Is Love Is the Answer a good place to start with Barbra Streisand?

Yes, Love Is the Answer is recommended as a starting point for new Barbra Streisand listeners. A lush collection of standards, blending jazz elegance with Streisand's emotive vocal delivery and introspective themes. By the time 'Love Is the Answer' was released in 2009, Barbra Streisand was well into her celebrated career spanning over five decades. This album marked her return to studio recordings after a six-year hiatus following 'Guilty Pleasures' in 2005, showcasing her enduring ability to reinterpret classic songs with depth and sophistication.

Who is Love Is the Answer for?

Love Is the Answer works well if you're into reflective moments of quiet introspection, steady emotional resonance throughout and for cozy evenings.

How many songs are on Love Is the Answer?

Love Is the Answer has 13 tracks, running approximately 58 minutes.

Love Is the Answer

Barbra Streisand · 2009

58 min · 13 tracks · jazz

A lush collection of standards, blending jazz elegance with Streisand's emotive vocal delivery and introspective themes.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Here’s to Life Start here — This opening track sets a reflective tone for the album, celebrating life’s journey with poignant lyrics and Streisand's powerful interpretation that encapsulates the album's essence.
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In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning — Streisand’s rendition brings a haunting quality to this classic, showcasing her ability to convey deep emotion through nuanced vocal phrasing and intimate delivery.
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If You Go Away (Ne me quitte pas) — The arrangement highlights Streisand's dramatic vocal range while exploring themes of longing and heartache, making it one of the standout moments of emotional vulnerability on the record.
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Smoke Gets in Your Eyes — This track demonstrates Streisand's interpretation of timeless standards, combining nostalgia with her unique vocal style that breathes new life into the well-known piece.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

59 /100

Treeline

Higher than 57% of albums we've rated

Streisand's emotive vocals and orchestral backing create a strong yet familiar jazz standard experience.

What we noticed

The album features lush orchestral arrangements that complement Streisand's vocal delivery, creating a rich soundscape.
Each track is a reinterpretation of classic standards, with Streisand's voice taking center stage throughout the record.
The pacing varies slightly, with several slower ballads followed by a few mid-tempo tracks, but it maintains a reflective mood overall.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

reflective moments of quiet introspection
steady emotional resonance throughout
for cozy evenings
lush orchestral landscapes enveloping listener

Maybe skip if you

seeking upbeat, high-energy tracks
prefer short, standalone singles

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Late Career Highlight — Strong late-career release showcasing continued artistic vitality and chart success.
Themes: celebrating life· introspective melancholy
Career context: By the time 'Love Is the Answer' was released in 2009, Barbra Streisand was well into her celebrated career spanning over five decades. This album marked her return to studio recordings after a six-year hiatus following 'Guilty Pleasures' in 2005, showcasing her enduring ability to reinterpret classic songs with depth and sophistication.
Stylistic neighbors: Bette Midler· Liza Minnelli· Diana Ross