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Technical critique:
(Those of you with audio editors, open a track from Up! and one from any another hit artist's CD.)

Notice ...

1. The audio levels are too "hot". They are "pinned" to the top of the spectrum.

2. Either in the mixing or mastering process, too much compression is apparent. Notice that all the "peaks" are "smashed" together - an indication of extremely high compression.

3. This level of compression "pinches" the entire performance and bombards the listener - with all vocals, instruments, and frequencies "smooshed" together, competing against one another.

4. On several of the cuts, the background vocalists are "down" a few decibels from Shania's other albums, making their lyrics difficult to hear and giving Shania slightly less support.

5. Most egregious of all is that this project was mixed for the benefit of the instrumental tracks - not the artist. The EQ and compression on Shania's voice seems to have been "dropped into" the tracks, instead of making Shania sound warm and full and THEN EQing the tracks AROUND HER. Thus, Shania's voice (particularly the upper register) sounds "thin", when in fact, she's giving some of the finest vocal performances of her career.

6. Shania's voice, having been highly compressed and mixed into the tracks, is a couple or so decibels lower than all of her previous CD's - something that will be glaringly apparent when a "Greatest Hits" CD is released and these tracks sit alongside the others.

All of the above items can be summarized by saying that production and mastering have made great, "hypey" sounding tracks - but at the expense of the artist's vocal quality and integrity - a real shame.

More:
Conceptually, Shania's earlier CD's had a savvy degree of country music focus, lyrically, vocally, and instrumentally. Most of that is missing from this release. Placing a steel guitar, banjo, or violin on to a techno track (CD #2) is NOT enough to make it country - because the "concept" of the tune and its track was more "pop" than all previous outings.

Misc:
In my opinion, Up! would have been better served artistically as an 11 or 12 song, 1 CD release - with the particularly sophomoric lyrical cuts eliminated altogether.


Up! Up! Up! Up! Up! for Shania Twain   December 5, 2002
 29 out of 33 found this review helpful

Calling Shania Twain country is the same as calling Mikhail Gorbachev a communist back in the 1980's. OK, so is this Come On Over Once Again? Well, some bits of it are, but the songs and the album overall seem more solid than Come On Over. The title track breaks open with the same infectiousness that "Man! I Feel Like A Woman" did from the previous album. In other words, "Up!" is simply irresistible from the word go... I mean up! However, as there are nineteen songs here, I'll concentrate on the ones that yanked my ear. Overall, this is a smashing album, though. Oh, note: I'm reviewing from the POV of the red pop disc.

Most of the songs are upbeat and have that manner of erasing bad moods in the same way that "I'm Holding On To Love" and "Don't Be Stupid" from Come On Over did.
"I'm Gonna Getcha Good!" has the most infectious lyrics with the words "gonna getcha" since Blondie's "One Way Or Another." The tempo is

"She's Not Just A Pretty Face" is a tribute to the woman who may be the waitress, gas pump jockey, airline pilot, mother of three, etc, who's "got everything it takes" and is
the mother of the human race." There's a similar rhythm to Def Leppard's "Pour Some Sugar On Me" in the chorus, not surprising considering her husband produced Leppard's Hysteria.

"Forever And For Always" is has a mid-paced backing drum section that has the same reflective dreaminess of Steve Winwood's "Back In The High Life Again."

"Ain't No Particular Way" is highlighted by the strings providing the backing rhythm after the chorus.

The sweet ballad here is "It Only Hurts When I'm Breathing," which is the "From This Moment On" of this album, albeit without a dueting partner, and it's better too. However, the closing ballad "When You Kiss Me" is equally meritorious in beauty.

"Nah!" has only the slightest twinge of country but with the Def Leppard style backing vocals, it's clear that it's more pop than country. Ditto for the next song. "(Wanna Get To Know) You That Good" is a firm avowal of how much she wants to know someone, from memorizing one's face in a lifetime, knowing one by heart and mind, including "Every feel of your fingers, every curl in your hair."

"Ka-Ching" is a pointed social commentary on the mall-style materialism that has swept America. She sings of the indebtedness America launched itself into in the 70's, namely that little plastic card. "We've created a credit card mess/ We spend the money we don't possess/Our religion is to go and blow it all/So it's shoppin' every Sunday at the mall." With the cash register sound present, it could be a counterpart to Pink Floyd's "Money."

