Closer To The Truth Deluxe

The ONLY artist to have a #1 song on a Billboard chart in each of the past 60 decades.Not Elvis, not Michael Jackson, not Madonna, not even the Beatles... not Celine or Barbra or Whitney or Mariah... have been able to beat this world-record achievement.Say what you will about the Cher. She's old. And outdated. Her voice sucks. She's all about sensationalism and attention grabbing with those stupid crazy costumes and hardly a real artist. She's only still afloat because of her troupe of gays and drag queens that just won't stop.She's won an Emmy, a Grammy, and an Oscar which makes her part of an exclusive club of 18 artists that have accomplished this... and half of them are dead.The woman may be dumb as a rock and annoying as hell... but she's an incredible genius that you helplessly fall desperately in love with... this divine and exquisite goddess, wrinkled sack of rotten potatoes, magnanimous beautiful angel.I will talk about her tour a bit but ultimately this will a review of the album.At near 70 years of age (or 100, who's keeping count?) she put out a full studio album with the highest sales debut she's had in her career and is running around North America half naked, performing to sold-out crowds of millions of fans from young, teen, twenty-somethings, forty-somethings, sixty-somethings, and those on their deathbed who just had to see Cher once nore before he/she died.This decrepit old bag is singing songs about "dressing to kill," "being on the loose," "dancing in the dark on the club floor" and "waiting for her next lover to fall." Her taller than tall heels and non-stop action on stage, mixed with several Cirque-du-Soleil type shows during costume changes... and when she wears fangs! or comes flying out of the stage over the entire audience... Ahhhhh.... IT JUST DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT. Her booming voice fills every crevice of the auditorium... or your bedroom if you're listening at home...I think that CD cover should be in the Guiness Book of World Records for the most use of photoshop ever on a 6 inch by 6 inch paper.It is definitely one of the best works she has done in her career.,. Usually her albums produce 1 or 2 good songs while the rest fade away. That's why there are so many "greatest hits" collections. And those are the ones that sell like hotcakes.Well, by my account, there are at least 5, maybe 6! songs on this album that are really god, or top-notch or bordering on absolute masterpiece. They range from dance/club, autotune heaven, light and upbeat, and deep, power, and meaniful... with heart and spirit pouring out.Yes, I am biased. Maybe if it is was another artist only 2 songs would be amazing. But after 60 years... you can't help but let your prejudices wrap snuggly around you as Cher's booming voice drips through your ears and fills your entire head with the sweetest honey ever harvested, from the most beautiful flower.Lover her. Hate her. The woman is a walking legend. And no one can deny that.P.S. To the person that said Woman's World is a boring stupid song that repeats the Chorus 20 times. Ugh... yes... What's your point? It's a club/disco/dance song... you know, for dancing and partying...not to be exposed for critique to the Julliard Academy of Music... it is AMAZING!!! It brings everyone to the dancefloor... hence achieving it's sole purpose!!!. There are plenty of powerful, emotional, moving songs on that CD. But we gotta have our fun too! The CD is jam packed with a roller coaster of ups and down. The perfect way to say goodbye. And this time I think she really means it =(

"Closer To The Truth" is one of Cher's finest albums. Her singing is far more nuanced than in her last few releases. Just listen to her vocals in "My Love," which will make you feel chills, her voice is so beautiful. I wrote in a review for her album "Stars" that she released albums either as "artist" or "entertainer," but on "Closer To The Truth," there is a full integration of the two personas. There are some great dance numbers: "Woman's World," "Take It Like A Man," and "Dressed To Kill," mixed with some gorgeous ballads: "Sirens" and "I Hope You Find It." Cher also co-wrote several of the songs, and her gifts as a songwriter were previously a largely untapped resource (the album "Not.Commercial" was not widely distributed), but here her songs have a chance to reach a wider audience. Thank you, Cher, for another extraordinary album.P.S.: Last night I attended the opening night of Cher's "Dressed To Kill" tour in Phoenix, AZ. It was a great show, probably on par with the "Believe" tour from 1999. Unbelievable production numbers, and an amazing mix of songs from the new album interspersed with some of her best known songs.The show was delayed in starting, perhaps a full hour passed after Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo finished their set. Before she came on stage, Cher spoke to the audience, still unseen: "If you're going to grade this show, grade it on a f___ing curve!" It wasn't perfect, there were a couple of glitches here and there, but made all the more memorable and interesting because of them. So, my favorite numbers? (All of them...but...) There was an incredible production number for "The Beat Goes On," choreographed like a Shindig episode, with the girls in the go-go boots and mini-dresses, and Cher in a rabbit fur coat. Sonny's vocals were piped in, of course, but Cher sang her part live. I can't wait for the DVD of this tour, that number was so good. Then, with Sonny's image on screen singing along with her, Cher sang "I Got You Babe." Incredible! The production number for "Take It Like A Man" was the most ambitious in scope and spectacle, complete with a Trojan horse. Cher's two numbers from "Burlesque" ("Welcome To Burlesque" and "You Haven't Seen The Last Of Me") were stunning in their contrast: There's a big Vegas-y production number for "Welcome To Burlesque," and then just Cher, alone on stage and dressed in a simple black outfit singing "You Haven't Seen the Last Of Me." Other numbers from the new album included "Woman's World," "I Hope You Find It," "Dressed To Kill," and "Lie To Me." Songs from Cher's catalog include "Gypsys, Tramps And Theives," "Dark Lady," "Half Breed," "Heart Of Stone," "Just Like Jesse James," "If I Could Turn Back Time," "Believe," and "Strong Enough." I am so blessed to have seen this show. It was worth the discomfort: the U.S. Airways seats are not designed for anyone with a larger than 28" waist. I'm considering going to the closing show in San Diego in July, it was that good.So, Cher, even without the curve: A+.