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What people are saying about Belinda Carlisle. 

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>From Smash Hits (25 September 1996)New singles reviewed by Spice Girls Mel B and Geri - Always Breaking My Heart - (Belinda may have knocked up another pleasant, cheery radio friendly tune, but Mel seems more bothered about the size of her hits...well it sounded like 'hits'!) Mel B: It's got that classic Belinda singalong chorus quality. It's quite pleasant. I wouldn't buy it, but she's got a cracking big pair or tits. (eh?!!!!) Respect, Belinda! Geri: And she's copied the blond bits in my hair. She's getting on a bit-she's got a kid- but she's still doing it. From one redhead to another, well done!

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>From Time Out (Sept. 15-25, 1996): Belinda Carlisle - A Woman And A Man- Chrysalis - The first single from this album, In Too Deep, was another of those Carlisle specials- big stringy arrangements, rock ballad shapes, a catchy hook that mixes '60's girl pop and contemporary American chart music (and makes you think you've known the song all your life), and that trembling warble of a voice that either melts your pants or makes you look around the room to see who let Larry the Lamb in. Smart, neat and radio friendly, it offers few surprises, but it'll keep the fans happy, as will this album.

That's not to say that 'A Woman And A Man' is without any surprises for the casual listener. On 'California' , the woman who looks like she's always dressed for a party pours out her love-hate relationship of LA(with backing vocals from Brian Wilson, the two self-confessed pop casualties embuing their harmonies with a certain personal pain); while the title track plays with something a little more upbeat and funky. Still, whatever the subject, whatever the groove, you can be sure that Carlisle never strays too far from the mainstream, however oomphy or intelligent the finished product may be. A job well done, (rather than a work of musical art), but a job all the same.

>From Sky Magazine (October, 1996) Belinda's new album, A Woman And A Man, is the best pure pop album of the year; funny in the Brian Wilson collaboration 'California'; romantic gold dust in 'In Too Deep'; beautifully sung everywhere. It is also the only great record ever featuring Nick Beggs of Kajagoogoo. And if that isn't proof of her life giving properties, I don't know what is.

BELINDA CARLISLE Always Breaking My Heart (Chrysalis) Her debut in Too Deep was true sassy and this, written by Per Gessle from Roxette, is neat. it's take from her album A Woman And A Man which is out at the end of the month...the one thing about this lady is her style is constant and her voice is unchallenged. Keep 'em comin'girl!. 

Belinda Carlisle Live Your Life Be Free album (1991) Anyone who barely listened should get their hands on one of remaining copies (it was of course immediately out of print) and really listen...it's a wonderfully produced cd with creative vocals and mostly good material...Zero in on YOU CAME OUT OF NOWHERE, DO YOU FEEL LIKE I FEEL, HALF THE WORLD, WORLD OF LOVE, and THE LONLINESS GAME. This cd really never got a chance...it's no wonder that it never flew with everyone bailing...it's not the first time MCA played nasty. They did it to Olivia Newton-John and Sheena Easton and others as well...So, the moral of the story is, don't be swayed by a general perception that an artist has delivered a flop....if you've always liked them, you'll likely find the new work enjoyable, in spite of the prevailing attitude which may be based something besides the work. Jan 14 12:47 EST : J. Rockett, NYC : [email protected] : 

Posted to CDNow Discussion group

Real (1993)album How many artists have had the courage to take the bull by the horns and produce their own work with all the instinct and security that this one has? Actually quite a few but not with as much integrity and faith. This wonderfully produced CD is full of uncommon takes on popular music material... ...basic instrumentation, beautiful mixes of acoustic guitar and string arrangements, heartfelt lyrics, and hefty, strong vocals. This was definitely brave considering the nonsense surrounding the well produced user-friendly and engaging pop of "LIVE YOUR LIFE BE FREE," which did reasonably well in Europe but was mis-marketed in the states. After this MCA record label-MTV-squabble match and many misguided marketing and executive decisions, "REAL" stands out as a shining example of what great artists can do when unencumbered by such nonsense (Thank You 'Virgin' Records) and 'good on ya' George Michael. Now if we can only get Crysalis to release "A WOMAN AND A MAN" in the states... Jan 30 23:18 EST : J. Rockett, NYC : [email protected] : 

