimate. VERY caberet. Feels like I'm in a latenight candlelit club filled with smoke. Purely for vibes, I like it. The songwriting just makes it better.

Punishing is right

meh

eh

Talbot: The Case Continues

I fully believe the lyrics were written by a teenager making their first attempt at erotic fan-fiction and you cannot convince me otherwise.

why? 1/5

weird

Failed musical turned album

Why

I don’t even know what to say about this one. If I wanted to be trapped in a musical I would have gone to broadway

Not for me

Really terrible! Couldn’t stand it, and have no idea why someone thinks this is one of the best albums ever.

I hate it. It’s both vaudeville and vapid. The performances are meh. I can’t stop listening it’s so awful like watching tornado videos ripping through farmland

I don't even know where to start with this album. Its just not good. How can you have this many people on an album and none of the songs are any good? Maybe im missing something here but this aint it. Also the last song is just awful. Tough listen 1/10

It's well arranged, produced, played and sung and is certainly in it's own niche. Stylised and theatrical which characterises all the artists featured. It doesn't deserve some of the bad reviews hurled at it considering some of the other stuff I've had to listen to but it does sound like film music and lacks a soul in my opinion. Maybe that's part of the package? It feels like musicians being paid to go through the motions. Very accomplished musicans but integrity goes a long way.

Osa kappaleista oli komeita kuunneltavia ja työpaikan avokonttori ei tehnyt olosuhteena kunniaa levylle. En kyllä tiedä mikä olisi oikea hetki tälle, ehkä jonkun videopelin taustamusana tms.. Taipuu kolmosen puolelle.

Ihan makee setti. Harvemmin tulee kuunneltua tollasta... no en itse asiassa tiiä miksi tota kutsutaan, mut kuitenkin. Tykkäsin.

This type of cabaret music requires an acquired taste, I guess. I can't think of any reason for this album being in the 1001 albums list, other than the list of big names that were part of making this album.

I am afraid I’m just not a fan of cabaret music. Technically very good I can hear, but just not my bag

Not vibing with most of it. A bit too old times in style

Yo way too long and that was a baaaaaad date(?)

What the hell is this, man. Just listen to Nico's "Desertshore" if you want sorta-gothic avantgarde German music. How did the guy making this list even dig something like this up? It kind of has a weird charm I guess. Songs like "The Case Continues" and "Split" were sort of nice, but the longer it went on, the more I was filled with an unbridled rage, and that final 10 minute long track felt like a time warlock's curse. I'm not saying I hated this, I'm just never going to think about this album's existence ever again.

像是个音乐剧，歌剧，有些口白之类的感觉，还是蛮有趣，华丽的。

Ok, but not interesting

I was going to say, this is a bit too Disney musical for my taste, and then I read that Ute is a cabaret and musical singer. So that makes sense.

This came out of left field, in a good way. Lemper's stage musical singing chops really shine, and the musical compositions are top notch. I was unaware of Lemper's pedigree as the (THE) modern interpretive authority on Kurt Weill and "Tango Ballad" is perhaps the most interesting interpretation on an album of very interesting interpretations. Not sure I'd listen to this on repeat, but when in the mood this album hits all the right spots.

WTF is this? Lush, orchestral pop songs about sexual violence? It's certainly a unique concept and the performances are solid. It's exactly what I expect to be included in a list of 1001 Albums. There are a variety of songwriters on the album and Ute's skill as an actress is put to good use. She fits her voice to styles of Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, and others. If this album was meant to have a single, "Split" might be it. Ute's voice sounds great and it's upbeat.

Le Mis for goths. I kept feeling like I was watching a musical with my ears, and was slightly entertained, but ultimately left feeling bored.

Una genialidad

Cabaret music is not my thing.

