Counting Down The Days - Natalie Imbruglia > Reviews > Counting Down The Days.. til the next album!

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Standard
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Original and quirky tracks, no fillers, great vocals
Disadvantages:	None

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I can remember about ten years ago collecting "Neighbours" stickers in the playground and Beth Brennan, aka Natalie Imbruglia, being seriously hot property. Whilst us girls were keen to add any character, even the likes of Harold and Lou, to our precious collections, the boys were simply eager to get their hands on the lovely Beth. Ten years later, Natalie's beauty is still a prized commodity, earning the singer/actress/model a fortune (probably) as the face of L'Oreal.

However, beauty is a double-edged sword and what can further an acting/modelling career can also hinder the future of a budding singer, generating the presumption that they are "just a pretty face". Perhaps it was for this reason, in a bid to be taken seriously, that Natalie, before bursting on to the music scene, took the precaution of hacking off her long sleek locks and shipping in a supply of combats and trainers. However, Natalie needn't have worried; she is gorgeous, that's true, but she is, refreshingly, so much more than a pretty face.

Natalie, who has released three albums now to date, can be seen as a rockier, quirkier alternative to Kylie. Sort of Kylie minus the dance routines and glitter. Her sound is undoubtedly pop but it is pop with an edge; a more laid back, natural and simple sound than her fellow Aussie and ex-Neighbour. She is truly blessed and unique being one of the rare TV-turned-pop stars who is genuinely a good actor, a beauty and a talented singer/songwriter. She seems to have a genuine love for music, interest in her career and is, I believe, a force to be reckoned with. So please, I urge you, don't judge Ms Imbruglia on the basis of her fellow ex-soap/popstars, this is not a lady who is riding on her looks or fame, and this brilliant album just proves that.

STARTING TODAY is the first track off this album and one of my favourites. The track is similar in sound to Natalie's debut, 'Torn', beginning with strumming guitars which accompany Natalie's sweet, feminine vocals. The chorus is upbeat and catchy and this is a great track and brilliant start to the album.

SHIVER was Natalie's first single off the album and is a rock/pop guitar-based track with a heartfelt, subdued verse sung in a minor key and a catchy, powerful chorus. The vocals sound very earnest and meaningful and this is a great medium-paced, catchy track full of emotion and with a great backing track.

SATISFIED is one of my favourite tracks on the album. The music is upbeat and powerful with guitars, bass and tinkling pianos and bells. The chorus is very catchy and positive sounding, although the lyrics are lamenting on a stagnant and unsatisfactory relationship - 'I feel a little more than empty/but I wanna feel more than full/It's a pity all I have is just enough to keep you satisfied/this knot could come undone/no matter how we tried to keep it tied'. The track is more poppy and melodic than Natalie's edgier, guitar-based tracks and this is a real feel-good track.

COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS, Natalie's second single off the album, is an emotional and powerful ballad with all the aspects of an amazing ballad perfectly in place; the slow, tuneful verse, the powerful, heartfelt chorus and the dramatic, soaring backing music. The scales in the background nearing the end of the track sound like bells and make the song even sound quite Christmassy. It is an emotive, strong ballad which showcases Natalie's powerful voice.

The fifth track on this album, I WON'T BE LOST, is a simple, moving ballad with wistful, sincere vocals and lyrics - 'fallen three times in a row/waking up with vertigo/but you were there to break my fall/before I had to face it all/don't let me go… cause I wouldn't want to move on without you'. It is another haunting, guitar-led track which compliments Natalie's emotive, warm voice.

SLOW DOWN is my least favourite track on the album but that is actually no bad thing as the album is so good that even my least favourite track is worth a listen. Natalie really knows what suits her voice and tends to stick to it, and this is another ballad featuring a moody, earnest verse and guitar backing, yet this time the chorus is a bit weak and doesn't really go anywhere and the track is a little bit repetitive. This is a good track but it is not very memorable. The best thing about it is Natalie's voice which is able to translate a lot of emotion and sincerity in each track. Despite that the tune is quite weak and as this is quite similar to a lot of tracks it shows up as a weaker track in comparison to them.

