A Fine Frenzy has been getting pretty popular recently in the mainstream circle. If you haven't heard of her, Alison Sudol is a 22-year-old self-taught pianist/chanteuse. She's quite talented on the keys and her voice is capable and beautiful. I got the album after hearing "Almost Lover," and liked it upon first listen while playing Scrabble, especially the last track "Borrowed Time." But after I listened to it more closely, I have to say I started to cringe at how cheesy this album is. Allegedly her lyrics are based on a number of fantasy works she's read growing up, so it seems appropriate that this album sounds like a four-year-old's cup of tea. The album's backing orchestral arrangements add to its fantastic feel, and it's exceptionally produced, but this just results in a sound that is way too over the top, like a G-rated computer-animated Disney film. I would like to hear her stripped down, just her and her piano, with some more heartfelt lyrics, rather than these bedtime stories.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
A Fine Frenzy
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Stumble It!
2 comments:
ah! I was wondering what you thought of her... It just goes to prove it's not merely the voice that makes a fine artist.
My thoughts: I liked her sound, because it reminded me of Brandi Carlile, and no, there honestly isn't a track that I would skip over, but as a whole, the music is too uniform. It's lyrical, but I, too, am looking for something more personal: I want to be able to go, "wow, I thought nobody else has felt that same way" or "that line captures that emotion/whatever perfectly!" or "how does anyone think that up? so creative!!" None of that here. Which reminds me, she was compared to Regina a couple times. I don't see it. She definitely has talent, and I'll give her grace because it's her first release, but I want to see how she develops her style. Basically, I have high expectations for her next album.
Post a Comment