I came by this Cd by accident. Having raved about a lost version of Tracy Chapman's CD, my boyfreind went out and bought me "New Beginning".
It was probably the 1st Cd I've put on where I lay back in bed and listened to the whole Cd without interruption and I've since found if you put it on with friends whilst relaxing or doing something non-stressful, the tone of the music and the softness of the lyrics lull you into calmness.
Tracy is ultimately a unique singer but her songwriting and musical compostion are first rate also.
Years after hearing this album I got to see her live in a theatre where only her voice and selection of guitars played only by her enchanted and filled the whole arena for 1 1/2 hours. She is the person who live sounds most like her CD's- no electronics, no voice altering, no echoing- just pure soul, folk, magic- whatever way you want to describe her.
In terms of New Beginning there is an argument to the fact that one song leads into another. This is not to say that they all sound similar, it's just the pure brilliance of their composition helps one song move seamlessly into the next.
My personal favourite is "At this point in my life", which will long transport me back to a time in my life, which is what the power of music does. In essence though, to put this Cd on is akin to taking a deep breath, snuggling up on a cushioned chair and letting the words and music drift over you, nourishing the soul and leaving you feeling relaxed.