'Desireless' is desirable album

By Hilliary Martino, On-Line Forty-Niner

Tuesday, September 15, 1998

With quality sounds that do not resemble bubble gum pop-tunes, music sensation Eagle Eye Cherry refuses to be categorized as a one-hit wonder, and instead is ready to take the musical world by storm.

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CD REVIEW

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Eagle Eye Cherry's debut album "Desireless" is not your typical throwaway collection of songs.

Already a huge star with a platinum-plus album in his native Sweden, Cherry's laidback, blues acoustical overtures form a collection of personal thoughts about life and his experiences.

Cherry's hip-hop artist sister, Neneh, and jazz great father, Don, are both well-known musicians. Young Cherry decided to become an actor rather than continue the family trade. Never making it big as an actor, he turned to music in order to express his creativity. The album is intricately influenced by the folkloric sound of the acoustic guitar and is filled with soulful funky beats.

Eagle Eye Cherry songs do not depict a fairy tale image of how the world should be. The songs' hauntingly beautiful lyrics tell how the world is.

When listening to the album, the music sends the listener on an emotional roller coaster, which is almost like being schizophrenic. Some songs provoke a feeling of loneliness ("Save Tonight"), while other songs embrace the feeling of escaping from the pressures of society ("Comatose").

"Desireless," with its smoky gentle blues opus and delicate string arrangements, is an album many people can groove to with both eyes open.