Curtis Stigers
Brighter Days
Columbia Records

Maybe it's because the weather is hot. Maybe it's because the words weren't included with the CD. Or maybe it's because this is the kind of crap I can hear on any radio station anywhere. It's not that all the elements aren't present for a decent album, but the result is the same old pop sound that a million other artists produce. Curtis Stigers' voice is cool, a raspy, vehicle for songs co-written by the likes of Jules Shear, Beth Neilson Chapman, and Carole King. However, when I heard the phrase,

"We fit together like a hand and glove,"

I dropped to my knees and prayed that none of the above wrote that.

The instrumentation was guitar/keyboard/bass pop. There were other things thrown in -- mandolin, which I generally dig -- and saxophone, which I find vile in pop music. None of it was noteworthy. Really.

I didn't hate this CD; I just found it trite and boring. Memo to Mr. Stigers: You've got a great voice. Next time, find more material like "Undertow" and "Deep Dark Night." They were the only songs I liked on this collection. And please, don't put them at the end of the CD.
-Kate Rice

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Reader Comments...

The album Brighter Days contains some of Curtis Stigers finest work in it, although his previous albums are hard to beat. His soothing yet raspy voice bellows out some of the finest music this year has seen. when you see this man prform live believe me you will be swept away by his instrumenatl genius and ability. I am ashamed thta this talented guy has not gone further
B.J. Collins

Well, my good lady,

Not to mince words too much with you on your revue of 'Brighter Days', but as I listen to it at this moment, I recall vividly how I just walked into my favorite(and practically only) record shop in Bangkok, and they were playing this delightfully brilliant album on the stereo.

The song that caught my attention was 'Well worn love', the samer one that made you fall to your knees with the'hand iand glove' lyric. I have since fallen to my knees so many times while hearing this song that I can't even how beautiful and endearing even the most simple of lyrics can be, in fact it is often times the very simplistic nature of the lyric and also very often the guitar solo (witness Jeff Lynne's work on the farewell album of Del Shannon's 'Rock On' in 1991) that makes a song like this pierce into my heart.

But then again, being a hopeless romantic, I became aquainted with this album shortly after the breakup of a most serious and passionate year love affair. This record actually reminds me of several such tragic events in my life involving personal relationships.

I'm sorry if this sounds sappy to you, but I love this man's music. I don't know why it's taken me so long, but I have never heard any of his other records, but after reading your rather cold review, I am going to go out and possibly buy every album he's ever made.

A small piece of advice if I may. Don't always judge an album by only a single listen or 2. The classic sin of a record reviewer, I have always believed that the best records are the ones that get better and better with each subsequent playing.

cheers,
wrw

Are you for real? I just saw Curtis and company play at the Montage Grille in Rochester, NY, and also at our annual Jazz Festival. He stole the show, and the critics love him here. He received standing ovations at both venues!! I have three of his CDs, and I am actively searching for more. In this age of non-music, Curtis Stigers is a breath of fresh air.

Pat Villareale