Taylor Dayne Albums (9)
What The Critics Say
There's no denying that Taylor Dayne sounds older on Satisfied, her first album in a decade -- that maturity is especially apparent as her music remains tied to her late-'80s heyday, as it's almost all big, bright productions that sound more 1988 than 2008. As it turns out, that evident maturity winds up benefiting Dayne tremendously: by not chasing trends, she sounds as if she's deepening emotionally but, more to the point, she no longer oversings. There is a warm, rounded, tonal quality to her voice, a quality that is especially welcome as she often could sound too harsh and brassy on her '80s hits. Here, she's settled down and so have the songs; they're undeniably retro dance-pop and that retro element gives them a smooth, easy feel. And Satisfied is produced as a pop album -- there is no song longer than 4:33 and most are under four minutes -- which helps keep things moving and also means that missteps, like the ungainly reggae of "She Don't Love You," don't stick around too long. While Dayne does a nice job with covers of "Under the Bridge" and "Fool to Cry," the real noteworthy numbers here are her fine original "Beautiful," a ballad called "Kissing You" co-written by Des'ree, and "My Heart Can't Change," a piece of near-perfect pop co-written by Gregg Alexander and Rick Nowels. These are the most fully realized tunes here, but most of this is enjoyable and it adds up to a good, worthy comeback from Dayne. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Taylor Dayne became the '80s dance music diva with her hit "Tell It to My Heart" with a tantalizing voice unmistakably her own. In the late '90s, she released her sixth album, Naked Without You. This album features no less than what is expected from a Dayne-type album. Dance mixes followed up with sultry love ballads. Even though it didn't rank high on Billboard charts, fans of Dayne have raved about her CD. She has proven her lyrical talents against time and more than likely will do it again. Since the late-'90s release of her album Naked Without You, Dayne was been spotted with a co-saring roll in the adult-situated movie Stag and also had a recurring roll on the Cinemax show Rude Awaking. ~ Amanda Nusbaum, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Taylor Dayne, who was one of the late 1980s/early 1990s most reliable hitmakers, witnessed the end of her streak with her third album, 1993's Soul Dancing. This album was not as ambitious as her previous set, 1989's Can't Fight Fate, which featured dance, rock, and adult contemporary ballads, and it wasn't as dance oriented as her debut, 1988's Tell It to My Heart. Instead, it sort of straddled a muddy, middle ground, in an era when grunge and hip-hop reigned supreme. The album's first single, an excellent, dance-lite take on Barry White's "Can't Get Enough of Your Love," managed to crack the Top 20, but there were no more big hits to follow. The next single, "Send Me a Lover," managed to peak at a lowly number 50, yet, in retrospect, stands as one of Dayne's finest moments, and was later covered by Celine Dion. There are a few standout dance tracks, as well as some of the artist's signature styled, soaring, emotional ballads, including the Diane Warren penned "Dance With a Stranger" and the Keith Washington duet "Door to Your Heart." "I'll Wait," another fine moment from this set, managed to bubble under and become a dance hit, as did "Say a Prayer" several years later. Unfortunately, however, this overlooked album signaled the end of Taylor Dayne's hit streak. ~ Jose F. Promis, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Arista was poised to take Taylor Dayne beyond the dance tracks and drum beats which established her as a force to be reckoned with on her smash debut Tell It to My Heart. Can't Fight Fate, her sophomore outing, featured much more straight-ahead rock & roll, lush production, and top-notch songwriters (including Diane Warren, who penned her biggest hit "Love Will Lead You Back"). The album proved an even bigger success than her debut, scoring two Top Ten hits, one number one hit, and one Top 20 hit. Unfortunately, however, the momentum was lost after this album, and Taylor Dayne never again reached the commercial stratosphere she scaled with this set. The album's dance songs, such as the lead-off Top Five hit "With Every Beat of My Heart," feature more organic instrumentation, although there are a few straight-ahead dance tracks, such as "Up All Night." The ballads are lush and dramatic, and one of them, "Love Will Lead You Back," soared all the way to number one. The real killers, however, are the rock songs, and Taylor delivers like a true, seasoned rock star. The set's third single, the Top Five hit "I'll Be Your Shelter" (also written by Warren), brings to mind Tina Turner, while other tracks, such as the unstoppable "You Can't Fight Fate" (again written by Warren) and "Ain't No Good," are just as delicious, and should have been hits. The hit procession unfortunately stopped after the groovy mid-tempo jam "Heart of Stone" failed to reach the Top Ten. Years after its release, this album stands the test of time, and can safely be classified as one of the more diverse and exciting dance/pop/rock albums of the late '80s/early '90s. ~ Jose F. Promis, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Taylor Dayne made a huge splash with the roaring dance/R&B title cut. Her big sound, flamboyant manner, and carefully calculated explosive delivery put her in the forefront at the time among female singers mixing soul and classic disco influences (Lisa Stansfield would soon emerge at the head of the class). The rest of the album is pleasant but inconsequential pop and dance filler. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
