and Joan Baez. Despite such hyperbolic accolades, her entry into the crowded world of young female singer-songwriters has been remarkably hushed and wonderfully ...
5 out of 5 similar offers for Alas I Cannot Swim - Laura Marlin
Alas I Cannot Swim -
Reading-based songstress Laura Marling has been likened to veteran folksters Joni Mitchell
... more
and Joan Baez. Despite such hyperbolic accolades, her entry into the crowded world of young female singer-songwriters has been remarkably hushed and wonderfully organic. Having started writing songs at the age of 15, Marling's success has been achieved not by shouting, but by whispering her way through the ranks. Perhaps because of her youth--she turned 18 just before releasing thisAlas, I Cannot Swim--Marling has an understated yet accomplished manner that just doesn't grate like some of her peers. Plus her songs are good--very good. Backed by imaginative arrangements from leftfield acoustic outfit Noah and the Whale, the tracks here are often coyly charming, though far from naïve. Marling digs impressively deep into all kinds of universal topics, from religion and parents to love and romance. Lead single "Ghosts" introduced to many her soft, alluring vocal style, and other songs here share the same sense of intimacy, even if they differ thematically and musically. Things are kept simple throughout (think acoustic strums and a homespun delivery), but there are subtle and beautiful contrasts throughout; the Beirut-esque carnival aura of "Crawled out of the Sea" and the brooding "Night Terror", for example, which provide darker counterpoints to airier fare like the folksy title track and the compelling "My Manic&I". Disarming yet deep, provocative yet peaceful,Alasplaces Marling head and shoulders above the bawlers and wailers.--Paul Sullivan
Alas I Cannot Swim [VINYL] -
Reading-based songstress Laura Marling has been likened to veteran folksters Joni Mitchell
... more
and Joan Baez. Despite such hyperbolic accolades, her entry into the crowded world of young female singer-songwriters has been remarkably hushed and wonderfully organic. Having started writing songs at the age of 15, Marling's success has been achieved not by shouting, but by whispering her way through the ranks. Perhaps because of her youth--she turned 18 just before releasing thisAlas, I Cannot Swim--Marling has an understated yet accomplished manner that just doesn't grate like some of her peers. Plus her songs are good--very good. Backed by imaginative arrangements from leftfield acoustic outfit Noah and the Whale, the tracks here are often coyly charming, though far from naïve. Marling digs impressively deep into all kinds of universal topics, from religion and parents to love and romance. Lead single "Ghosts" introduced to many her soft, alluring vocal style, and other songs here share the same sense of intimacy, even if they differ thematically and musically. Things are kept simple throughout (think acoustic strums and a homespun delivery), but there are subtle and beautiful contrasts throughout; the Beirut-esque carnival aura of "Crawled out of the Sea" and the brooding "Night Terror", for example, which provide darker counterpoints to airier fare like the folksy title track and the compelling "My Manic&I". Disarming yet deep, provocative yet peaceful,Alasplaces Marling head and shoulders above the bawlers and wailers.--Paul Sullivan
and Joan Baez. Despite such hyperbolic accolades, her entry into the crowded world of young female singer-songwriters has been remarkably hushed and wonderfully organic. Having started writing songs at the age of 15, Marling's success has been achieved not by shouting, but by whispering her way through the ranks. Perhaps because of her youth--she turned 18 just before releasing this Alas, I Cannot Swim--Marling has an understated yet accomplished manner that just doesn't grate like some of her peers. Plus her songs are good--very good. Backed by imaginative arrangements from leftfield acoustic outfit Noah and the Whale, the tracks here are often coyly charming, though far from naïve. Marling digs impressively deep into all kinds of universal topics, from religion and parents to love and romance. Lead single "Ghosts" introduced to many her soft, alluring vocal style, and other songs here share the same sense of intimacy, even if they differ thematically and musically. Things are kept simple throughout (think acoustic strums and a homespun delivery), but there are subtle and beautiful contrasts throughout; the Beirut-esque carnival aura of "Crawled out of the Sea" and the brooding "Night Terror", for example, which provide darker counterpoints to airier fare like the folksy title track and the compelling "My Manic & I". Disarming yet deep, provocative yet peaceful, Alas places Marling head and shoulders above the bawlers and wailers. --Paul Sullivan