"Waiter! Bring Me Water!" has the girl being humiliated by her boyfriend at a restaurant because he is looking at another woman. I get the sense that the put upon girl needs the water to toss in his face instead of to drink in order to cool him down.

"What A Way To Wanna Be!" is a breakneck rock song dismissing the pressures of women of being overly conscious of their looks, figure, and trendy. "Bigger is the best, but only in the chest" and "Yeah, how insane-to be so vain/It's so synthetic-I just don't get it" are key lyrics.

The upbeat and sassy "In My Car (I'll Be The Driver)" has a role reversal in which she doesn't mind whatever her man does, whether it's sleeping with his socks on or hurting her head with his favourite rock song-just let her drive the car.

There are 19, count'em!, 19 songs on this album, so that's VERY generous of Shania and Mutt. Plus, those 19 songs are also on the green country disc, so make that 38 songs for the price of one CD. I favour the red pop disc over the mellower green country disc, which is not bad. Make no mistakes-this one will outsell Come On Over, which sold diamond-ten million copies for those not in the know. So to sum up, longer, better, snazzier, and more solid. And it figures, as Mutt Lange wants to save the best for his wife, but what a wife!


Note From Shania: A Word About UP!   November 21, 2002
 27 out of 36 found this review helpful

In meeting my audiences around the world during my last tour, I discovered something very exciting and liberating. My audiences consisted of an incredible variety of ages and nationalities. So, while writing and recording UP! I felt a freedom to explore all my different musical roots. Since I've always been comfortable writing and singing many styles of music from the earliest age, I wanted this CD to reflect that versatility. I didn't feel I could express and have all that fun in less than 19 songs and with only one CD.

When I listen to the music, depending on what mood I'm in, I might put on the RED CD to hear the songs with an electric, rockier-edged sound. If I want to hear songs with a more acoustic, down-home feel, I listen to the GREEN CD. If I want to get into groove mode and hear them with a more rhythmic feel, I listen to the BLUE CD.

Sometimes I even put my CD player on "random" so I can listen to them all mixed together. For me, having the variety in styles is reminiscent of my youth when I used to listen to our local radio station and hear Stevie Wonder, Dolly Parton, Supertramp and the BeeGee's all in the same hour. I hope you enjoy the different flavours on both CDs and find the music colourful and UP lifting.

Have a great listen!


Shania Twain Still on the Way Up!   May 13, 2003
 25 out of 28 found this review helpful

It's clear that sales of Shania Twain's 2002 "Up!" will not exceed the figures of the 1990's best-selling album -- her previous offering "Come On Over" sold 33 million copies worldwide. One of the reasons is that we have entered the age of internet, cd-burners and pirate copies.

Musically, though, "Up!" is at least "up" to par with "Come On Over" and "The Woman In Me", if not better. The superstar has released a double album, on the two discs of which are the same 19 songs, but in different arrangements -- one of them has been inspired by various influences of world music.

Shania and her husband/producer Mutt Lange wrote and produced a collection of 19 brand new songs so catchy and "singable" that it is almost incredible nowadays -- in the era of recycled pop music.

Lyrics often contain sweet nothings but sometimes touch on weightier matters, "Ka-ching!" pointedly hits off the current consuming society, and "She's Not Just A Pretty Face" updates 'girl-power' theme. Romance dominates the lyrics, though.

Unlike on "The Woman In Me", where uptempo songs and ballads were represented equally, "Up!" follows the formula of "Come On Over", built on faster songs. Yet, when Shania ventures into ballad territory ("It Only Hurts When I'm Breathing", "When You Kiss Me"), she sounds at once vulnerable and irresistible. Jealousy ("Waiter! Bring Me Water!") and self-confidence ("In My Car") also suit her fine. Among the cream of the crop is also "Forever And For Always", "Nah!" and "C'est la vie".

The album contains so many crisp melodies that it's almost impossible to swallow them all at once and only after several listens you'll be able to relish them completely. A guarantee: if you own this album, whether at home or 'in your car', "Up!" is on the way to become one of your favourites. This is great pop music.


