Arista Records (USA) ( October 02, 2007 ), Genre: Rock & Pop
Annie Lennox: Joel Shearer (guitar); Eddie Baytos (accordion); Glen Ballards, Mike Stevens, Randy Kerber, Zac Rae (keyboards); Sean Hurley (bass guitar); Blair Sinta (drums). Personnel: Annie Lennox (vocals). As the title indicates, Annie Lennox's SONGS OF MASS DESTRUCTION was largely inspired by global conditions at the time she was writing and recording the album. However, the songs are not long-winded polemics or political rants, but a collection of thoughtful, effortlessly melodic tunes given warm, richly detailed production and anchored by some of the best vocals of her career. Lennox's singing throughout the album, especially on the powerful "Womankind" and the gospel-infused "Ghosts In My Machine," is both passionate and expertly controlled. SONGS OF MASS DESTRUCTION was also released in a limited-edition set that included song-by-song commentary by Lennox and the video for first single "Dark Road."
Price Range: $5 - $14
Amazon Rating: 
(127 Reviews)
Epinions Rating:
(1 Review)
One of the most respected women in popular music, Annie Lennox’s career has spanned over 25 years and drawn numerous accolades and awards including Grammys®, Brits, a Golden Globe, and an Oscar® for her song "Into the West," from Lord of the Rings . VH1 describes her as "the Greatest living White Soul Singer." Ms. Lennox has consistently pushed boundaries and embraced excellence; her latest work, Songs of Mass Destruction is another example of her unforgettable vocal talents.
Annie Lennox Photos More from Annie Lennox & Friends Diva The Ultimate Collection Bare Eurythmics - Greatest Hits (1991) Annie Lennox - Totally Diva (2000) Medusa .
Menacing as they sound, the songs of mass destruction gathered on Annie Lennox's fifth solo disc don't manage to so much as nick the gorgeous instrument she's built her career on. Weaving artfully as ever around the contours of songs that suggest the worst--Lennox is world-wise and therefore maybe inevitably world-weary--she imparts gravity and grace in a voice as cloudless and surface-smooth as just-brewed mint tea; from the tentative beginnings of the mournful "Dark Road" to the gospel-bottomed gorgeousness of "Ghosts in My Machine," she's in full command of her considerable vocal powers. And it's possible she's never used them to such moving effect on a single record.
Earlier Lennox or Eurythmics albums might have succumbed here and there to slight-seeming experiments in style, but Songs of Mass Destruction doesn't dilly-dally. All swerves, even playful ones (see "Love Is Blind" and "Coloured Bedspread," a synth-y song that wouldn't seem so out of place on a recent Madonna record), are on-message: "Womankind" busts wide open not only because it needs to (a voice this big can't be contained, it reminds us), but to demo empowerment, and the hopeful "Sing" signs off with a seconds-long African guest vocal. There's an upside to the destruction of cultural wellness that led Lennox to write this record, and it's artistic creation.
Songs of Mass Destruction is a sterling, rock-solid, expert example. --Tammy La Gorce .
Artist: Annie Lennox
Record Label: Arista Records (USA)
Contributing Artist: Madonna
Genre: Rock and Pop
Release Date: October 02, 2007
Album Duration: 46m:55s
Number of Discs: 1
Song List: Disc 1: Dark RoadLove Is BlindSmithereensGhosts in My MachineWomankindThrough the Glass DarklyLostColoured BedspreadSingBig SkyFingernail Moon
Not disappointed
Author's Rating:
At first I wasn't sure I liked Annie's return to us. After listening a few times to it I was absorbed into it. Her depth and growth became clear. She has matured and it shows.
Jun 15, 2008
Crushed any competitors to Smithereens!
Author's Rating:
I was just begining to find out who Annie Lennox was around the time "Songs" was coming out, i had seen a snippet of the "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) music video on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the 80's and i immediatley had to know everything about this artist. I did my research just in time to see that she had just recentley released a Brand Spankin New Cd entitled "Songs Of Mass Destruction". Well with a name like that, WHO can resist? so i bought the cd and BOY WAS I GLAD!
SOMD is a collection of wonderfully crafted semi-dark ballads that are borderlining sheer perfection. Annie's voice is so pure and heartfelt. Your body feels every note she sings.
MY Top 5 are
1.Big Sky
2.Smithereens
3.Dark road
4.Lost
5.Love Is Blind
Songs of Mass Destruction is a must for every age. don't try to resist it.
You Know you WANT TO. SO BUYITNOW!
LOVE YOU ANNIE!
Jun 07, 2008
Lennox Fan
Author's Rating:
I've been an Annie fan since I first heard her vocals on "Never Gonna Cry Again". Having said that: This LP just doesn't impress me. The overt political title segways into a plethora of utter nonsense of political diatribe set to music. It seems as if Annie is trying to channel Bono on this record. Lennox's music has always come from a dark place, "Savage" being one of my favorite albums to date, but the themes on these songs leaves one feeling melancholy. There's no triumph in the final analysis. "Coloured Bedspread" has a catchy ring and just hearing Annie's vocals gives this a 2 star, beyond that, this LP isn't what an Euryhmic or Lennox fan would appreciate. I know I don't appreciate it, on a musical level. Isn't that what Lennox is about: Music? What happened to poetic politics?
Jun 01, 2008
Sing My Sisters....................
