Tag: 2008
Review of “Hello…x” - Tristan Prettyman
- 27/08/2008
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So let’s start with reviewing Tristan Prettymans new great album “Hello…x“. Just to get it out of the way: The new album is nowhere near her debut, which is probably the best album ever released. (or so says my music player) But let’s cut to the chase. This album is quite diversed, driven by Tristan Prettyman’s unique and beautiful voice. It has bluesy and jazzy elements, lots of pop, rock and folk. It’s almost never dull and quite enjoyable. There’s some clapping, a lot of acoustic guitar, some piano and string, occasionally.
I might need some getting used to, especially if you have already come to know and love her debut but it’s definitely worth every minute (of total 50) of listening.
4/5
1. Hello (3:25)
The first track on the album (obviously), there’s the evermore stylish clapping, some (a little) quirky guitar play and Prettyman’s smooth, sometimes somewhat edgy voice. And there’s also some off-beat singing, which I really dig. Overall a good start.
2. Echo (3:38)
It starts with a really nice guitar tune, and makes you tap your toes (at the very least), then there’s some nice e-piano underlying, a little e-guitar as well. This song really has power and groove. (although some people might argue about the power, as always. But it’s just not about the volume and speed, when I mean power)
3. California Girl (3:58)
I had my difficulties liking this tune at first, maybe it’s a little too slow and uneventful for me, but there’s at least a short e-guitar solo at the end (the bright yellow-white part in the picture above). Definitely not my favorite song on this album, but there are plenty…
4. Madly (3:19)
Damn, I just like that guitar. And oddly enough I really like the drums (I never seem to notice them enough in other songs to actually appreciate them). Then there’s that clapping again (who started that anyway? Paolo Nutini?) The chorus is a little dull, to be honest, but it’s never the less a good sond.
5. Blindfold (3:58)
A very stripped down song, no unnecessary instruments, the focus almost just on Prettymans’s voice. (Which is good, by the way) It let’s you concentrate on the beautiful lyrics. It’s a little slow at first, but then just a little over the half it starts to get a little mor spirited.
6. Handshake (3:47)
Some quirky, squeaking guitars again, I don’t really enjoy it as much as the other songs until the piano starts getting louder and Tristan prettyman starts to absolutely rock (honkey-tonk style), at which point I am absolutely enjoying myself (yes, definitely more than just toe-tapping - unless I’m in some very public place, of course).
7. War Out Of Peace (3:49)
Oho, this doesn’t sound too much like Prettyman a first, just not enough acoustic. I like the broadening of her musical horizon, actually I find that this song would make a great soundtrack (in fact I think it sounds a lot like the soundtrack of “The Holiday” with Kate Winselt and Jude Law, which I now absolutely can’t confirm, listening to it on youtube ;), well, whatever. Oh, wait allright there it is, I just wasn’t patient enough. (Here, listen for yourselves)). This song is so full of potential to be fullfilled, so much optimism and pathos. (Also a little like Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida”)
8. You Got Me (3:24)
Probably my favorite. Nice lyrics, cool guitarplay, slow enough, but never boring. What is there more to say? Ah yeah, off-beat singing. :D Ok, that’s it definitely my favority although I can’t really explain why…
9. Don’t Work Yourself Up (3:41)
Melancholic, raw and … damn, off-beat singing. ;) (Alright I’ll stop…) I like the flow between those raw, stripped periods, where you almost just hear her voice and the full and loud periods that sound exuberant and almost optimistic. It’s the contrast that make this song great.
10. A Little Bit (3:40)
A bluesy track, which definitely proves that Prettyman’s style has become more varied. Overall a pretty much average track and in the end there’s a cool chorus repeating the refrain.
11. Interviews (3:32)
I especially like the acoustic guitar in this track. “Interviews” has a quite catchy melody. I mean what’s not to like about this song…
12. In Bloom (3:47)
A piano-driven ballad with accompanying strings. The character of this track, however, is dictated (once more) by Tristan Prettyman’s beautiful voice. The comparison to Norah Jones can most definitely not be dismissed. I find that Norah Jones tend to be lighter (in a good sense), but they also tend to build much less tension and are therefore a little less interesting (in general, though you can argue with me here. But as a fact I also like Norah Jones music very much, it’s just not as “rocking” as Tristan Prettyman’s)
13. God Gave Me Patience (3:46)
Another ballad…
So light the day
And invite me to stay
‘Cause now I see
I was always on my way
Just a little late
14. Hummingbirds (2:50)
A lighthearted, up-beat kinda song, the ideal finish, in my opinion. And this song really does the album justice.
Review of “We sing, we dance, we steal things” - Jason Mraz
- 21/07/2008
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I would not say, that “We sing, we dance, we steal things” is Jason Mraz’s best album yet. It is just so hard to pick a favorite. I would say it most certainly is Jason’s cleanest album, maybe also his most varied (with many influences, from funk, jazz, R&B, folk, rap and electro), although “Mr A-Z” was quite varied already. The tracks on this album differ quite a bit from what you would hear live from Jason, much more than they did on the previous albums, perhaps it is just because his style is changing (or expanding), and I’m not quite sure how I like it. Don’t get me wrong, all the songs are great, I love this album. Like many great albums it needs some investment to really love, but the songs are steadily getting better, the more you listen to them, this is a quality that is very rare, especially concerning pop albums, so I’m glad Jason pulled it off.
5/5
1. Make It Mine (3:08)
A very clean, optimistic, upbeat song, nicely instrumented, an inspiring trumpet (?) solo (did I mention, that I love solos?). There certainly is no flaw in this song.
