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The lyrical ties may be a bit of a stretch at times, but the music throughout the project is firmly knotted together. One hardly has to read the production credits; a sampling of the left-of-center jazz and country blend leaves little doubt that anyone other than Craig Street, oddball extraordinare behind Cassandra Wilson's "New Moon Daughter" and Holly Cole's "Temptation," was at the helm. Street's presence explains -at least in part- the surprisingly highbrow arrangements of Steve Miller's "The Joker" and The Hollies' "The Air That I Breathe"; famous for turning novelty pop songs into mature music for adults, Craig's sensibilities in this sense have never been stronger. He also apparently had a field day with lang's love of Roy Orbison and Julie London, as Orbison's "Till the Heart Caves In" is given a rendition nothing short of immaculately beautiful, and the vibraphone and organ on "Smoke Dreams" are more than a little reminiscent of later-year recordings of Julie's.

But lang is no one's carbon copy, as the country-tinged "My Last Cigarette" and the Hawaiian-flavored "Smoke Rings" will prove beyond a doubt...when's the last time you heard music like this that wasn't on a reissue? Even an oft-covered standard like "Don't Smoke in Bed" can get a tailor-made alteration: lang starts it off as a classic torch, but a surprise bridge, with tremelo guitar and ethereal vocals, makes it something her very own. If you're still not a believer, behold the ease with which she takes the theme from the ultimate camp film ("Valley of the Dolls") and morphs it into a mature and classy affair.

"Hain't it Funny" is the lone exception; whether it's the lowkey jazz arrangement or the lazy vocal, you'd almost swear lang intentionally took a page from Holly Cole's book (and that's no complaint). But for a strong dose of the charm, warmth, and emotional accessibility that makes lang such an irresistible vocalist, look no further than the gorgeously understated "My Old Addiction," a deceivingly simple song that, at first listen, seems to stays on one emotional plane. It isn't until the six-and-a-half minute listen is over, however, that you realize lang wove in and out of subtle inflections, both technically and emotionally. The hindsight revelation makes it all the more impressive and the listener is all the more anxious to repeat the experience. Come to think of it, you may well reach the same conclusion at the close of this moving, entrancing, and ultimately beautiful record.


great album   February 5, 2000
 16 out of 21 found this review helpful

i was actually sort or shocked when i found out this album had a loose smoking theme, but was quite relieved when i found out kd was a non-smoker. anyway, the music is wonderful. the album starts off with the ballad "don't smoke in bed", with very nice orchestration and beautiful vocals by kd (as always). "the air that i breathe" is a song i think we can all relate to if you've ever made love of any kind (that's within normal barriers). "smoke dreams" is one of my favorites on the album. it sounds like a song that came out of the 30's or 40's, with a nice, "drag"gy beat (heh heh) and something that sounds like a vibraphone. other favorites are "till the heart caves in", which kd pulls off perfectly; "my old addiction", a beautiful and sad ballad, and "haint it funny?", a clever ballad reminiscent but not as serious as "my old addiction". if you enjoy the more upbeat side of kd lang, this album probably won't really be for you. also, know that this album is not about smoking per se-it has some obvious smoking songs, and some that only have a little reference. anyway, for the die-hard kd lang fan, i definitely recommend this, and i tie this among my favorites of kd lang's work with her 1988 classic "shadowland".


The best sizzle and smoke since the Divine Miss M   October 16, 2000
 15 out of 17 found this review helpful

Before "Drag" the only music I had heard by kd was the duet she did with Roy Orbison "Crying", which ranks as one of the best pop duets. "Drag" had some interesting selections so I purchased it on a whim. "Don't Smoke In Bed" could only be equaled by Midler's sizzle and sarcasm. You can almost feel the burn baby burn as she's walking out of the bedroom. Carly Simon did this same song on her "Film Noir" Cd but kd's version takes the prize. "The Air That I Breathe" was one of the songs I wanted to hear (I thought if she did half as well on this one as she did on "Crying" it would be worth the Cd). This song was made for infinite interpretations, and kd's is by far the one I like best. You feel a sensuous humanity in her voice and the lyrics. Albert Hammond remains one of the great underated writers of pop music, and his music really shines here. "Smoke Dreams" takes you into some smokey nightclub with smoke rings spiraling upward and everywhere. "My Last Cigarette" a perfect blend of country (not my favorite) and pop music. This one sneaks up on you. "The Joker" a very personal and suggestive piece. Read between the lines and enjoy. "The Valley Of The Dolls" is the big triumph on this Cd. The thoughtful lyrics and wind-swept melody sweeps you away. My favorite version of this song. "Your Smoke Screen" a quiet piece that holds its own. "My Old Addiction" great cello and piano intro. Again, this is the type and quality of music that made Bette Midler famous. This one reminds me of Midler's "Am I Blue". Same subtle intensity and message. "Till My Heart Caves In" is one of a handful of country type songs that really works for me. You can feel the earth slip from beneath you as she slowly brings your heart into this twangy crescendo until you can only give in to its irrisistable tug and pull. "Smoke Rings" is a little more country than I like but is well done and is ripe for some nightclub act. "Hain't It Funny" probably her most steamy and honest song on this Cd. Fantastic! "Love Is Like A Cigarette" a perfect song to end this perfect Cd. I suppose you could live without this Cd, but why? Press on the order button immediately!


This album is far from a "drag."   June 4, 2002
 9 out of 10 found this review helpful

I love this woman! Why she's not a multiplatinum seller is beyond me, but I can't think of a more underrated pop singer than kd Lang. This album is a nice collection of covers, mostly from the old school. Lang's voice is like a brush of velvet: smooth and luxurious. The musical arrangements are flawless. My two cuts of choice are "Don't Smoke in Bed" and "The Air That I Breathe," which Simply Red would later butcher. If you lost interest in Lang after "Ingenue," then this is the disc to pick up.


k.d. lang is a goddess   December 27, 2001
 8 out of 8 found this review helpful

k.d.lang has a voice that just soars and is able to wrap itself around a song. I would call her a modern day Karen Carpenter. The depth of emotion in her singing and the songs on this album just show off that range. The theme of "drag" is carried throughout the album in the smokey sound of her voice and the literally smokey/airy titles of the songs. "The Air That I Breathe" is a perfect example of the floating vocals making a perfectly perfect ethereal atmosphere.

This is an amazing album of songs sung by an amazing voice of our time. Haunting and moving. A definite must for any music lover and an absolute must for a k.d. fan.