On How Life Is

1	Why Didn't You Call Me 3:14
2	Do Something 4:57
3	Caligula 4:38
4	I Try 3:59
5	Sex-O-Matic Venus Freak 3:57
6	I Can't Wait to Meetchu 5:18
7	Still 4:15
8	I've Committed Murder 4:59
9	A Moment to Myself 4:00
10	The Letter 5:38

Barnes & Noble

First, let's get the Billie Holiday comparisons out of the way: Yes, Macy Gray's voice possesses hints of Billie's magical, sultry bounce, and, like Lady Day, she's clearly aware of its haunting, alluring power. Not content with that, however, Gray adds her libido into the mix. The hot and heavy "Sex-O-Matic Venus Freak" may offer a little too much information for some ears, but one listen to the Prince-ly kink and funk of "Caligula" and one can easily envision the Artist turning, well, purple with jealousy. Gray and her musical cohorts add more sonic Spanish Fly with sexy grooves steeped in soul's finest traditions. Al Green's Memphis-baked organ-and-horn jams are given a searing '90s update on "I Can't Wait to Meetchu," while Curtis Mayfield's superfly sounds provide the prototype on the aforementioned "Sex-O-Matic." And while there are less racy moments lyrically, these are heated up with provocative melodies -- the anthemic "I Try" and the first single, "Do Something." The latter title is a sentiment that's easy for Gray to voice, especially on this, one of the most impressive debuts of 1999. Seth Kaufman

All Music Guide

Macy Gray is such an assured, original vocalist that it's hard to believe On How Life Is is her debut album. She recalls a number of other vocalists, particularly jazz singers like Billie Holiday and Nina Simone, but she is unquestionably from the post-hip-hop generation, which is evident not just from the sound of the record, but the style of her songwriting, which is adventurous and unpredictable. Thankfully, she's worked with a producer (Andrew Slater, who pulled a similar trick with Fiona Apple's debut, Tidal) that lets her run wild and helps her find sounds that match her ideas. That's not to say that On How Life Is is a perfect album -- at times, Gray attempts more than she can achieve -- but it's always captivating, even during its stumbles. And when it works, it soars higher than most contemporary R&B. Stephen Thomas Erlewine