4/5 this is some good shit. very powerful

“Oh the first song is actually really good, I like the arrangements” *checks credits and sees The Divine Comedy and Nick Cave* I’m so tired of this silly ass esoteric music! Who is this for!!! Who listens to this? Imagine you’re in the car and one of your homies grabs the aux and starts playing “Die Driegroschenoper”. That dude is walking home.

I really wanted to recognize this album for its remarkable collection of songwriting, and while I did enjoy the music at times, it started to feel long and slow and a bit underwhelming. Balances out to an average 3.

A strong voice, a style of music you don't hear every day and an armada of famous songwriters.... This album has all the ingredients for a great experience and it doesn't disappoint

This isn't for me. These tracks sound like they're straight out of a musical and I'm just not a musical guy. Lemper has a fantastic voice, but I keep expecting to get accosted by giant anthropomorphic cats, and it's making me jumpy.

Rejected James Bond/Twin Peaks songs. Insufferable.

The Case Continues caught my attention. For some reason that one stuck with me. But from there it was all downhill. Who would have thought collaboration with Elvis Costello, Nick Cave, and Tom Waits would just miss at every opportunity. Very disappointed.

I've put off rating this for 150+ days, only for a 2.5

Wonderfully bonkers

A mix between chanson (which I don't like at all) and songs like they come from a musical (which I don't usually like). Very theatrical, as if part of some larger narrative. Maybe they would sound better if I was watching the full production, but not interesting to listen to in isolation. Just way too melodramatic and souless, with uninteresting melodies. Basically I don't like this at all.

(1.5) Ted!

Not very chic

Quite strange to include what is essentially a covers album on here, but it was an interesting listen, a lot of the arrangements are lovely

Ultimately disappointing: a great voice obviously, but with three or four notable exceptions, the choice of material doesn't match the potential of the possibilities.

After learning The Divine Comedy produced this, my thought was “of course.” I never heard of The Divine Comedy before this list/site, but they’re headlining my shitlist.

Wow, what a voice! Each tune, although I guess very broadly in the "pop" category, is also sort of operatic/Broadway show-tune-y, and her talent is there to pull it off. Sounds like a very interesting person, too.

3, dramatic

Feels like a passionate musical

Very weird, fairly bad, better than a few others. Sounds like sarcastic Bond themes, sung by someone who has been in every musical. Not for me

This was interesting. I like the world that the album creates; makes me feel like I'm wearing a bit into a different time. Ute's singing though was often the best or worst part of the song.

Fancy, but somewhat boring

Not really for me, not bad.

weird!

I could have hated it a little more. Although by the time I was slogging through Scope J I was well and truly done.

Boooooring

El disc comença prou bé, amb 'The Case Continues' i 'Tango Ballad', dos temes que impressionen pels seus arranjaments i la veu portentosa de Lemper. Pero de mica en mica el disc va afluixant. El concepte es prou bo; versions de temes punyents però poc coneguts d'artistes de primera línia, passats pel filtre obscur i tenebrós de la veu de Lemper. Però l'execució, malgrat els mèrits inqüestionables, no està a l'alçada

This album doesn't live up to its billing. If you listened to it cold, you would never guess that the singer is the former star of a major production of Cabaret (playing Sally Bowles!). My friend compared it to a Moira Rose concept album, which is hilarious, if a bit unkind. Not totally inaccurate, though. There were a couple of tracks I really liked, but most were bland and uninspiring. Best track: You Were Meant for Me

Pretty shitty. The backing music was kind of great but wasted on these songs - the whole package was not convincing. Shannah - 0.25/5 Bill - 0.5/5 Conor - 1.75/5 0.83/5

what the fuck is this? i can't work it out. its like some 30s vera lynn but trying to disguise itself as modern and edgy by using names of popular sad singer songwriters. ether way its not listenable.

Ive scraped worse from the sole of my shoes tonight. A complete waste of Nigel Spackman's time and money. I'd rather fuck a mouse.

Fuck

Beautiful voice, music behind it was uninteresting

not for me. couldn't get into it

6/10 Best Song - Punishing Kiss