Album Club: 06.03.2012: k d lang – Drag (1997) (CD)

[MartinT]

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drag_(k.d._lang_album)
Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Drag-K-D-Lang/dp/B000002NG2
Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/album/4GDJ3VWtSW7uZcZoEOPT44

Oh my god, another album from a female artist. Even worse, an album of covers! What is Martin thinking of, giving us this soft shite? Bear with me...

Let me offer several reasons why I think this is a great album, both musically and sonically. The general theme is one of smoking and addiction - real and imagined. Firstly, that voice. For me, she has the most perfect, liquid, soaring voice with a purity of tone only just this side of Karen Carpenter. When she hits a note and gives it her all, it can take your head clean off. If you ever wanted to know about the ability of your system’s midrange to go way above average levels without hitting headroom limits or cone end stops, this is one of the best tests I know. Trust me, at realistic levels some of your systems are just not going to cope. Sink into it and wonder how she sings with such perfection, power and seemingly carefree delivery.

Secondly, I really like the rearrangements of some well known and loved songs. The Air That I Breathe (The Hollies) and The Joker (Steve Miller) are stand-outs, but listen to what she does with Don’t Smoke in Bed, and hang on to your midrange cones.

Thirdly, the recording is outstanding and the CD mastering is also excellent. No whiff of a ‘remaster’ here, and none needed. This is how it’s done properly, and yet the album only reached number 19 in the UK charts and thereafter sank without trace. I know hardly anyone who has a copy. A mention, too, for the excellent band accompaniment. Try the growling bass in The Air That I Breathe at 1:25, for instance, and how it remains distinctive and tuneful despite its deep extension. Or the strange vocal effect at 2:43, which you could mistake for distortion. What about the bass line in The Joker?

Apart from all the technicalities, however, this album is for me an almost perfect performance of great songs with a voice to die for. My favourite k d lang album, and that's saying something.

Ok, that’s it from me. Over to you guys – listen, comment & vote!

[Tim]

Well I know you already know what I think of this album Martin, so I'll wait to see what others think before piping up

[Bazil]

Female artist , , album of covers , quite looking forward to this and a cover of Hallelujah.

[keiths]

I don't know why, but I haven't got this. I thought I had all her albums from the '90s, but this one passed me by. Anyway, rectified now - I've just splashed out £1.75 at Amazon Marketplace, so will comment and vote in due course.

[Welder]

Fabulous voice; no pretty girlie winsome lass gently strumming a tune and batting her eyelids with this women!
She can belt em and softly sing the feathers off a bird.
The only problem I've ever had with Miss Lang is her choice of material.
I've got this and I don't need to play it to vote.

8/10 for this album but 10/10 for her voice.

[MartinT]

Well I know you already know what I think of this album Martin, so I'll wait to see what others think before piping up

Don't take too long, Tim

[Alex_UK]

hmmmm.... apart from Ingenue, I don't have any kd lang... Best I get hold of a copy sharpish.

[Welder]

hmmmm.... apart from Ingenue, I don't have any kd lang... Best I get hold of a copy sharpish.

Dont bother Alex. You wont like her. She's not pretty, keeps her clothes on and prefers women to men.




Okay, okay, I'm going.

[Alex_UK]

Dont bother Alex. You wont like her. She's not pretty, keeps her clothes on and prefers women to men.

Okay, okay, I'm going.

(Actually that sounds like my first wife... )

[griffo104]

I do enjoy it when an artists makes a good choice of covers and brings something personal to them. And that's what happens here.

Some excellent covers, great voice.

It gets an 8/10 for me, something to put on late at night and relax with a wee dram. I've got a few artists who have done similar types of albums which I do prefer (Nanci Griffith has done a a similar one and I do prefer her as an artist anyway) but this is up there with some of the better ones.

Very easy to make albums like this sound cheap and crass but this is done with a bit of class.