All Is Love (featuring Zoë Keating)
By Curt Smith
Price:$0.89
RunningTime:262 seconds
Genre:pop-music
Label:Kook Media LLC
ProductGroup:Digital Music Track
Binding:MP3 Download
Manufacturer:Kook Media LLC
ProductTypeName:DOWNLOADABLE_MUSIC_TRACK
Publisher:Kook Media LLC
TrackSequence:1
Customer Rating:
Sales Rank:3375
Original Release Date:January 24,2010
All Is Love (featuring Zoë Keating) Video
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Reviews for Curt Smith,All Is Love (featuring Zoë Keating) Reviews
Sometimes Love Isn't Enough
I was looking forward to this, but once again, my hopes are dashed. Apparently Smith thought his delightful "demo" Halfway Home, released only on his site to great praise from his fans, needed reworking. This new version is far inferior. Worried that he couldn't have the word "halfway" in two of his releases, he cut-and-pasted the worn "all is love" into the chorus, stale and tasteless pabulum in comparison. A slow and melancholic opening left me itching to hit the fast forward button (in spite of the nice cello by Zoe--who's better off solo). The sudden electronic mish-mash kills the mood inelegantly, in contrast to the continued heavy-hearted lyrics ("Look what you've lost, Innocence and faith"). But hey, all you need is love, and a small choir for your chorus, and a generous serving of "love for everyone" to round out the conglomeration, right? Wrong. Trying to navigate this song is like trying to drive on ice-slicked roads.
And what about the lyrics? Well, in spite of what they might say, Smith says the song is about the 2008 election... Really? Politics, as in: say what the masses want to hear to get what you want, bend the truth about someone to make the masses dislike them and like you more, do what you must to get your masses to hear what you have to say but not what the other guy has to say, spin-doctoring, false facades, and backstage secrets. But don't worry! LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED. (Where are the trumpets?) Now that the "right" group is in, everything's going to be hunky dory? No more hurt, no more broken (bleeding) hearts, no more vanity, ego? We'll get our faith back, just like that? Our innocence? LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED. Really? I get the impression Smith learned quite a bit from the politics of the election (see above list). He'd make the perfect politician. And innocence may be gone, but it seems naiveté is alive and well in Smith's circle of fans (see previous reviews).
Finally, I can't help but wonder at other reviewers' use of the word "strong" to describe Smith's voice. It might have been once, but age and cigarettes have taken their toll. Not every singer has to have a "strong" voice, and Smith generally manages with what he's got, but let's not go overboard. I'd call it "adequate," at best.
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
Brother Ken (USA)
February 10,2010
On Listening To "All Is Love"
The song by Curt Smith featuring Zoë Keating is a finely woven mix of modern and traditional instrumentation wth expressive and expansive compositional motifs. As the Rock genre reaches into the 21st Century seasoned listeners being introduced to a new song can often find it like reaching into a memory or a feeling established by some past time when music brought a new emotion to life. Within or outside the legacy of Tears For Fears, the open and sensitive listener will find several touches of the familiar mixed with the new in Curt Smith's "All Is Love".
If permitted to bring our suitcases of musical pasts as listeners with Curt Smith, we recognize a fine thoughtful moment distinct with self reflection opens in the lyrics, "Look what you've done...". The expression hangs with tones of regret in passing moment or past contrition. This familiar touchstone comes forward to remind the listener our childhoods are always with us. We react to the statement as though it were a question. Now as adults, many of us as parents, a reflexive "What have we done?" comes to mind and the suggestion to "look".
In understanding the beginning of Curt Smith within Tears For Fears, the question remain the same, how are making life better for another generation? What have we done when faced within the cycle of parent to child to the issue of the upbringing, the shaping of another life?
The introduction opens with delicate pensive vocals set against the cello of Zoë Keating and strikes a classical tone that never really dips into melancholy but rather a mild dissonant introspection and the glances of our human foibles. As the piece unfolds we find moments of questions that confront us, the renown reminders of humanity sewn into many songs either from Smith or Tears For Fears in whole. Then the piece reaches out with a warm chorus. A complex sting arrangement reaching back into the oeuvre of TFF as certain touches reminiscent of Lennon and McCartnery chord progressions have settled into the world around us. Reminders of who has come before us as artists and musicians -a reverb from that past that continues to touch lives, ensconced here and other arrangements with respect and dignity of our origins of a collective musical consciousness.
"Love for everyone" becomes a lyrical theme that repeats not with romantic limitations but the wish for a world where the love from homes in harmony will also bring a world closer to harmony. A psychological motif clearly familiar from the earliest messages within the legacy of Tears For Fears brought forward in this piece by Smith.
The really unique thing about this piece for me is the way the electronics and signal processing tilt and sway with contrasting textures to the acoustical elements of the cello, piano and orchestral parts. The modern, the now is still given thought and attention for those of us listening for "pet sounds". The piece is beautifully arranged and a sense of time of this creation is somehow not lost in the track time itself. Clearly, the thoughtful moments over the span that this creation came to life arrive with a sense of attention to detail with the larger, longer questions of how to give a piece such as this a full, rich, yet buoyant and poignant emotional package are met.
I as a listener feel only a sense of chagrin that this single is not the seemingly the preview of a larger body of work treated in this same manner of artfulness. May an album be forthcoming. Regards and for one and all that had a hand in the making and especially the featured talent of Zoë Keating.
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
John A. Lee
February 3,2010
Worth The Wait
Much thanks to Curt and the wonderful gift of music he has given us over the past 20 plus years. This is a perfect example of classic Curt Smith work. He is always looking to work with new and up coming artist, not to may artist out there that do this. I have had the pleasure to meeting Curt many times over the years. Every time I see him its like talking to an old friend and catching up. He is so down to earth and is such a great family man. Cheers to you Papa Smith. Onwards and upwards. Looking forward to more music. Cheers to Zoë Keating. I wish you all the best.. Cheers, Danny C. Las Vegas, NV 20 + years fan.
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Daniel W. Cricks (Las Vegas, NV)
January 25,2010
New Ear Candy!
All Is Love is the perfect amalgamation of classic Curt Smith with a classical cello. All at once it's sweet and hopeful, positive and forward thinking. Curt's mellow, melodic voice is soothing and amazing. I could listen again and again, and say "Bravo, Curt" and "Please might I have another?"
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
Suzanne E. Olden (Eldersburg, Maryland)
January 25,2010
Another amazing song from Curt Smith!
Everyone has one of those songs that they just love to play over and over and over again. The kind that if it were an old 45 you would have to buy a new one to replace it... well this is one of those songs. You can play this one in the background all day long and never be tired of it and then still find yourself humming it later on! And the lyrics... probably not the way he meant... but with all that is going on in Haiti right now... even more special. "Hold on tight everyone... We'll all reach out to touch someone... They'll be love for everyone"
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
Lily Fuentes
January 24,2010