and Joan Baez. Despite such hyperbolic accolades, her entry into the crowded world of young female singer-songwriters has been remarkably hushed and wonderfully organic. Having started writing songs at the age of 15, Marling's success has been achieved not by shouting, but by whispering her way through the ranks. Perhaps because of her youth--she turned 18 just before releasing this Alas, I Cannot Swim--Marling has an understated yet accomplished manner that just doesn't grate like some of her peers. Plus her songs are good--very good. Backed by imaginative arrangements from leftfield acoustic outfit Noah and the Whale, the tracks here are often coyly charming, though far from naïve. Marling digs impressively deep into all kinds of universal topics, from religion and parents to love and romance. Lead single "Ghosts" introduced to many her soft, alluring vocal style, and other songs here share the same sense of intimacy, even if they differ thematically and musically. Things are kept simple throughout (think acoustic strums and a homespun delivery), but there are subtle and beautiful contrasts throughout; the Beirut-esque carnival aura of "Crawled out of the Sea" and the brooding "Night Terror", for example, which provide darker counterpoints to airier fare like the folksy title track and the compelling "My Manic & I". Disarming yet deep, provocative yet peaceful, Alas places Marling head and shoulders above the bawlers and wailers. --Paul Sullivan
and Joan Baez. Despite such hyperbolic accolades, her entry into the crowded world of young female singer-songwriters has been remarkably hushed and wonderfully organic. Having started writing songs at the age of 15, Marling's success has been achieved not by shouting, but by whispering her way through the ranks. Perhaps because of her youth--she turned 18 just before releasing this Alas, I Cannot Swim--Marling has an understated yet accomplished manner that just doesn't grate like some of her peers. Plus her songs are good--very good. Backed by imaginative arrangements from leftfield acoustic outfit Noah and the Whale, the tracks here are often coyly charming, though far from naïve. Marling digs impressively deep into all kinds of universal topics, from religion and parents to love and romance. Lead single "Ghosts" introduced to many her soft, alluring vocal style, and other songs here share the same sense of intimacy, even if they differ thematically and musically. Things are kept simple throughout (think acoustic strums and a homespun delivery), but there are subtle and beautiful contrasts throughout; the Beirut-esque carnival aura of "Crawled out of the Sea" and the brooding "Night Terror", for example, which provide darker counterpoints to airier fare like the folksy title track and the compelling "My Manic & I". Disarming yet deep, provocative yet peaceful, Alas places Marling head and shoulders above the bawlers and wailers. --Paul Sullivan
Album Notes: Debut album from folk-pop singer-songwriter Laura Marling. A collection of British folk classics in the making, with hints of psychedelia, this album is a must for fans of artists such as Richard Hawley, Turin Brakes and Portishead. Includes the tracks 'My Manic And I', 'Night Terror' and 'Ghosts'.
Advantages: Not a fiddle or a banjo in sight Disadvantages: One or two country music clichés
...Venerable Radio One DJ John Peel had mixed success in picking future stars. But having championed the careers of bands as diverse as Altered Images and The Fall, he could never be called narrow-minded. Nevertheless, when he calls the debut album of an unknown country singer his favourite of the last 10 years and possibly of his life, you can't help lifting a quizzical eyebrow.
The singer in question was Laura Cantrell. The album her debut, 'Not the Tremblin' Kind.' When I heard Cantrell's praises also sung by Elvis Costello - no stranger to country music dabbling himself - I had to find out what all the fuss was about.
Laura Cantrell, it turns out, is not just a singer. Possibly uniquely in contemporary music, she has a high-flying finance career in the Bank of America, and her own popular weekly show on a New Jersey radio station...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Good third album Disadvantages: not as good as previous 2 albums
...I loved the first album from Lene Marlin, and when the second album came out I bought that too, then I was browsing Amazon and noticed the third album had come out and ordered that too.
If you liked the first two albums you'll like this too, as it is more of the same style, but with a couple more edgy songs that I do really like. How would it be - is the standout song for me on the album, it has the distintive tone's of Lene, but is a bit more pop orientated than her normal songs.
There are 11 tracks on the album and I like them all, just like Lene's other albums, so its good value for money too!
The songs are quite simple, but well written and Lene has a great voice, I'd recommend it if you liked the other albums....
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: Excellent voice, very pleasant to listen to. Disadvantages: The album lacks songwriting depth.
...Laura Critchley is a singer/songwriter from Liverpool, an artist that plays music in the genre of country pop. 'Sometimes I' is the artists début album and was released through Big Print Music in November 2007. The album consists of twelve tracks and this therefore provides for 47 minutes of music. It must be said that Laura Critchley has an excellent voice, her vocal tone is very uplifting and always pleasant to listen to. Many of the tracks present here are not hugely striking, one thing that does become apparent when listening to this album however is that Laura Critchley really does have a beautiful voice. There are a lot of filler tracks present here, not many that truly ever stand out, Laura Critchley's voice is certainly very good however; not too dissimilar to that of LeAnn Rimes in fact. I' feel it could perhaps be argued...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
very helpful 25.07.2008
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