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The Way It Really Is | 
| Artist: Lisa Loeb
Label: Zoe Records
Category: Music
List Price: $17.98
Buy Used: $4.27
You Save: $13.71 (76%)
New (19) Used (23) Collectible (1) from $4.27
Rating:  20 reviews
Sales Rank: 12654
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 431070
UPC: 601143107023
EAN: 0601143107023
ASIN: B0002E4A32
Release Date: August 10, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Window Shopping | | • | I Control the Sun | | • | Hand-Me-Downs | | • | Fools Like Me | | • | Try | | • | Diamonds | | • | Would You Wander | | • | Probably | | • | Accident | | • | Lucky Me | | • | Now I Understand |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Album Description
Lisa Loeb started her career at the top with her No. 1 song "Stay (I Missed You)." Since then, she's achieved Gold and Platinum sales, been nominated for a Grammy, and had her own television series on the Food Network. The Way It Really Is, her new album, chronicles life and love through 11 tracks - all featuring the insightful song-craft that is Loeb's signature style.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 15 more reviews...
 An old friend with some new tricks. August 10, 2004
David Archer (Bethel Park, Pennsylvania)
29 out of 29 found this review helpful
Lisa Loeb has always been a favorite artist of mine, and as a fan I've always felt she's been terribly underrated. However, I can understand how her music from her previous releases might not have caught on as much as I would have liked. That understanding goes out the window, however, with "The Way it Really Is."
In her first release for Zoe/Rounder, Loeb has taken a much darker turn than on her previous efforts, but the results couldn't be more luminous. Her wordplay and skill with metaphors is taken to new levels with the quirky, interesting "Window Shopping" and the rockingly dismissive "Diamonds." "Fools Like Me" and "I Control the Sun" prove that she can still turn some contagious hooks, and "Probably" nicely summates both her craft as a musician and lyricist with its seamless marriage of hooky refrain and smart lyrics.
The real revelations here, though, are her introspective and dynamic numbers scattered throughout. "Hand Me Downs" and "Lucky Me" are sensitive and gut-wrenching songs about cutting off relationships while "Try" and "Would You Wander" betray any cynicism with genuine hopefulness. Meanwhile, "Accident" is a heavy-handed social commentary that is so dead-on that it can be difficult to just listen to. All of these tracks are driven home by Loeb's expert delivery, which stirs an uncanny amount of pathos from the listener, and her understated guitar-playing.
Anyone that has thought Lisa Loeb jejune - or even just a one-hit-wonder for her chart-topping "Stay" - needs only to listen to this new song cycle of coming to terms with who you are and what you have to see that she is a stimulating and clever troubadour that is a musical force of great importance and worth.
 Notes from a reasonable fan ... August 17, 2004
Invisiboy2001 (Chicago, IL United States)
32 out of 39 found this review helpful
Lisa Loeb's latest effort (which curiously borrows its name from a track that appeared on Loeb's previous releases "Cake & Pie" and "Hello Lisa") shows the marks of a stumbling artist torn between what she wants to do and what she, artistically, probably should be doing. Bottom line: Loeb is essentially a pop singer, not a deep folkie. Sure, she is the definitive coffeehouse cutie, and that's fine. But don't expect anything new (or especially "deep") from this new CD, despite the artist's most assured efforts. This CD shows evidence of a steep decline in the literacy and depth of emotion from Loeb's two most recent CDs.
After Loeb's luscious "Cake & Pie" CD, I was genuinely excited -both for Loeb as a successful person and as an intriguing, blossoming artist. There was an elevated sense of confidence and energy on that record that had not appeared on Loeb's first two CDs. "The Way it Really Is" is not devoid of confidence; in fact, the CD's three best tracks ("I Control The Sun," "Fools Like Me" and "Probably") bubble with excitement. Where Loeb stumbles is her approach to the slower material; rather than "slowing things down," the lower-key numbers bring the CD's flow to an embarrassing, screeching halt. The first offender is "Hand-Me-Downs," which is merely one of several songs that use metaphor with the subtlety of a baseball bat to the head. Another metaphor-heavy track, "Accident," is the least palatable track (read: barely tolerable) this collection has to offer.
Is this album terrible? No, it isn't. Lisa Loeb does not make "bad" records. But this is clearly not the best she can do -not by a long shot. Loeb set the standard for herself with "Cake & Pie," and she will hopefully make another album as brilliant as that one. However, I do hope this CD does well - Lisa Loeb hasn't had a hit since "I Do" in the mid-`90s-and she does deserve some recognition for the thoroughly talented, capable and underrated artist that she is. Unfortunately, this CD does not showcase this fine artist at her best.
