From the opening strains of the kinetic "Goodbye Day," it's clear this album is an intentional departure. Surprising and exciting influences pop up all over the place, and they fit her well, whether it's the Beatlesque tone of "Wrap My Arms," the alternative rock stylings of "Tell Me," or the Middle Eastern accents on "One With You." The ballad "Too Much Water" sounds slightly psychedelic, the tribal rock single "Big Scary Animal" is a definite high point in her career, and "Where Love Hides" finds her stepping ever so lightly into the realm of U2. The album's finest moment, however, is a big sweeping ballad equally equipped with heavy electric guitars and elegant strings:"Here Comes My Baby" is downright stunning, as Belinda sings with a passionate abandon that we don't see from her nearly often enough.

Never mind that radio and MTV deemed this album unworthy of their attention; "Real" is proof at last for those of us who've had sneaking suspicions that Belinda Carlisle could cross over from enjoyable pop singer to significant rock artist. Knowing she's capable of such things will make your umpteenth subjection to "Our Lips Are Sealed" on retro radio a little easier to take.


Belinda's Best   August 7, 2000
Richard A. Shidler (USA)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

Although this album is considered a flop, I think it is Belinda Carlisle's most amazing piece of solo work. Her emotionally charged vocals, and the heart-wrenching lyrics are so driven and powerful, I couldn't imagine how this album could ever flop. Many believe that Bel fans who are fans of the Go Go's opt for this album, but I beg to differ. I much prefer Bel solo, and this is still my favorite album of hers.

Goodbye Day is the opening track, and is a great one, but not compared to some of the upcoming tracks. It's good, but the set has some more in store for you.

It's Too Real (Big Scary Animal) is the song I was really wanting to hear, as I've always heard good things about it. I was not disappointed. Belinda's rhaspy vocals, and the great emphasis on the battle of the sexes makes this one of her best tunes to date.

Too Much Water is the first real emotional song that takes you out on a landscape. Bel's vocals are so emotionally driven and you can really feel her pain as she's singing. One of the best tracks on the disc.

Lay Down Your Arms was the second single release, but it's one of the less sterling tracks on the set. It's very good, but not as much so as other tracks.

Where Love Hides has to be one of Belinda's best songs to date. There isn't enough I can say about it. I almost makes you want to cry, it's so sad and you can really feel Bel's pain as she's singing it.

One With You is one of the harder edged tracks on the disc. It's really cool and well, very Belinda.

Wrap My Arms is the one track that could possibly be considered almost 'pure pop.' It's so sweet and joyous and one of the best on here. Puts a smile on anyone's face.

Tell Me is another gut-wrenching track that takes it out of you (in a good way). Belinda is all about emotion on this CD and this track proves it.

Windows of the World is the other 'pure pop' track in this collection. This track has a really spiffy guitar playing in it and the music and message is very uplifting.

Here Comes My Baby is the ending song and what a way to end an album! It starts off slow with Belinda singing softly but with plenty of emotion "Hello/ It's me" and goes into a powerfully charged ballad about walking away from her man, but wanting him to stay and on and on...it's just excellent, and a great way to end things on this awesome CD.

So look! If you're a Belinda or Go's fan, don't miss out! This is the definitive Bel album!


The Real Belinda is stunning   August 15, 2002
Shane L (Australia)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

This IS Belinda Carlisle. A somewhat autobiographical album, Real explores the dark side of relationships and emotion, and shows Belinda to be as talented a songwriter as she is a singer...6 out of the 10 tracks on the album were written by her. Featuring a rawer sound that frightened a lot of people away, Real was critically acclaimed, but an immense commercial flop in the USA, if to a lesser extent abroad. The single 'Big Scary Animal' still rocks the house, while the slower, more sedate 'Too Much Water,' and 'Where Love Hides' show Carlisle at her most soothing and effectual in years. Climaxing with the gorgeous and immensely powerful 'Here Comes My Baby,' Real is really an album for Carlisle, and for her closest fans. A true piece of musical art. A special nod must also go to the haunting, but brilliant, 'Tell Me.'


Belinda's most important album   August 7, 2002
Daniel Jolley (Shelby, North Carolina USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

I love this CD, and I think it clearly establishes Belinda Carlisle as a serious, powerful singer in her own right. This is a mature album in terms of the music and the lyrics; while faint echoes of the Go-Go's can be detected in a couple of songs, there is no sugary pop aspect to be found. She does indeed get real on these songs, going quite deep into the listener's soul. This music does differ from her earlier work somewhat, which explains to some degree why casual listeners might not recognize its merits without hearing the songs several times. Most unfortunately, many people never got a chance to hear a single track on here because radio stations largely ignored it. This is a recording of high quality, consistently enjoyable from start to finish.

It is strange in a way to detect traces of Go-Go's music in places here because in depth and emotional content these songs are on the opposite side of the spectrum from that great music from the past. "Goodbye Day" starts with a quick flurry of drums, which is a little unusual, but its vibrant, full sound makes it an excellent opening track. "Windows on the World" has somewhat of a Go-Go's music pace and sound, but it is by no means a meaningless pop song. "Tell Me" is a wonderful song. The verses have a slight Go-Go's feel to them, but the choruses take the intensity up several notches and imprint Belinda's individual voice on the song. It features an uptempo beat similar to that of "Lay Down Your Arms," but Belinda's singing gives this song the kind of emotional pathos it really needs. I really love "Lay Down Your Arms" because of its passionate and intense choruses; of all the songs on the album, this is the one that I often find replaying itself in my head. "Wrap My Arms" is another gem of a song which really seems to come from the heart.

I think the album is definitely geared more toward women than men, yet I as a man certainly treasure it. Its lyrics deal more with love's failures than love in and of itself. "Lay Down Your Arms" is a passionate appeal to rebuild a relationship that is being pulled apart by the man. "It's Too Real" is a catchy song reflecting the inherent tensions between men and women: "Who wants to live in a man's world?" Belinda asks. "Too Much Water" is a slow song with a gentle rhythm in the background that makes me think of waves washing on the beach. It is an emotional song about relationships washing away when the bridges connecting us emotionally fall down. "Where Love Hides" is one of Belinda's better slow, melancholy songs. Following it, however, we have a real rocker of a song called "One With You." The two songs offer an interesting contrast to one another. The first one is about longing for an undiscovered love; the second one is a straightforward appeal to a specific person.

Any doubts about the merits of the album disappear completely when one hears "Here Comes My Baby." The relatively quick pace of the songs preceding it makes its tender beauty stand out all the more. Belinda always ends her albums with a particularly impressive song, and "Here Comes My Baby" is second to no other. In a way this album has it all, from fast-paced songs to tender ballads; it should amaze rather than disappoint any Belinda Carlisle fan.


Belinda's Best!   November 4, 1999
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

I own every Belinda Carlisle album and this is by far the best she's done. She takes musical risks and pulls off some real edgy material. There's no bubble gum here, unlike every other album she's produced. From the open guitar rock of "Goodbye Day" to the closing yearning of "Here Comes My Baby", the CD delivers one class-act recording after another. Especially good are "Too Much Water" and "Tell Me". Highly recommended. A very mature effort.