2. I’m Yours (4:04)
The already famous “I’m Yours” (from Jason’s live performances), the lyrics are just ingenious and so funny, the first time I heard the song live (in Lucerne) i had to laugh. This version is not as playful, as others I’ve heard, never the less a great song, extremely catchy melody, there’s very sunny, almost Jamaican feel to it. A live gem, that finally got the attention it deserved.
3. Lucky (3:10)
A smooth, harmonic duet (with Colbie Caillat) about nothing less than the perfect love. I especially like the flow of this song and it’s kind of “old” feel to it.
4. Butterfly (5:00)
An ode on sexual chemistry. Very funny lyrics again, this song just rocks, underlined with a fitting brass section, quite funky and extremely catchy. I just love those horns.
5. Live High (4:12)
I’ve heard this for the first time as a version that Jason sung walking through some French city, and absolute loved it. This version of course, is not as acoustic, not as raw, but it still is quite brilliant. An empowering refrain, cool background choruses. Overall: Strong, at times almost ecstatic and very optimistic.
6. Love for a Child (4:06)
A wonderfully melancholic track about having your parents divorce. “And they never to check to see my grades, what a fool I’d be to start complaining?”. With this song Jason once more proves how good a storyteller he is. With this song he proves once and for all, that it’s not just all about the wordplay.
7. Details in the Fabric (5:46)
It starts off a little like “Plane” (maybe it’s just because of the distorted (radio-like) voice) and becomes a guitar-heavy ballad. Sometimes it sounds like Damien Rice, or David Gray. It is somewhat too depressing a first, but I find it gets better as the song progresses.
8. Coyotes (3:38)
Just another new facet, Jason and electro-pop, certainly not my taste, but oddly enough it fits. In the end there are actually some kinds (or so it sounds to me) singing (or rather shouting) with him, which is just great, and gives this song just so much more power. (The multiple choruses in general do.) And there is also some opera singing (like in Mr. Curiosity)
9. Only Human (4:03)
“The planet’s talking about a revolution”, Jason’s hint in the direction of environmentalism, but without blaming anyone, it makes you think though. Primarily it’s just a good song, with a great chorus.
10. The Dynamo of Volition (3:37)
Definitely my favorite. Another tongue twisting wordplay.
I do not keep up with statistics
I do not sleep without a mistress
I do not eat unless it’s fixed with
Some kind of sweet like a licorice
My home is deep inside the mystics
I’m known to keep diggin’ on existence
I’m holdin’ in the heat like a fish stick
And my phone it beeps because I missed it
Just ingenious because of the mad and sometime unexpected rhyming, (this is modern poetry).
11. If It Kills Me (4:34)
I’m never quite sure whether this piano ballad (highlighted with strings) is optimistic (I find it is at most times) or melancholic - I suppose it’s a little of both. But I certainly like it.
12. Beautiful Mess (5:36)
A beautiful ballad, a little like “Please Don’t Tell Her”. Jason’s flawless voice turns this song into a masterpiece.
Review of “Gavin DeGraw” - Gavin DeGraw
- 15/07/2008
- 1 comment
With his incredible debut album Gavin DeGraw set the stakes very high, and now, sadly, fails to deliver. There are some songs, that are almost as good as the ones on “Chariot” (the debut), but there are also the mediocre titles, such as “Let it Go” or “We Belong Together”. The album is a little over-produced, too mainstream and often lacks the ingenuity and soul of “Chariot”.
All this doesn’t make “Gavin DeGraw” ab bad album, not even a mediocre one. It undoubtedly is a good album. There are several very catchy, good songs, but there are also songs, that disappiont. But compared to “Chariot” it just isn’t as good.
4/5
1. In Love With A Girl (3:27)
This song is about the power of love and it rocks (no surprise, they made it a single). It’s loud, fast and there are a lot of drums and heavy guitars.
2. Next To Me (Wait A Minute Sister) (3:26)
One of my favorites, a very catchy song about a (possibly) unfulfilled love.
3. Cheated On Me (3:39)
A ballad about how jealousy can drive loved ones away, unfortunately, in my opinion a little uneventful and definitely more mediocre songs on this album.
4. I Have You To Thank (3:27)
Starts almost the exact same way as “I Don’t Want To Be” from Gavin’s first album and then turns in to a cool, funky, strong tune. I especially love the bridge and the ending.
5. Cop Stop (3:24)
This song starts terribly, but gets much better with an ingenious, powerful refrain.
6. Young Love (4:08)
A ballad again, very melodic, starts of quite slow, dramatic, but in the last third it thankfully gets a little more exciting.
7. Medicate The Kids (3:19)
Probably one of the best songs on this album, about parents drugging their children. This songs really stands out not just because of the lyrics (they’re funny in a very concerning way ;) ) but also because it is extremely catchy melody and great bridge.
8. Relative (4:12)
A great, rocking song with a little funky lyrics, an awesome (”Jason Mraz”-like) bridge.
9. She Holds A Key (3:50)
This is my favorite song, a wonderful, strong, emotional ballad with great lyrics, rhymes and a superb ending.
10. Untamed (4:00)
A poppy tune, with a great bridge (again), and a very catchy, feel-good ending (with a little guitar solo - Oh I love those…).
11. Let It Go (3:49)
Sleeping pills? At least that was my first impression. Definitely much to depressing and slow, then there is this annoying refrain. This is by far the worst song on the album, the only one, that actually made me wind forward.
12. We Belong Together (5:30)
It’s a littley too clichéd and over-produced for me.
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