Track Listing

1. Shy Boy
2. Nine Million Bicycles
3. Piece by Piece
4. Halfway Up the Hindu Kush
5. Blues in the Night
6. Spider's Web
7. Blue Shoes
8. On the Road Again
9. Thankyou, Stars
10. Just Like Heaven
11. I Cried for You (Mary's Song)
12. I Do Believe in Love

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3108 in Music
• Released on: 2006-06-06
• Number of discs: 1

Album Description
Piece By Piece, the 2nd album by Katie Melua, comes nearly 2 years after the release of her multi-platinum selling debut album Call Off The Search, and contains a larger percentage of self-penned songs than the previous album which demonstrates significant developments of Katie as a singer and writer. Features 12 total tracks including the first single 'Nine Million Bicycles'. ''Although people talk about the 'difficult second album', we have enjoyed the pressure and the pleasure of trying to get this album right for ourselves initially, rather than specifically worrying about what the audience will think'' said Katie. Dramatico. 2005.

From Amazon.co.uk
Piece by Piece--the second album from Georgia-born-chanteuse-cum-naturalised-Brit Katie Melua, and the successor to her multimillion-selling Call Off the Search--begins teasingly with the soft-pedaled "come hither" jazz flirtations of "Shy Boy" and concludes with the whispering philosophical torch-song resignation of "I Do Believe in Love." The two songs represent opposite ends of the emotional spectrum--sultry and kittenish on the one hand, solitary and ruminative on the other--but they also offer clues that the cutesy, crazy, easy listening Melua of Mike Batt's mentorship may be gradually acceding to the full bloom of self-determined musical adulthood. Melua's songs are often the more fretful and organic--the ghostly title track and the lovely "I Cried for You" are especially recommended, while the bluesier numbers (particularly the cover of the classic "Blues in the Night") seem shoehorned in gratuitously to match an anticipated demographic. Batt's contributions are melodic, memorably buoyant, and childlike. The Chinese-flavored "Nine Million Bicycles" and the naggingly catchy "Halfway up the Hindu Kush" are both charming despite their naïve pseudo-ethnicity and currently offer, particularly when compared to something as ponderously wooly as "Spider's Web," a necessary fun counterbalance to Melua's burgeoning compositional skills. At this stage, Piece by Piece fits together nicely like a little jigsaw puzzle. And even if it didn't, Melua would still sound simply ambrosial singing from a washing machine repair manual. --Kevin Maidment

Customer Reviews

Nine million little bicycles
Fans of bluesy jazz-pop crooners Norah Jones and Joss Stone need to sit up and take notice of Katie Melua. Following up on the success of “Call off the Search” (2003), her much anticipated second album doesn’t disappoint, and the twelve gorgeous tracks are guaranteed to mellow you to perfection.

Released since September 2005 in Europe, the Brits have a nine month jump on the USA, but finally this baby has arrived stateside amidst much rejoicing and celebration. Originally from Georgia (the former USSR, not the peachy place) and now settled in the UK, Katie’s sultry voice curls around your speakers and nestles comfortably against your eardrums, and even though I’m no fan of either jazz or blues, I thoroughly enjoyed this album from the first listen.

First single “Nine Million Bicycles” is an excitingly different and unforgettable track that starts with a simple truth: “There are nine million bicycles in Beijing / That's a fact / It's a thing we can't deny / Like the fact that I will love you till I die.” The music is hauntingly beautiful, perfectly matched by Katie’s clean, clear vocals.

Although every track is a winner, there are those that cry out for more attention, namely “Just Like Heaven” from the movie soundtrack of the same name; the social commentary of “Spider’s Web”; bouncy opener “Shy Guy” and the passionately performed title track; but let’s not forget the cover of the Canned Heat 1960’s hit “On the Road Again” and the catchy “Halfway Up the Hindu Kush”. “Thank You, Stars” is another perfect song, and to be honest, I should be recommending every song on this album.

“Piece by Piece” is highly recommended for fans of blues, jazz, pop and intelligent yet romantic music, and that’s no exaggeration.


