RELEASED: 2006 (late 2006 I think)
So the first local (New Zealand) CD :) Of course, the singles off this cd are the songs I know and have grown to like, seeing they get a lot of airplay on the radio and tv here. Otherwise I don't think I've listened to this CD in the year or so that I've owned it. I know, very slack, but even though I haven't bought a huge amount of cds since the beginning of 2007, there were two or three that hogged all my listening time.
The whole album I'd describe as 'nice'. I still wish Brooke Fraser would remove the damn tounge piercing - you can hear it inhibit her pronounciation quite clearly. It's annoyed me since I caught her live in 2003. But other than that one annoyance, it is a pretty strong album and her voice sounds good. Two or three standout tracks, and otherwise just a solid bunch on songs. The songwriting has matured since her first album but it's pretty typical of the type of music she sings - it's not up there with some of the great female musicians, but I'd rate her up there with Bic Runga - it is reminiscent of early Bic (before she veared off into what I now consider to be some of the most boring music I own)
Favourite Track/s - C.S Lewis Song
Monday, July 14, 2008
Sunday, July 13, 2008
10. Ain't Nuthin' but a she thing - Various
Original Release Date: October 24, 1995
I'd say this is the first time I've ever listened to this cd. I only bought it for the great cover of "The Weakness in Me" by Melissa Etheridge. And yes, I would recommend tracking this cd down just for that one song. So the rest of this entry really relates to all the other songs....
Overall, I'm sure it's an ok CD if you like a few of the other artists on it, but I'm finding most of the tracks unbelievably boring and kinda painful to sit through. It sounds a bit dated listening over 10 years after release - maybe if I was listening mid-90s I might form a different opinion, but I know I was listening to very different music at that time so probably not.
I doubt I'll ever listen to any of the other tracks on this ever again, they just aren't my thing. I've never enjoyed Annie Lennox's solo work (while I do enjoy a lot of the early Eurythmics stuff) and most of the other songs fall into a similar style. The only two other tracks I'd consider not skipping past would be "Ain't Nuthin' but a She Thing" by Salt-n-Pepa, and "Cimarron" by Come - but that would only be if was otherwise occupied and couldn't be bothered finding the fast forward button.
amazon link
I'd say this is the first time I've ever listened to this cd. I only bought it for the great cover of "The Weakness in Me" by Melissa Etheridge. And yes, I would recommend tracking this cd down just for that one song. So the rest of this entry really relates to all the other songs....
Overall, I'm sure it's an ok CD if you like a few of the other artists on it, but I'm finding most of the tracks unbelievably boring and kinda painful to sit through. It sounds a bit dated listening over 10 years after release - maybe if I was listening mid-90s I might form a different opinion, but I know I was listening to very different music at that time so probably not.
I doubt I'll ever listen to any of the other tracks on this ever again, they just aren't my thing. I've never enjoyed Annie Lennox's solo work (while I do enjoy a lot of the early Eurythmics stuff) and most of the other songs fall into a similar style. The only two other tracks I'd consider not skipping past would be "Ain't Nuthin' but a She Thing" by Salt-n-Pepa, and "Cimarron" by Come - but that would only be if was otherwise occupied and couldn't be bothered finding the fast forward button.
amazon link
Saturday, July 12, 2008
8 & 9 - Afterglow / Afterglow Live - Sarah McLachlan
If I agree well its just to appease you cause I dont remember what we were fighting for8. Afterglow
Original Release Date: November 4, 2003
I waited a long time for this album...new Sarah songs! It seems a long time ago now. I haven't listened to it right through for a long time, but listening with no hopes and expectations turn it into a different cd. When I got it, I'd heard the first few songs, and loved them, but I was a bit disappointed. I suppose, as a fumbler, I'm a bit of a fan - and there is always that faint hope that a new Sarah McLachlan album will reach the heights of Fumbling Towards Ecstasy. And that usually leads to a slight disappointment when it just falls a bit short.
Not that it isn't a great album. I love all the tracks, and one or two are right up there in my top 10 McLachlan song list...
If I was introducing someone to Ms McLachlans music, I probably wouldn't choose this one, but I'd recommend it to anyone who already likes her tunes :)
On the other hand...
9. Afterglow Live
Original Release Date: November 23, 2004
The third?? live album released...there is also FTE Live (on DVD/VHS) and Mirrorball (CD, DVD) and afterglow. Of course I love the other two live cds...but I went to 3 concerts of the Afterglow tour so when I watch the dvd or listen to this album, it reminds me of the awesomeness of Sarah McLachlan live and it just adds that extra to the experience. Being at the first Wellington, NZ concert on the first leg of the tour, and hearing Sarah absolutely nail the high notes in Fear is something I will never forget - and I've never been at a concert in which a crowd gives a standing ovation mid song. That whole concert was one of the best I've ever been too - not just the performance but the fact that I think by about a third of the way into the concert, the whole crowd had fallen in love with Sarah. Of course it helps that it's little old NZ and our concert venues for things like this are pretty small & intimate by world standards.
Overall, its' a pretty good setlist on this album/dvd - unfortunately she chose not to play songs from the earlier albums (arrgh, no "terms":( ) but I can overlook that. It's not like there is any filler crap...it's a solid bunch of songs, and it shows off what a great voice the woman has...not many 'pop' singers sound as perfect live as they do on cd...Sarah McLachlan certainly does.
ok, I think I've gushed enough!
Afterglow
Afterglow Live
Friday, July 11, 2008
7. After Silence - Jessica Weiser
Haven't listened to this one in a while. Well, not the whole album anyway - track 6 "indifference" is a song that is on a couple of the mix cds in my car, and I listen to it on my ipod often. I do love that song quite a lot.
I happened to pick this cd up off cdbaby a few years back when I was buying something else (don't remember what it was, maybe Cory Sipper?), as it came recommended by a few people on FTE...of course, seeing Jessica Weiser was also on the list.
Overall, it is a reasonably strong album, I can listen to the whole thing without skipping a track, although I do admit I often get to "indifference" and listen to that three or four times in a row before carrying on to the next track. Sticking to my 'rules' this time and listening right through in order and not repeating or skipping any....
I'd recommend this cd to anyone that likes female singer songwriters - it might take a few listens to really appreciate it, but there are a few gems on the disc that make it worthwhile. You can still get the CD through CD baby, and it's widely available in MP3 form on the internet (iTunes included as well I think)
http://cdbaby.com/cd/weiser2
I happened to pick this cd up off cdbaby a few years back when I was buying something else (don't remember what it was, maybe Cory Sipper?), as it came recommended by a few people on FTE...of course, seeing Jessica Weiser was also on the list.
Overall, it is a reasonably strong album, I can listen to the whole thing without skipping a track, although I do admit I often get to "indifference" and listen to that three or four times in a row before carrying on to the next track. Sticking to my 'rules' this time and listening right through in order and not repeating or skipping any....
I'd recommend this cd to anyone that likes female singer songwriters - it might take a few listens to really appreciate it, but there are a few gems on the disc that make it worthwhile. You can still get the CD through CD baby, and it's widely available in MP3 form on the internet (iTunes included as well I think)
http://cdbaby.com/cd/weiser2
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