SANCTUARY is a faster, rockier track than several of the others on the album. It has a unique sound that is distinctive to Natalie and is a strong track. The verses are assertive and strong and the lyrics - 'this town and everyone in it moves a little faster than the underground/no time and time is money feeling like a piece of machinery' - reflect the racing pace and busy backing music of this track. The verses are edgy and the chorus rocky and upbeat and this is a good sing-along, get-stuck-in-your-head kind of track.

PERFECTLY is one of my favourite tracks on the album. It has one of the strongest, catchy choruses on the album and showcases Natalie at her rock-chick best.

ON THE RUN is a moody, dark-sounding, almost depressing song with a delicate piano replacing the now familiar guitars featured in Natalie's other tracks. There is no soaring chorus on this track and no powerful interludes, it is just a simple, delicate and emotional song which expresses a lot of pain and confusion.

COME ON HOME is another subdued and wistful track with gentle, poignant verses and a powerful, edgy chorus accompanied by guitars and pianos. It is a great track with more meaningful, heartfelt lyrics - 'I'm on the run again/and I don't know which way is left/and there's no point in not being right'. Definitely one worthy of a listen.

WHEN YOU'RE SLEEPING is probably a track that may be overlooked at first as it is near the end of he album and also quite a gentle track but it is one of my favourite tracks on an amazing album, which says a lot. The track is instrumental to begin with with orchestral music, dominated by violins. Some guitars join in briefly then cut out as Natalie's vocals begin. The verses are accompanied by a single guitar plucking gently in the background before several more join in for a stronger chorus. Natalie's vocals carry off this track perfectly and it is a beautiful and gentle ballad with an amazing chorus. I just love this track so much.

HONEYCOMB CHILD is the last track on this album and while it doesn't exactly bring the album to a powerful or triumphant close it is quite fitting for this unique and heartfelt album to close with this quirky, edgy track. I didn't really like this track on first listen but it is a definite grower. It is a unique ballad with a slightly peculiar feel to it. The track is sombre and subdued with fragile, emotional vocals, unusual lyrics - 'Melting honeycomb/tie my shoelace on my own/that boy laughing/where are your warm hands/to pull me back in… and I don't mind you pretending to the others/and I don't mind you protecting all the others' - and gentle, haunting music that sounds like one of those music jewellery boxes with the dancing ballerina. It is a great, delicate sounding track that ends this amazing, original album just perfectly.

TRACKS-
1. STARTING TODAY
2. SHIVER
3. SATISFIED
4. COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS
5. I WON'T BE LOST
6. SLOW DOWN
7. SANCTUARY
8. PERFECTLY
9. ON THE RUN
10. COME ON HOME
11. WHEN YOU'RE SLEEPING
12. HONEYCOMB CHILD

UK SINGLES FEATURED ON ALBUM-
SHIVER
COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS

TRACKS WRITTEN BY NATALIE- (10 out of 12)
Starting Today
Shiver
Counting Down The Days
I Won't Be Lost
Slow Down
Sanctuary
Perfectly
On The Run
When You're Sleeping
Honeycomb Child

BEST TRACK- Satisfied, Perfectly and When You're Sleeping (I couldn't choose between them!)

WORST TRACK- Slow Down

ALBUM UNIQUE SELLING POINT- The tracks are simple and natural, not over-produced or contrived. Although "simple" in this way they are also very powerful and memorable songs which sound as though a lot of thought, care and skill has gone in to each one. Her sound is honest; she is not trying to imitate anybody, mould in to an ideal or try to keep up with current music trends.

ALBUM SUMMARISED IN ONE WORD- Heartfelt

ARTIST POTENTIAL- Natalie is the ultimate comeback kid, each between-album break has seemed to stretch longer than the last before she has sprung back in to action with a new single. Her fame has exceeded what is traditionally expected of soap singers and I believe and hope that Natalie can have a long singing career if that's what she chooses.

SCORE OUT OF 10 FOR…
VOCALS- 10
LYRICS- 8
MUSIC/BACKING TRACKS- 10
VARIATION IN TRACKS- 8
OVERALL ALBUM- 10

RECOMMENDED-Yes!