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Speak Low his 17th. studio album; a follow-up to 2003's But Beautiful - "a sort of progressive, experimental effort ... along the lines of some of the ideas that Gil Evans explored" says Boz. Songs on the album include Chet Baker's "She Was Too Good To Be True," Johnny Mercer's "This Time the Dream's on Me," the often recorded "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free" and the Kurt Weill/Ogden Nash title track. "I'm a vocalist," Scaggs says. "I come more out of a blues/rhythm & blues background, but this is a different way of using my voice, and much more musically challenging and adventurous for me."
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Boz is wonderful
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I've played this CD a million times so far and it keeps playing in my mind. What a voice and what accompaniament. It a beautiful CD and I'm glad I bought it.
Rating: 
(5
out of 5) @ 2009-01-06
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Pleasant, But Frankly Boring
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What is it about aging pop singers that so many of them decide to take a shot at singing the "standards"? And who decided that these songs merit that lofty designation?
I've been a Boz Scaggs fan from the beginning and figure that I own at least ninety percent of the albums he has recorded. And yes, every once in a while he records an album that just doesn't measure up to what I have come to expect of him. Speak Low is one of those. It is pleasant, but frankly its boring.
First of all, I find no fault with the musicianship but the song selection is quite weak. There are a couple gems like the title cut and Senza Fine, but overall Speak Low sounds like something you might hear on a weekend in an upscale hotel lounge. And there are a couple cuts like Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me and I'll Remember April that really stink.
Unfortunately, Scaggs has been trending this direction for the last few albums. Maybe he's been in San Francisco too long or maybe he thinks that he should sing this kind of kitsch because he is getting older. I do admit that Speak Low would be great as background music to a romantic evening, but other than that, its not going to get much play at my place. Anyway, if I am to be forced to listen to the "standards", I'd much rather hear Scaggs' interpretations than the croaking of Rod Stewart or the smarmy, soulless approach of "singers" like Josh Groban and Michael Buble.
The CD is housed in a minimalist digipak format and is accompanied by an insert that features all pertinent album information. Based on the songs presented here, I think it should be most appealing to the over-70 set.
Rating: 
(3
out of 5) @ 2008-12-23
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Give this a Grammy!
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Best album of the year! I love this CD. I've listened to it over and over and still love it. Boz Scaggs, as far as I'm concerned is at the top of his career with this release. It's so perfect it's almost scary. The song selection, the band, the arrangements, the CD cover even, combine to make this one of the best albums I've ever heard. I listen to an eclectic mix of music, from Miles Davis to Jobim and Luciana Souza to hip hop, R&B, Tango, Tom Petty, and of course, Boz Scaggs, and I'm still totally blown away by Speak Low. Get it. Listen to it. You'll love it. Every song is excellent and well chosen.
I noticed the "tags" associated with this album, like "blue-eyed soul" and "west coast" - huh? Tags are misleading and I think they reduce the chance that you'll find what you're looking for. This CD defies all those descriptions.
Rating:
(5
out of 5) @ 2008-12-20
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Sounds like a bad American Idol audition
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I'm a Boz Scaggs fan but this is the worst musical choice I've ever heard a singer make. Nothing funky about these songs so if you're expecting the great Boz sound of the past forget it - and avoid it. I wish I didn't waste my money.
Rating: 
(1
out of 5) @ 2008-12-19
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Boz Scaggs sings the standards
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I am not fan of big band era, the pop standard era, or singers of the Frank Sinatra school. However, Boz Scaggs manages to interpret the songs of this style in a way that makes them accessible to me. His phrasing is excellent, and his sparse arrangements are pleasing.
Rating: 
(4
out of 5) @ 2008-12-18
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