Vanessa Carlton - Heroes and Thieves [album]

Previous Post: I didn't realize that her third album was released on October 9, 2007. I was wondering if she was going to record again.

anyways, I looked up the lead single, "Nolita Fairytale" on Youtube and the best quality ws through the Universal Group Youtube account, and embedding the video was disabled. check it out if you want.

I really liked it, so I think I may try to pick up a copy of this album soon. may in Dec, for my christmas present.


Review: So I decided to pick up the album, as Wal-mart had it on sale for $9.88. The album opens with Nolita Fairytale, the lead single. It's a good song, and reintroduces Carlton as a more aggressive and independent person. Check out her music video for the song. I love the drum beat. It's a great return.



Hands on Me starts up and is immediate a little more brooding. The Orchestral backing evident in her previous albums have returned and a sense of comfortability is established. The layering of voices she had in her sophomore album, Harmonium is back and I love it.

Spring Street continues the mood set by Hands on Me. It's a tale of letting go, and moving on.

My Best is a little uplifting and somewhat nurturing. I think it suited the Spring Street well.

Come Undone is about telling someone you love them. It's sweet and short. I really dig how it doesn't try to explain and complicate meanings of feelings. It's straight forward as she sings

"The only one I come undone for is, I know I'm done, now I see the truth."

The One (with Stevie Nicks) - What?! She teamed up with Stevie Nicks?! Yup and their voices blend so well together. It's really a nice on the ears. Oh Stevie Nicks you rock.

Heroes and Thieves - the title track of the album, and of course it's catchy. The title alone is cool and the song is great.

This Time

Fools Like Me

Home is my favorite of the group. I've always thought the word "home" special in some way. When Angela Aki released her HOME single and then the album Home, I knew the word is about having a place that you belong to completely. It can be anywhere as long as you feel the most comfortable there. Nothing in this space makes your feel frustrated or alone. Carlton relates the idea to being in the presence of the one she loves. That's all she needs. I like that after she explains that some people have physical places they call home from a house on a hill or a boat sailing across the ocean, her place is next to this other person. She concludes the song by stating:

"with you all I know is,
I'm coming home,
coming home."

More than this is the final track and brings the end with a soft piano medley. She's ensuring that what she has to offer is all she has. She can't be more than this nor will she try. And anyone will begin to realize if they love her, they won't need anything more.This is a really beautiful song it's a perfect conclusion to the album.

"Let's make this our story,
let's live in the glory,
Time, it fade away,
precious as a song,
cause someday we'll be gone."

Here's a great article on Carlton and this album. It also reveals how she was signed to The Inc. Records...previously known as Murder Inc. Records of Ja Rule, and Ashanti fame. (you read right.)

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Music/10/25/vanessa.carlton.ap/index.html

Once [soundtrack samples]

So a friend of mine sent me to this link : ONCE (click here).

and I remember hearing about this movie, and I was surprised to find out that they play some track from the soundtrack. I was really intrigued, so I think I'm going to look for it.

TRAVIS - The Boy With No Name [album]

The boys are back! It's been a while since 12 memories, but they have returned! Actually, this album was released much earlier in the year, but I just now got it. Man, I miss Travis.

I popped this CD in and I totally was swept back to the days of The Man Who. The vocals were just how I remembered.

The opening track 3 Times and You Lose has a familiar feel and was a great introduction to this new body of work.

Selfish Jean - is the standout track in my opinion. It just a fun kind of song. much like Flowers in the Attic was for The Invisible Band album.

Welcome back TRAVIS! Welcome back into my musical life.

José González - Vaneer [album]

Do you remember the commercial with all the bouncing balls released down the the hill in San Fransisco? I do! The was an amazing feat of design, color.

Here's a screenshot to remind you:

The featured song in the commercial is Heartbeats original written, performed, and recorded by the duo, The Knife. The guy singing this cover is José González.

He does an amazing job with Heartbeats, that I found hid debut album, Vaneer, just to see what else he had to offer. This album is nothing short of amazing. He soft vocals and gentle lyrics and atmospheric guitar blend to make a memorable listening experience. Although the tracks as indviduals were good, the album best works as a whole and I can't imagine them separately. It's like one continuous track, of heavenly goodness.

If you have seen the commercial here it is in all it's glory.





Gorgeous isn't it?

Joni Mitchell - Both Sides Now [album]

Joni Mitchell has one of those voices that just makes you want to listen more. Honestly, I'm not familiar with her work, but I picked up her Both Sides Now album, because I really love the title track.

For those of you unfamiliar with this song. The track "Both Sides Now" was used in the film, Love Actually, in the scene where Emma Thompson's character retreats to her bedroom when she realizes that her husband fancying another woman. It's a really moving scene.

Upon the initial listening, I immediate noted that Joni Mitchell is going to be put on my list of musicians who can sing anything and I'll stop everything to listen. Unbelievable just how power her voice is. It's full of life, and has the experience of life and only a musician can get with years.