Lisa Grows Up September 3, 2004
Tim
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
Lisa Loeb leaves behind her "Hello Kitty" phase to deliver some powerful pop and folk gems. This album has a lot of songs about breaking up (maybe she should've titled it "Goodbye Kitty") and includes some of her best work yet. Those who only know her from her hit "Stay" are missing a terrific body of work. "The Way It Really Is" needs a few repeated listens to fully sink in, but it has some immediate stand-outs that grab you and stick in your brain.
"I Control the Sun" will have you humming all day long as soon as you hear it. It is the kind of hooky power pop Lisa excels at creating. "Fools Like Me" has a mellow, relaxed groove that belies some darker lyrics ("You must really love her. You think I don't know but I do...").
But is the slow songs where Lisa's talent truly shines. "Try" is a piano-driven hopeful plea to a pessimistic love ("To me it's kind of small, to you it's like prison") that may surprise you at just how well Lisa can sing. "Hand Me Downs" is a ballad tinged with determined anger ("You always lie. And it's a decision. I am leaving") that would not sound out of place on her debut album "Tails". "Accident" is the most experimental of the bunch, a vivid comment on our fascination with the misfortunes of others ("we squeeze our eyes shut but leave a space to see").
Musically, the album does jump around a bit in styles and tempo that sometimes don't seem to flow. But lyrically, Loeb takes you on an always insightful, linear journey from the first doubts about the future of a relationship ("Window Shopping", "I Control the Sun"), to attempts to make it work ("Try", "Would You Wander") and finally to the breakup ("Accident", "Lucky Me") and eventual hope for recovery ("Now I Understand").
Anyone who hasn't been excited about anything on the radio in years, or just appreciates good songwriting should give Loeb a try.
Her most personal album yet November 10, 2004
KiWiSouP (Minneapolis, MN USA)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
This release caught me off guard as I had heard nothing of it before I saw it at the store. I saw the title "The Way It Really Is" and thought that it was a single, but was very happy to find that it wasn't. Lisa Loeb and her music has grown over the years...for the better I believe. She may not have the best album sales, but that's because of lack of promotion. This release shows a new maturity and vulnerability we haven't previously heard. This album is far from sugar coated like some of her previous ones. Many of these songs are about Lisa and Dweezel's recent breakup, which many don't even know about considering their TV show on the food network is still airing reruns. Highlights from this Album are "Hand Me Downs", "Try", and "Probably". If you asked me my favorite song off this album...I honestly couldn't tell you. There are so many!
 Not her best, but better than most September 18, 2004
barelybalancing10 (Arizona)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
Let me start by saying that this is a very good record, and by most standards exceptional. Once again, Lisa entertains, and sometimes puzzles, us with her clever lyrics.
The record consists of a short 11 songs, 6 of which are significantly more produced than the others. The standout tracks for me, however, are the low-key acoustic songs. My reasoning behind this is that I don't find any of the up-tempo songs(with the exception of perhaps "I Control the Sun") to have the charming catchiness of, say, "We Could Still Belong Together". I know that it is probably unfair to compare old songs to new, but many of these newcomers pale in comparison to what I know Lisa is capable of creating.
Not to sound harsh, but the leadoff single "Fools Like Me", produced by the all-encompassing John Shanks, very well could be passed around between Ashlee Simpson, Michelle Branch, and Sheryl Crow.
Okay, with that said, this record does include some very intimate songs, and these are the ones I put on repeat.
The leadoff track, "Window Shopping", is an articulate and intelligent metaphor-song that may force you to bob your head along. The lyrics to the third track, "Hand-Me-Downs" are some of my favorite on the record. Track 5, "Try", is a lovely little piano ballad where we hear Lisa use her soothing voice at its best. The next song, "Diamonds" stood out to me from day one. A little edgier, and straight to the point. Next comes "Would You Wander", which is folksy and gorgeous, and also my personal favorite. "Accident" is a tricky song that I enjoy quite a bit. Tied for the top spot is track 10, "Lucky Me". In this song we hear only an acoustic guitar and Lisa almost whispering the chorus. Subtle and wonderful.
This is an excellent record, but if you are a new Lisa fan, I would suggest buying Tails and working your way up.
I am not sure if it is a coincidence that my favorite songs on The Way it Really Is were written only by Lisa, but it seems to not be.
Although this may be Lisa's most personal and dark album, I do not find it to be her most instantly likeable one. Perhaps it just needs a little more time to grow on me to attain that obsession-status that Lisa's previous works have.
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