And Now That I'm In Your Shadow - Damien Jurado

Advantages: A passionate and inspiring album with amazing lyrics
Disadvantages: None

...to when he needs help ("I look to my Eskimo friend when I'm down"). This "Eskimo friend" may be a real person who Damien somehow sees as an Eskimo, or it's an imaginary person. An opera singer Doreen Curran is featured towards the end of this song, singing in Finnish she says "kosketa minua, älä käsilläsi, vaan niin että tunnen sinut" which in English means "Touch me, not with your hands, but the way I can feel you" then "kosketa minua, älä käsilläsi, mutta sielussasi" which means "Touch me, not with your hands, but within your soul" and finally "minä kaipaan eskimo-ystävääni" which means "I look to my Eskimo friend". The song ends with Damien once again singing "When I'm down, down, down". There are also two hidden tracks at the end of the album: "Prague" and "Silent Night". "Prague" is like a slower version of the second section of "I... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: great for chilling or thinking whilst listening
Disadvantages: disapointing end to a great album

...it is a bit of a shame they ended the album with this song, it was a waste of space on the CD, i wouldn't recomend listening to it unless you dislike Damien Rice and want to laugh at him. Overall this is a great album and for people who like accoustic or soppy love music then this is your man. Has a great ability and a way with making strings flow so nicely. Musicians will appreciate. This CD cost me £10 when it came out, it will now be much more readily available at a much lower cost.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: A superb album that really brings folk/rock into the main stream
Disadvantages: that if you dismiss it without checking him out youll probably regret it.

...nicely. The final track has a length of about 15 minutes but that is because its made up of 2 bonus tracks including an excellent version of Silent Night by Lisa Hannigan but I’ll leave you to find those yourself if you buy the album. Overall the debut offering has been fantastic, at over an hour long the album seems to fly by, which is testament to his writing abilities. Hopefully it wont take 2 years for a follow up and I’m also hoping to see him at a festival next year as Damien really will have a big presence. If you’re a fan of David Gray and want something similar but ultimately better then this is certainly the artist for you. If you want a taster then have a listen out for Cannonball, which gives a great idea of what you can expect from this exciting new artist. He’s already huge in Ireland and I’m sure very soon he will be here too... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful