When I heard Duffy’s Rockferry back in 2008, it became one of my favorite CDs of the year. Duffy’s amazing voice and the quality of the songs made me impatient for the next Duffy CD. Now, two years later, we have Endlessly. Given my high expectations, Endlessly comes off as a good, but not great, album. Sure, the songs are listenable. But none of them reach out and grab you like the songs on Rockferry. Fans of doo wop will enjoy “Too Hurt To Dance.” I was expecting more from Duffy. GRADE: B
SET LIST:
1 My Boy 3:27
2 Too Hurt to Dance 3:15
3 Keeping My Baby 2:49
4 Well Well Well 2:43
5 Don’t Forsake Me 4:01
6 Endlessly 2:58
7 Breath Away 4:12
8 Lovestruck 2:52
9 Girl 2:26
10 Hard for the Heart 4:58
11 Endlessly Bonus Track / Acoustic Version / Version 3:18
I thought she sounded like Lulu on her first album–which I mean as a compliment (I especially liked “Warwick Avenue” with its great sixties vibe). I’m not sure about this record (I find my appreciation of a sophomore effort is inversely proportionate to how much I liked the first one), especially the Pamela Anderson look she appears to be going for on the cover.
You’re spot on, Deb. ROCKFERRY had a Sixties, soulful vibe that ENDLESSLY lacks. Love “Warwick Avenue,” too! Actually, ENDLESSLY sounds more a “bubble-gum” pop. True, it’s “bubble-gum” pop of a high order, but it’s still disappointing.
Got the Mayer Hawthorne CD, which I really like.
Glad you’re enjoying the Mayer Hawthorne CD, Patti! I enjoy the Sixties sound he manages to capture.
Bubble gum is right, she sounds like maybe,someday, when she grows up, she might have a voice with some range, but right now it’s 12 year old heart-throb stuff. Make that 10 year old.
Duffy went with different set of arrangers and producers for ENDLESSLY, Rick. I wish she’d stayed with the team that helped her produce ROCKFERRY. Her new style is commercial, but shallow.