Amanda Richards, June 6, 2006

Diverse.
When you're born with the ability to sing like Katie Melua, they could set a shopping list in front of you and you'll break people's hearts singing it.
Katie has a timeless voice and on her latest album she has chosen a set of blues-based songs that set it off perfectly.
Huge natural talent was always going to secure Katie Melua's future, the excellence of "Piece By Piece" will simply reinforce her arrival as major force.
Nonetheless, this offering does not surpass in beauty and success her debut album (which became Britain's biggest seller and has so far attracted three million copies world-wide).
The album does occasionally reach out to a potentially wider fanbase thanks to its ability to draw on a number of influences and remain fascinatingly diverse.
There are some self-penned tracks as well as some covers but, for the most part, it's an accomplished affair that feels as though Melua has taken her time over it.
It's also distinctly blues-based, occasionally feeling ponderous depending on the mood it catches you in at the time.
Highlights include the single, "Nine Million Bicycles", which is genuinely sweet. The track was inspired by Melua's own visit to China and some of the things she heard on the trip, thereby equating the fact that there are nine million bicycles in Beijing with the certainty she is in love.
The meandering blasts of flute that weave their way throughout lend the song a Chinese feel and make it quite enticing.
Further evidence of the album's diverse instrumention is evident on the upbeat and melodic "Thank You, Stars", which provides more heartfelt lyrics and a really nice blend of strings and mandolin.
While the kooky "Halfway Up The Hindu Kush" is another that demonstrates Melua's vocals at their most happy go lucky - it's no coincidence that all three tracks were written by the conductor, Mike Batt.
Elsewhere, Katie demonstrates a more melancholy and mature style on self-penned tracks such as "Piece By Piece" and "I Cried For You" - although such moodswings can sometimes catch you off-guard if you're not in the right mood for them.
More straightforward blues fare comes in the form of "Blues In The Night" and "Blue Shoes", both of which find Melua at her moodiest, while a slightly more rousing cover version of "On The Road Again" feels like the sound of an artists having fun with one of her favourite tunes.
It lacks the edge of the original but should still delight fans, while bringing the album out of one of its brooding passages.
Another cover version drew a more mixed response from both these listeners, however. The artist has re-recorded The Cure's seminal "Just Like Heaven" for the soundtrack of the movie of the same name.
The hardcore Cure fan among us may find it risible and sickly sweet, while the Melua fan enjoy the acoustic guitar and female makeover given to Robert Smith's classic.
That said, given that we represent both a Melua fan and sceptic it's satisfying to be able to report that "Piece By Piece" does achieve what Melua set out to - that is to say, fans will get what they're seeking, while the album does indeed appeal in small doses to those who may not have been touched by the artist's work so far.
Pictures

I will love you till I die
"If you only knew
you could make your dreams come true"

Eternal love, haunting flute, guitar, piano, sweet sexy lyrics and everything you could wish for in a romantic dream of a collection of songs. Katie Melua's crystalline voice is like the comfort of cold milk from a cold glass after taking a bite of a rich chocolate brownie. Her voice is smooth, dreamy and satisfying.

Nine Million Bicycles has modern and nostalgic notes woven into a sweet fantasy of a song. When she isn't dreaming about enticing shy boys, she is poetic in her social commentary and delves into provocative concepts we face daily, but often fail to address.

I love the hopeless romantic concepts in "Piece by Piece," which is so true about trying to forget someone you love. Katie Melua isn't shy about getting downright sexy in some songs and her honesty is intriguing.

Most of the songs seem to embody a sweet country/folk mood with modern appeal. At times she seems to transcend the limitations of descriptions like adult alternative. She ranges from classical to country (On the Road Again) to jazz (Blue Shoes). She seems as comfortable alone with a guitar (Thank You, Stars) or on a stage with an orchestra. At times you can imagine she has walked out of an old movie and is singing a romantic ballad captured in a moment in time. "I Cried for You" has elements of ecstasy in a story of sadness. The entire album is exquisite with romantic appeal.

"You're the one I love most of all..."

~The Rebecca Review