If you only have THIS disc I reccommend Cake and Pie... which has Kickstart and also Too Fast Driving is really cool too.

Oh, and how is the packaging of Cake and Pie not more desireable than the Hello Kitty one...? Am I missing something?


Five stars! Hey, it's Lisa!   March 28, 2004
JR (the Netherlands)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

Can a Lisa Loeb cd be bad in some way? No, of course not:

1: "Did That" > Although it's not one of my favorites, it's a nice track and it has an irresistable little chorus. 8/10

2: "Underdog" > This song is so, so good! It's very soft and cute, and has a nice instrumentation. Certainly one of my favs. 10/10

3: "You Don't Know Me" > Somewhat more rock than the other songs, and direct lyrics, and this works extremely positive! Great car tune. 8/10

4: "Drops Me Down" > In this song, Lisa shows her dark side. Truly and outstanding performance. 10/10

5: "The Way It Really Is" > This song is so amazing, it has all the ingredients for a good single: slight suspense, it is catchy, and it is up-tempo! 10/10

6: "Bring Me Up" > Lisa calms down after the previous song. This song has great emo-power. Again a cute song with a chorus that sticks in your head. 9/10

7: "What Am I Supposed To Say" > This song is somewhat more country than the others, it is not as catchy as the others but it has staying power. 8/10

8: "Everyday" > This is a good song, I can imagine it being the favorite of many people, but strangely it doesn't work for me. But again, it's fine. 7/10

9: "Someone You Should Know": > This is the absolute highlight of the album, very catchy, very positive, the greatest chorus you'll ever hear, and a great message... 10/10

10: "Payback" > This song is darker than the others, accompanied by a bluesy rhytm... it's just very nice. 9/10

11: "Take Me Back" > This song may not be the most conspicuous of the set, but it has grown so much on me that it has become my favorite! I just adore the message (friends don't stay forever) and the backing vocals in the chorus are cool too. 11/10

This record is certainly worth buying!


Sorry Lisa   July 12, 2003
Megzi
2 out of 14 found this review helpful

I went looking for Lisa Loeb's first CD 'Tails'. Instead of 'Tails' they had this, and I had to buy it... well because of the cute cover. At first listen I didn't really care for this CD but the more you listen to it, the more it grows on you. Sort of, anyway. My favorite song on this album is 'Someone You Should Know'. I don't know why but I think the chorus sounds like a choir singing in the background. Other average-okay songs include: 'What Am I Supposed To Say' (the accoustic version) and 'The Way It Really Is'. But pretty much the rest of the album isn't that great. It isn't exactly bad, just kinda...blah. I wouldn't reccomend this album to anyone unless you're a Lisa Loeb fanatic. Her debut cd 'Tails' is a little better, but not that much. I don't think I'll be buying anymore Lisa Loeb CDs in the future.


Under Appreciated Gold   June 22, 2003
vaughn Smith (Canada)
11 out of 12 found this review helpful

Although Amazon is suggesting that you purchase both Cake and Pie and Hello Lisa for a bargain, be well advised that Hello Lisa IS the Cake and Pie album with three extra tracks.

Loeb's follow up to Firecracker finds her associating with Dweezil Zappa, son of the late musical genuis, who is content with contributing guitar licks, hooks and solos that actually compliment the music rather than draw attention away from it. Zappa adds a nice hint of edge to Loeb's folk inspired pop which culminates in a CD that is as fresh and appreciated as a warm summer day compared to what is infesting pop radio these days. You won't find Loeb on the radio in too many places and that's exactly what's wrong with radio today. Her songwriting in general is personal, human and easy to relate to without resorting to insulting the listeners intelligence.

The 12 tracks on Hello Lisa (one hidden) ebb and flow like a well designed set list, weaving through various emotions and sentiments that may at first not make much of an impression - but will leave you craving repeat performances until you are completely familiar with every nook and cranny of the CD.

Loeb's naked, up close and personal trademark voice is sweet and biting at the same time, like the cute unassuming girl in school who could kill you with a look or a word and not even know she did it. It's not the way she sings, it's what she sings that provide her with the power of her convictions. Each track is filled with vocal hooks that will haunt you (in a good way!) even when the CD isn't playing. Now that's a performance.

Zappa's guitar work is edgy, but toned down enough in production to provide a foundation without overpowering the message, while the other musicians keep the music real. The one admiring aspect is the amount of space each song thrives on. At times there is only the acoustic guitar, bass, drums and Loeb's voice carrying the song and that's all it needs.

Fans of Loeb's will definitely appreciate that she hasn't decided to change her sound to cash in on the latest musical trends - which have absolutely nothing in common with the music Loeb writes. Hello Lisa certainly isn't as hard edged as some of the tracks on her 1994 debut album Tails, and it's not right to call it a maturing, as Loeb has seemingly been on her game from day one. Hello Lisa is simply another step in her musical journey and a trip that you should embark on. You won't regret it.


Good Job, Lisa!   January 12, 2003
Hazri (Kuala Lumpur Malaysia)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Lisa Loeb does a fantastic job of mixing sensitive lyrics with catchy melodies. The new songs on "Hello Lisa" are some of the best songs of the year - it certainly beats the mindless hip-grinding tunes by the likes of Christina Aguilera and Justin Timberlake.

Lisa Loeb may have been overlooked throughout the past few years, but that does not mean her talent has waned. If anything, she has perservered and improved upon her art, churning out not only songs, but rather stories. "Take Me Back" tells the story of a friendship on the verge of breaking down, and "What Am I Supposed To Say" chronicles what it's like to be caught between warring lovers... definately not your typical 'I can't live without you' love songs.

Overall : Good Job, Lisa, and we hope to be seeing more of you in years to come.