Personnel includes: Macy Gray (vocals); Jon Brion (guitar, piano, Chamberlain, synthesizer, vibraphone, bells); Darryl Swann (guitar, programming, background vocals); Jinsoo Lim, Arrik Marshall, Bendrix Williams, Blackbird McKnight, Gabriel Moses, Miles Tackett (guitar); Ngozi "Guz" Inyama (saxophone); Jeremy Ruzumna (piano, organ, Clavinet, Farfisa organ, Moog synthesizer, background vocals); Patrick Warren (Chamberlain, synthesizer, vibraphone); David Wilder (bass, background vocals); Dion Derek Murdock (bass); Matt Chamberlain (drums, percussion); Lenny Castro (percussion); Kiilu Beckwith (programming); DJ Kiilu (turntable); Dawn Beckman, Musiic Galloway, Sye Smith (background vocals).
Recorded at Paramount Studios, Sunset Sound and A&M Studios, Hollywood California.
"Do Something" was nominated for the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.
"I Try" won the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
The song was nominated for Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year.
This Aussie version features the bonus track "Rather Hazy" and a jewel case.
It was no mean feat for an R&B singer debuting in 1999 to embody the aesthetics of vintage soul without resorting to retro '70s stylings. On her first album, Macy Gray manages to bring old-school values to a very contemporary sound. One is immediately struck by Gray's unique, sandpapery voice-something of a cross between Erykah Badu and Eartha Kitt. A powerhouse rhythm section ensures that the all-important groove remains the focal point of the arrangements, while production techniques borrowed from '90s DJ culture pop up throughout. Lyrically, Gray moves from the lustiness of the unambiguously titled "Sex-O-Matic Venus Freak" to the film noir scenario of "I've Committed Murder," all the while singing with enough verve and soul to ensure that her unique voice insinuates itself into the listener's heart.
What the critics say...
Rolling Stone (8/19/99, p.112) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...shadowy, classic and shimmering with contemporary nostalgia....Gray glides through the aural cinema like a destined star..."
Entertainment Weekly (8/6/99, p.64) - "...bounding from gritty urban funk to polished R&B and tumescent Princely come-ons...[MACY] shows how to use her versatile voice to project the albums ever-changing moods..." - Rating: B
Q (5/00, p.135) - Included in Q Magazine's "Best Soul Albums Of All Time"
Q (1/00, p.85) - Included in Q Magazine's "50 Best Albums of 1999."
Q (8/99, p.105) - 4 stars (out of 5) - "...her influences [are] Sly Stone, Aretha Franklin and Marvin Gaye....[MACY GRAY] bears the marks of all three, but with a decidedly modern feel....all 10 tracks are viable, both musically and lyrically..."
Muzik (1/00, p.69) - Ranked #11 in Muzik's "Albums Of The Year '99"
Muzik (8/99, p.82) - 4 stars (out of 5) - "...accessible modern ...soul ....free-spirited productions with warmth and timeless appeal in abundance."
Mojo (Publisher) (1/00, p.30) - Ranked #4 in Mojo Magazine's "Best of 1999"
