Michael Bublé is back, and at his strongest with his fourth jazzy album. Like his other albums, Crazy Love revolves around the theme of love, although the title kind of gives that away. And, like on his other albums, there is a balance of slow jazz tunes and upbeat pop-leaning hits. Lead single and radio-staple “Haven’t Met You Yet” is good gauge of the album — an engaging and entertaining song, with lyrics that can provide hope to listeners.
The opener, “Cry Me A River,” starts the album off strong. Low brass instruments announce the song, almost sounding like a chant. They build, and then trumpets come in, getting louder and louder. It all seems headed to a cacophonous climax when, suddenly, everything slows to a jazz tune and Bublé’s voice enters effortlessly. Listeners can already tell the album is going to be an engaging experience.
Once again Bublé’s voice is smooth, strong and passionate, and his band delivers powerful music, augmented by many impressive solos. In particular, the trumpet players play their notes with force, often like it’s the last note they will ever play. And, just like on previous albums, Bublé largely covers standards, this time around including “Cry Me A River” by Ella Fitzgerald, “All of Me” by Billie Holiday and “Crazy Love” by Van Morrison.
This album could very well appeal to any audience, as Bublé is a talented artist with a unique voice and he makes people want to get up and dance. No matter what song is performed on this new album, it will bring a smile or a tear your face.
★★★★ out of ★★★★★
