Belinda Carlisle

Carlisle added a bit of dance flavor to her signature pop/rock stylings on her fourth solo set. Numbers like the catchy "Do You Feel Like I Feel" and the harder-edged "I Plead Insanity" are dancefloor-ready, yet still contain the robust vocal delivery and seeping guitar riffs necessary to please longtime fans. And the timeless melody of "Half the World" is the kind that made earlier hits like "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" and "Circle in the Sand" mainstays on radio long after their chart runs. The elegant arrangement of "Half the World," which includes Spanish guitars, mandolin and oboe, gives the song a universal appeal, whilst "Emotional Highway" has a slight Middle Eastern feel via Carlisle's sullen vocal and the moody surf guitars. Live Your Life Be Free shows the singer to be capable in a variety of musical contexts, and is a pleasing listen throughout. ~ Justin M. Kantor, All Music Guide