Is The Awakening a good place to start with Melissa Etheridge?

Yes, The Awakening is recommended as a starting point for new Melissa Etheridge listeners. A soulful exploration of personal and universal themes wrapped in folk-rock melodies and heartfelt lyrics. By the time 'The Awakening' was released in 2007, Melissa Etheridge was a well-established artist with multiple Grammy Awards and a dedicated fanbase. This album followed her 2005 release, 'Lucky,' and marked a return to her roots in songwriting after navigating personal struggles, including her battle with cancer.

Who is The Awakening for?

The Awakening works well if you're into reflective late-night listening, introspective emotional exploration and gradual builds and payoffs.

How many songs are on The Awakening?

The Awakening has 16 tracks, running approximately 59 minutes.

The Awakening

Melissa Etheridge · 2007

59 min · 16 tracks · folk rock

A soulful exploration of personal and universal themes wrapped in folk-rock melodies and heartfelt lyrics.

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Top tracks — play these first

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California Start here — This track encapsulates the longing for connection and place, combining vivid imagery with Etheridge's signature emotive delivery.
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Message to Myself — In this reflective piece, Etheridge addresses self-acceptance and inner strength, making it a powerful anthem of resilience.
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Heroes and Friends — Celebrating relationships that uplift us, this song stands out with its uplifting message and memorable melody, embodying the album's core themes.
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The Kingdom of Heaven — This track melds spiritual contemplation with personal narrative, highlighting Etheridge's ability to weave complex themes into relatable songwriting.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

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

50 /100

Foothills

Higher than 23% of albums we've rated

The album showcases solid songwriting and production but lacks a strong cohesive arc.

What we noticed

The first half of the album features a consistent mid-tempo pace, while the second half introduces more varied tempos and arrangements.
Several tracks incorporate layered vocal harmonies, particularly in the choruses, enhancing the emotional resonance of the lyrics.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 5/10

Influence 2/10

Little footprint beyond its audience. 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 late-night listening
introspective emotional exploration
gradual builds and payoffs
long, immersive listening sessions

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Deep Cut — Solid entry that showcases Etheridge's sound but isn't a standout for new listeners.
Career context: By the time 'The Awakening' was released in 2007, Melissa Etheridge was a well-established artist with multiple Grammy Awards and a dedicated fanbase. This album followed her 2005 release, 'Lucky,' and marked a return to her roots in songwriting after navigating personal struggles, including her battle with cancer.
Stylistic neighbors: Sheryl Crow· Janis Joplin· Pat Benatar