Shapes

Dominic Miller

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5
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Shapes Review

by Blair Sanderson

An easy listening album that is, paradoxically, extremely hard to listen to, Dominic Miller's Shapes offers simplified classical themes and popular songs in insipid arrangements and is guaranteed to disappoint all but the least critical listener. Backed by a bland string orchestra, Miller displays an unremarkable technique and a propensity for pretty arpeggios and ardently plucked melodies. If this guitarist has any personality, artistry, or emotional involvement with his material, then they are well hidden behind the veils of cliché and commercialism. Miller appears in the CD's booklet as a poetic minstrel on a journey of personal discovery; yet his dumbing-down of familiar classical pieces to suit his pop style -- or, more likely, his limited abilities -- negates any sense of exploration. The rich complexities of Bach, Beethoven, and others are reduced to jejune tunes, and it is clear early on that Miller has taken the course of least resistance. Guest artists are drawn into the tepid proceedings, perhaps to deflect attention from the featured performer, but their contributions are as unimpressive as Miller's are unmemorable. Pop singer Sting, tenor Plácido Domingo, Latin vocalist Alejandro Lerner, and jazz trumpeter Chris Botti add their earnest efforts to the jumbled crossover mix, but the results are unsatisfying and more than a little confusing.

Track Listing

Sample		Title/Composer	Performer	Time	Stream
Mass in B minor, for soloists, chorus & orchestra, BWV 232 (BC E1)
	1	Qui tollis Johann Sebastian Bach	Dominic Miller	04:02
	2	Adagio, for violin, strings & organ in G minor, T. Mi 26 (composed by Remo Giazotto; not by Albinoni) Tomaso Albinoni	Dominic Miller	05:05
	3	Shape of My Heart Dominic Miller / Sting	Dominic Miller	04:26	Spotify Amazon
Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068
	4	Air on a G string Johann Sebastian Bach	Dominic Miller	04:30
Sonata for solo violin No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001
	5	Presto Johann Sebastian Bach	Dominic Miller	02:18
	6	Ellens Gesang III ("Ave Maria"), song for voice & piano, D. 839 (Op. 52/6) Franz Schubert	Dominic Miller feat: Plácido Domingo / Sting	04:24	Amazon
Enigma Variations, for orchestra, Op. 36
	7	No. 9. Nimrod Edward Elgar	Dominic Miller	02:42	Amazon
	8	Gymnopedie for piano No. 1 Erik Satie	Dominic Miller	04:08	Amazon
Misa Criolla, for tenor, piano, chorus & orchestra
	9	Kyrie Ariel Ramírez	Dominic Miller	03:07	Amazon
Partita for solo violin No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004
	10	Ciaccona arr. as song Mi Fe Johann Sebastian Bach	Dominic Miller	04:38	Amazon
Work(s)
	11	Prelude No. 3 for Clavier Johann Sebastian Bach	Dominic Miller	04:47	Amazon
Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor ("Moonlight"), Op. 27/2
	12	[Excerpt] Ludwig van Beethoven	Dominic Miller	04:07	Amazon