Author's Rating:
It seems that Annie has written a lighter album with Songs....when you compare it to Bare. I am a very late Annie lennox fan, but I LOVE THIS GAL!! I really enjoy the new younger girls..Duffy, Coco, Trista Prettyman, BUT I am aging and I can't relate so much with their world experiences so much. I love Annie because I get what she is experiencing. I wish more women writers and singers were as honest as her. I love her writing more than the actual music. I have really enjoyed recently getting all her albums recently and raging with her in the car, in house, and all over. Finally my husband came up to me while I was loudly playing "Sing"...and said..okay not every wants to hear the sisters singing!!!LOL!! Can't wait for her next album!! I am a fan!!!
May 15, 2008
The diva is back
Author's Rating:
Considering that Annie Lennox released her first solo album Diva shortly after the Eurythmics disbanded, you would think that she wouldn't take so long with subsequent releases. True, the three-year gap before Medusa came out wasn't a HUGE break, but Bare didn't appear until 2003. Now, Annie comes at us with her fourth album, Songs of Mass Destruction.
Although some of the songs on here are a little dark, they aren't as blatant as what was found on much of Bare (which isn't a bad album, by the way). Such songs include "Through the Glass Darkly", "Lost" and "Dark Road". And Annie's activism also has a presence on here, as evidenced by the feministic tracks "Sing" and "Womankind".
Another good selection is the final track, "Fingernail Moon". Speaking of which, as was the case with most of her post-Eurythmics albums, there are mainly ballads on here, and when she shoots for funky tracks, she hits ("Ghosts in My Machine") and misses ("Love is Blind"). Her vocals go a little off-key from time to time too. Oh, well; while Diva remains her best solo album, Songs of Mass Destruction proves that Annie's talent is still going strong.
Anthony Rupert
May 12, 2008
The diva is back
Author's Rating:
Considering that Annie Lennox released her first solo album Diva shortly after the Eurythmics disbanded, you would think that she wouldn't take so long with subsequent releases. True, the three-year gap before Medusa came out wasn't a HUGE break, but Bare didn't appear until 2003. Now, Annie comes at us with her fourth album, Songs of Mass Destruction.
Although some of the songs on here are a little dark, they aren't as blatant as what was found on much of Bare (which isn't a bad album, by the way). Such songs include "Through the Glass Darkly", "Lost" and "Dark Road". And Annie's activism also has a presence on here, as evidenced by the feministic tracks "Sing" and "Womankind".
Another good selection is the final track, "Fingernail Moon". Speaking of which, as was the case with most of her post-Eurythmics albums, there are mainly ballads on here, and when she shoots for funky tracks, she hits ("Ghosts in My Machine") and misses ("Love is Blind"). Her vocals go a little off-key from time to time too. Oh, well; while Diva remains her best solo album, Songs of Mass Destruction proves that Annie's talent is still going strong.
More …
This is brilliant!
Author's Rating:
I have been a die-hard Annie Lennox fan since her early days as one half of the Eurythmics. Since she went solo, I've loved all of her albums and Songs of Mass Destruction is no different.
All of the songs on this album are powerful and emotive and really force me to confront my inner feelings. The song Dark Road is one of the most brilliant songs ever written. Even the uptempo songs have more depth than usual pop ditty we hear on the waves. The dark cloud that hangs over this album is that Annie was dropped by her record label shortly after its release due to poor first week sales. What a shame that we still have to measure the "success" of this album based on its commercial appeal.
Nonetheless, I want to congratulate Annie on a powerful album that resonates with me on every level. Some reviewers have complained that the wait between her albums is too long. Can anyone on here honestly say that the wait hasn't been worth it? She "cooks" each of her albums to perfection and I'll wait for her next release (on a different label) for as long as it takes.
May 08, 2008
This is brilliant!
Author's Rating:
I have been a die-hard Annie Lennox fan since her early days as one half of the Eurythmics. Since she went solo, I've loved all of her albums and Songs of Mass Destruction is no different.
All of the songs on this album are powerful and emotive and really force me to confront my inner feelings. The song Dark Road is one of the most brilliant songs ever written. Even the uptempo songs have more depth than usual pop ditty we hear on the waves. The dark cloud that hangs over this album is that Annie was dropped by her record label shortly after its release due to poor first week sales. What a shame that we still have to measure the "success" of this album based on its commercial appeal.
Nonetheless, I want to congratulate Annie on a powerful album that resonates with me on every level. Some reviewers have complained that the wait between her albums is too long. Can anyone on here honestly say that the wait hasn't been worth it? She "cooks" each of her albums to perfection and I'll wait for her next release (on a different label) for as long as it takes.
More …
Thanx Annie
Author's Rating:
One of her best Albums, hey what can I say, bought it the day it came out and almost 8 months later it's an album that I still listen to on a weekly basis. I'll get many years of enjoyment out of this album. Creative! Thanx Annie.
May 03, 2008
annie rules!!!
Author's Rating:
this is awesome blues-funk-soul annie creativity in full effect!!! it shows she rocks with the best of them and her soulfull voice is an absolute gemstone...
Apr 27, 2008
The DIVA Stikes Again!
Author's Rating:
I personally believe Annie Lennox can do no wrong. With that said, it does make me sad that the wait between projects from her is so long.
But this album is well worth the wait. Being able to preorder on this site is a blessing. And this album is an amazing work of art. From the power of "Dark Road" to the desperate longing of "Fingernail Moon", there is not a bad track in the mix.
Her new signature song "Sing" (which was influenced by the pleas of Nelson Mandela to be aware of the AIDS pandemic) brought together over twenty of the top female recording artists. Singing about solidarity and that no matter who tries to bring you down, you can win.
It's truly Annie's world, and we just live in it!
Apr 05, 2008
Bought it for mommy
Author's Rating:
I bought this cd for my mom and we both love it. One of her best cd's yet.
Mar 27, 2008
