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Idina Menzel - I Stand

January 30th, 2008

Indina Menzel I Stand album cover

Official Site: http://www.idinamenzel.com

Official MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/idinamenzel

by Bambi Weavil

Idina Menzel’s Warner Bros. Records debut album, I Stand, is a powerful collection of new songs written by the Tony Award winning actress/singer/songwriter whom you may have seen as part of the cast of Wicked and the outspoken bi-sexual performance artist in Rent. Inspired by artists like Bette Midler and Barbara Steisand, Menzel’s voice has a souring-above the rest quality that compliments her pop, Broadway and ballad styling.

Working with the legendary Grammy winning producer, Glen Ballard for this album, she found the right person to believe in her musical vision. It’s important not to underscore Menzel’s songwriting talent, she has written good songs about love, life, challenge and relationships. “Brave,” her new single is a focused anthem full of determination and discovering who you are. “Gorgeous” is another solid track that could easily be the shout out to her GLBT fan base and should be easily embraced.

“Don’t Let Me Down”, written by James Blunt and Peter John Vettese was a great but unexpected choice to include on this record. “I Feel Everything” is a song she should consider as the next single and to play with the presentation of the sound: this could be remixed into something harder without losing the vulnerability of empathy and her feeling of displacement in a relationship.

If you miss what a old-school pop record sounds like you should check out I Stand. This multi-talented recording performer of the theater and stage has the ability and beauty to do it all.