Posted to CDNow discussion group

The most enganging female singer Belinda Carlisle has known how to do best records, not only at the eighties ... Well, it may that her two latest records : "LIVE YOUR LIFE BE FREE" AND "REAL" weren´t exceptionals, but her latest cd: "A WOMAN AND A MAN" is quite good. In Too Deep is simply, the best Carlisle´s performance since "La Luna" -included on "RUNAWAY HORSES" cd,RELEASED OCTOBER,1989. ROXETTE´S leader, Per Gessle has wrote two cuts for the album. "Always Breaking My Heart" is a beutiful Rock-pop performance. The rest of the record is very well. Especially "California" -whose chorus were sung by Brian Wilson-. I rEALLY HOPE THAT THIS RECORD achieve a big success in USA and I think that Belinda should release "California" as third single after "In Too Deep" and "Always Breaking My Heart". Thank you . Málaga.Spain.February 27,1997. Feb 27 10:13 EST : Alberto Schwarzmann Granadino. : jscwarz. : 

From NME magazine, Sept. 28, 1996

article by MARK SUTHERLAND

Belinda Carlisle doesn't look much like your average ex-punk rocker, ex-cocaine addict, ex-lesbian lust icon and ex-target of no fewer than 32 stalkers. She looks like your average fabulously wealthy 38-year-old Californian mother-of-one, animal rights activist who just happens to also be a ludicrously successful pop star. Which is to say, not very average at all. But then she's anything but an average person. You may think she's just another piece of MOR pop fluff, but she's actually on ultra-intimate terms with The Madness. She could tell tales to make Courtney Love tremble ........... After all, Belinda Carlisle may be The Weeble Of Pop (knock her down as hard and often as you like: she'll come bouncing right back every time), but she's also a boring old square these days, right? "Oh, I don't know about that," she grins, slurping her red wine. Come on. Exactly how rock'n'roll can motherhood be? "Well y'know, my son was born to the sound of 'Welcome To The Jungle' by Guns N' Roses." Hmm. Not bad. What's his name? "James Duke Mason. But we call him Dookie. As in the Green Day album." Aah. Don'tcha just love a rock'n'roll story with a rock'n'roll ending? 

Review by Real Groove Reviews, Nov. 1996

A Woman & a Man, Belinda Carlisle

(Chrysalis)

First off, Belinda's got pretty good breasts if they're pointed in the right direction. She's probably always been underrated for breasts, but they did good work in the Go-Gos and they've functioned well at various times throughout her solo career. The "Heaven Is A Place On Earth" video had a textbook camera-overhead cleavage shot, and I think in "Circle In the Sand" she had a sufficiently tight shirt for a good curve/heft ratio. But enough of the important stuff. On Carlisle's new album it's the expected blend of sophisto-bland songwriting (including Neil Finn), grunge-never-happened production, and three excellent songs. She hits form with a lush ballad, "In Too Deep," effortlessly cruising through a super-melodic chorus. The title track has a dramatic string arrangement, like a leftover from a '70s blackxploitation movie soundtrack. The best song, "California," fuses the are-the-good-times-over uneasiness of "California Dreamin'" with the harsh get-outta-town distress signals of X's "Los Angeles"; the ominous synths recall Kim Wilde's "Cambodia," while Beach Boy (and former lost boy) Brian Wilson adds eerie, doo-woppish backing vocals which lift Belinda's voice. She drawls, "I remember I was in the tanning salon / When I heard that River Phoenix was gone." This couplet isn't as funny as what TISM said about Phoenix, but it's 100% LA and a precise summary of the first and fourth Bret Easton Ellis novels. All that's missing are the virgin-killing vampires! (7)

Andrew Palmer 

Belinda on Belinda

I'm a typical Leo. I have to have the best of everything and I never settle for half measures. It's all or nothing with me and I'm extremely bossy about getting my way. I'm also too generous sometimes but that's OK.

Belinda Carlisle (1997)