Colour Green by Sibylle Baier
My rating: 7 out of 10
Sibylle Baier didn’t make this music to be heard by the general public, her son released it more than 30 years after it was recorded). She made this music for herself and those close to her. Her style of music is very personal folk; sparse musically and rich emotionally. Every song but the last is just Baier and her guitar, making music that reaches down into her soul. The stories that she tells always make the song worth listening to; “William must have a chorus in his heart and lilacs in his shoes/ William is the sweetest boy I ever saw.”- “William”
All of the songs are very short; the entire album of 14 songs is only 33 minutes long. Despite their brevity, the tracks pack powerful punches. Here are the lyrics for “Remember the Day”- “I no longer thought of what is good or what is not / there simply was the water’s smell and remoteness/ I only stood and watched that old cold ocean / in tender and bright, full, unspeakable emotion.” The songs are not terribly different stylistically, but each one has its own tenderness.
My girlfriend introduced me to Sybille Baier with the song, “I Lost Something in the Hills” because of the similarities to Nick Drake. “Colour Green” certainly does remind me of the moving “Pink Moon.” However, this album is not “Pink Moon”. Sibylle Baier is a commendable song writer, but does not have the versatility of Nick Drake. After a few songs, you know exactly what you can expect from the entire album. I don’t mind that too much, but it can be tiring to listen to “Colour Green” all at once. Overall, I am very happy that my girlfriend introduced me to Sibylle Baier and her potent music.
Favorite Tracks: I Lost Something in the Hills, William, Driving
The Blackened Air by Nina Nastasia
Release Date: April 9, 2002
My rating: 6.5 out of 10
When I listened to the first two songs on “The Blackened Air”, I thought I was going to be blown away by the rest of the album. These two songs (“Run All You…” and “I Go With Him”) have such a dense, incredible sound to them that I thought they would be an introduction to an intriguing collection of rock guitar, intricate percussion, and howling violins.
But “The Blackened Air” never quite got me feeling like I had been successfully polluted (sorry, had to say it). The Most of the songs are less than 2 and half minutes long. This is not a bad thing in and of itself, but it seems like Nastasia never reveals what I know she is capable of musically (her album “Dogs” is fantastic.).
The first song on the album that doesn’t feel incomplete is painfully repetitive (“This is what it is.”) Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy this album and I’m happy with my purchase, but my main criticism is that I just want more!
Nina Nastasia is an incredible musician, and “The Blackened Air” is a testament to that statement. This album does have its moments. The six minute “Ocean” is far reaching in scope and emotion, “I Go With Him” is poignant, “Rosemary” is dark and sweet; but I feel a little unsatisfied with the album as a whole. It’s still a great display of Nina Nastasia’s song-writing abilities, to make music that is at once both delicate and imposing.
Favorite Tracks: I Go With Him, Little Angel
Andorra by Caribou
Release Date: August 21, 2007
My rating: 9 out of 10
The opening track of Andorra, “Melody Day,” is a fantastic sample of what Caribou is capable of; a dreamy atmosphere, a great use of electronica, and music that is not easy to forget. Combining electronica with the Beach Boys, Caribou creates luscious sounds and makes music that is instantly enjoyable. The songs “Melody day”, “After Hours”, and “Sundialing” are upbeat, fun, and danceable. Other songs like “Sandy”, and “Desiree” are reminiscent of sixties bands like the Byrds, and the Mamas and the Papas; but the guitar, drums, and poppy electronica keep the sound very modern. The looping of “do”s on She’s the One is surprisingly fascinating, and gives the song a complex texture.
The lyrics are sometimes very personal, “There’s nothing left I can say/To stop it ending this way/I think you wanted me here/To watch it all disappear”, and add emotion to an already powerful collection of songs. At other times, the lyrics are a little too abstract; ”And in your summer sky and in the air/Have you forgotten how you got us here/While I remember how much I care.” But when listening to Caribou, one doesn’t focus too much on the words; the instrumentation is what makes Andorra such a delight and Daniel Snaiths’s vocals(while quite good in their own right) are more like an afterthought to the delicious sounds.
The light sounds of this album are refreshing, and full of inspiration.
Favorite tracks: Melody Day, Sundialing, Eli
I recently started a subscription at Emusic. In exchange for signing on to an annual plan, they have given me a bonus of 100 songs. But there’s a catch: I have to download them all within one month’s time. Well, I take that as a challenge!
I’ll be downloading all of those songs and reviewing the albums that I download. I’ll be posting my reviews on this page so that maybe I’ll help someone find a band that they love.
P.S.
My first review is below.
The Creatures in the Garden of Lady Walton by Clogs
Release date: March 2, 2010
My Rating: 10 out of 10
The Creatures (10 tracks, 42 minutes) features guest vocalists Sufjan Stevens, Matt Berninger, and Shara Worden (who sings in a handful of songs). To be honest, I was excited about this release because I am a huge fan of My Brightest Diamond, and was looking forward to Shara Worden’s vocals.
I am so glad I bought this CD! Worden is as fantastic as usual, and the music is breathtaking. The band members are trained in many styles, and they are truly masters at their craft. The layering of music is so intricate (with a heaping handful of instruments), and the chord progressions are so unpredictable and heartfelt that you will be left staggering. Shara Worden’s songs (“On the Edge,” “The Owl of Love,””Adages of Cleansing”) are the highlights of the album (I’m a little biased, so what?), but every single song is a joy to listen to.
The purely instrumental songs on the album (“I Used to Do,” “To Hugo”) are just as soaked with emotion as the rest. I’m definitely going to look into Clogs’ other albums after listening to this one. It is very relaxing and I would highly recommend it. Five out of five stars. This may be my favorite album of 2010.
Favorite tracks:
On The Edge, The Owl of Love, I Used to Do
Here is some more information on Clogs and two free songs as a teaser.
