No Ordinary World

1	First We Take Manhattan 3:44
2	Different Roads 5:03
3	My Father's Son 4:59
4	While You See a Chance 4:29
5	She Believes in Me 3:51
6	No Ordinary World 4:44
7	Where Would I Be Now 3:52
8	Ain't Gonna Cry Again 5:28
9	Soul Rising 4:06
10	Naked Without You 3:57
11	Love to Lean On 4:31
12	On Way Home 4:17
13	Lied to Me 4:13
14	Love Made a Promise 4:01

Barnes & Noble

Although sometimes pigeonholed as the wildly gyrating soul singer with a voice that's one part honey and two parts gravel, Joe Cocker is actually quite a complex character -- a man with layer upon layer of artistic range. This 14-song disc affords Cocker a better opportunity to show off his range than most of his more recent releases, shedding light on his darker side (on a steely version of Leonard Cohen's "First We Take Manhattan") and his ability as a shape-shifting stylist (on the Brazilian-jazz flavored "My Father's Son"). There's a subtlety at play here that generally works to Cocker's benefit (notably on a measured version of "Where Would I Be Now"). Occasionally that restraint results in those distinctive vocals playing second fiddle to second-rate arrangements, which mar Cocker's take on Steve Winwood's "While You See a Chance." More often than not, however, Cocker navigates the rather smooth sounds on No Ordinary World with a quiet dignity that highlights -- rather than extinguishes -- the slow fire burning within. David Sprague

All Music Guide

For most intents and purposes, No Ordinary World is an ordinary latter-day Joe Cocker album, filled with slick but impassioned ballads, moderately paced rockers, and smooth adult contemporary pop songs. The thing is, this is just a cut above average, thanks to uniformly fine performances from Cocker and a strong set of songs. Yes, at 14 songs, there are inevitably a couple of slow patches, but there are not only good covers here ("First We Take Manhattan," "While You See a Chance") but some good professionally crafted tunes like "Different Roads," the title track, and the Michael McDonald/Tony Joe White composition, "Where Would I Be Now." No Ordinary World may not erase memories of the fiery early Cocker albums, nor is it quite as memorable as the best of his latter-day work, but for longtime fans, it's a nice, satisfying listen. Stephen Thomas Erlewine