There's no way but "Up" for Shania   November 19, 2002
 24 out of 27 found this review helpful

Up! is an awesome song, really upbeat and just puts you in a good mood. I really like the positivity and the uniqueness of it. You can always count on Shania for something original.

Im Gonna Getcha Good is a kickin' song and I still love it!! Shania sings about confidence here and the message is loud and clear

She's Not Just A Pretty Face makes a big social statement. I really like that Shania has put a lot of social songs on this album. A lot of women in the world are looked at only as objects and this song talks about how a woman can do anything a man does!

Juanita is another feminist song, about the common bond all women share. It's beautiful and another very original and very unique song.

Forever And For Always is so pretty and it captures the feelilng of being in love perfectly.

Ain't No Particular Way delivers a message to those who may have given up on love. This song talks about how love can be found anywhere, and is usually found when you're not looking for it!

It Only Hurts When I'm Breathing is the most beautiful song on the album. Shania sings about pain and how she "holds her breath to forget". It's a message and idea that so many people will relate to. For anyone who has ever lost someone, this song is for you.

Nah! is one of the great upbeat songs and is once again true Shania in that it is unique and clever. It's about not wanting to take someone back who broke your heart. This one is going to be a hit!

Wanna Get To Know You (That Good) is my absolute favorite song by Shania. It's about wanting to get to know somebody as close as you can. The music in this song just gives you a feelilng that matches the lyrics.

C'est La Vie is very relatable to all people. It's a positive message from Shania to us, and I hope to start everyday listening to this song. Life isn't all that bad

I'm Jealous is another beautiful song. Shania refers to it as poetic, and it is indeed lovely. It's about how much you can love someone that you're even jealous of the moon, sun, wind and rain.

Ka-Ching is a very deep song lyrically. I don't care for the melody, but the words are true and Shania is making another social statement about the greed in the world.

Thank You Baby does not have much to say lyrically, but the simple lyrics get the message across clearly. I love the instrumentation in this song the most, it sounds so big and beautiful.

Waiter! Bring Me Water is another original tune by Shania. I love how she is so unique. This song talks about jealousy and has a great sense of humor. The oriental sounds at the beginning give the song an awesome kick.

What A Way (To Wanna Be) is another social statement song. It talks about how women feel pressured to look perfect all the time because of society. Shania says that we should just think for ourselves and be happy to be who we are. This song has a great message and the song itself is very rockin'! Almost has an 80s feel to it!

I Ain't Goin' Down is my second favorite song. It's about a 15 year old girl who has a baby and everyone turns against her, but she makes it through because her daughter gives her love to carry on. And at the end of the day if that's all she has, it was worth it. Love the message in this song, very inspiring!

I'm Not In The Mood (To Say No) is a song about being motivated and not wanting to just sit around on your couch. It's got attitude and it's very upbeat and rockin'!

In My Car (I'll Be the Driver) is another favorite. It's about a woman being in control. Shania has fun with the lyrics, and this again is a rockin' song. I can't wait to drive to it!!

When You Kiss Me is another pretty ballad that professes love to another. It's a stunning song and a great closer to an amazing album. It's simple and true and you can just feel the love in the air no matter how you feel otherwise when you listen to this song.

This album is incredible. Shania has matured since COO. But there are still those fun songs that we love (In My Car, I'm Not In the Mood, IGGG, Up!, Nah!, etc.) And those beautiful ballads that we've come to expect (IOHWIB, WYKM, and I'm Jealous). Yet, Shania makes some very important social statements on this album. She talks about the equality of women, the greed of the world, the way women feel like they have to look, teenage pregnancy, and the common bond that all women share all over the world. She does this without exploiting men and she does it all with a good sense of humor and a healthy dose of attitude. Nobody can deny that Shania has much talent. These songs are stunning each in their own way, and there's not a bad song on this album. I only hope that I won't have to wait another 5 years for more Shania music because she keeps getting better and better. Right now I can't imagine a better album than this, but if anyone can do it, Shania can!! In the meantime, Shania has been generous enough to give us 19 great songs that will keep me entertained for a very long time