Dido “life for rent”

I am going to attempt something here that I have never attempted before, and that is to write a review on an Album, not just any album Dido’s second album “Life for rent”

I had already received Dido’s first album “No Angel” as a present about a year ago, and loved it so much, I could hardly wait until her next album.
I kept hearing her “White flag” being played on the radio last Oct/Nov, so I added the new album “Life for rent” to my Christmas list, (and kept my fingers crossed).

Out of the 11 listed tracks, and the 12th track that is a bonus, there is not one single song on here that I do not like,
Dido has a soft, gentle, angelic voice yet clear and powerful, there are some beautiful lyrics, and although most of the songs are sad, this is a really breathtaking album.

This is now one of my most played albums.

I once asked Thingywhatsit (Rachel) how she managed to write so many good and interesting review’s, Rachel’s answer to me was something along the lines of “I write about what’s in my heart, I write about the things I am passionate about” She also told me to write about the things I felt passionate about, and write it from the Heart ~~~~~~ “Thank you Rachel” ~~~~~ I went away and thought about it, and here we are!

Well I feel passionate about Chocolate, but could never really put it into words, and make it a really worthy review.

Then I thought about the music I enjoy, the music I love, and the music I am passionate about.
I enjoy most music, depending on my mood, at the moment I really love Dido’s music, I feel very passionate about Dido’s second album, “Life for rent” I feel if I can’t write a reasonable review on this, then I can’t write a music review full stop.

So here goes!!!

The cover

The front cover is mainly black/white, with a picture of Dido herself, in the top left hand corner are the words Dido “Life for rent” written in bold red writing, which really makes the album stand out,
The back cover is also black/white, with a list of the 11 tracks on the album, and a picture of Dido barefoot and seated on a chair.

The Tracks

1) White flag
This was a huge hit, when released as a single, It is about not accepting the break up of a relationship, she sings of the mess and destruction she left, the chorus goes

“I will go down with this ship,
And I won’t put my hands up and surrender,
There will be no white flag above my door,
I’m in love and always will be.

This track is my favourite, and starts off with a very relaxing, soft, classical feel about it, with violins and gentle drums, it gradually gets louder and faster, with guitar and keyboard coming in.

2) Stoned
Is about feeling left out, unwanted and taken for granted in a one sided relationship, about being bored and not being missed when she had gone,
One of the verses goes along these lines

When I feel loved baby, I join the road and the world moves with me,
When I feel lost, I just slip away silently,
Quietly take my things and go and think what’s the point,
Think where’s the hope we’re coming home
.
A slow and very relaxing song, with some nice instrumental bits and a nice gentle drum beat.

3) Life for rent
This is the title track, a very heart felt, and beautiful song about being unable to commit to a relationship, being afraid that she will tire of things and get bored.
The chorus is very catchy

“But if my life is for rent, and I don’t learn to buy, well I deserve nothing more than I get, coz nothing I have is truly mine”
This third track is slightly slower than the first two tracks, and with mainly guitar and a little bit of drum.

4) Mary’s in India
Mary has gone to India, and left Danny, she promised to call or write, but hasn’t and its been three weeks, Danny feels that the sun rises on Mary, and sets on him, Then there is a ray of sunshine as Danny moves on, packs up all Mary’s books and letters she left behind, and gets on with his life.
The singer is a friend of Danny’s she is helping him through all this, then things change, they become more than friends, she sings in the last verse

“And we danced, and we drank and I’ve seen some things,
You probably never got chance to see,
Don’t worry Mary, coz I’m taking care of Danny,
And he’s taking care of me”

She lets Mary know that she is with Danny now.
She then says that Danny now feels that the sun sets on Mary, and rises on him. This track starts off quite slow, with some nice piano, percussion and keyboard.

5) See you when you’re 40
After a break up, she decided to give it one more chance, but he’s not the one for her, she’s going for good, It starts of with just the drum, then in come the lyrics, further on she says

“See you when you’re 40 lost and all alone”
Being confronted by strangers, you’ll never need to know,
Not sad because you lost me,
But sad because, you thought it was cool to be sad”

She was hoping it would have worked out as she had hoped, but it wasn’t to be, It was just how peopled had warned her it would be, she says

“And I have seen tonight, what I have been warned about,
I’m gonna leave, tonight, before I change my mind”

The track ends “You’re just a boy, not a man, and I’m not coming back”

6) Don’t leave home
This track is all about being insecure, wanting that persons love all for herself, and not wanting the other person to leave, she says

“So close the blinds and shut the door, you won’t need other friends anymore”

At the end of the last verse she say’s “everything is new, so you won’t be leaving will you”

This track starts with guitar, it is a slightly faster, livelier and more catchy song than track five, I really love this track.

7) Who makes you feel?
Although I do not dislike any songs on this album, this wasn’t one of my favourites, it is quite slow, she talks about their relationship going a bit stale, there seems to be a bit of a rift, and they don’t seem to talk to each other like they used to.
The first verse starts with

“I don’t touch you the way I used to,
And I don’t call or write when I’m away,
We don’t make love as often as we used to,
What couldn’t wait,
Now waits,
And usually goes away”

Most of Dido’s songs have a very catchy chorus, and this one is no exception, on listening to this track again and again, it seems to have grown on me more over the past few days, since I first started this review, and I do really like the chorus,

Who makes you feel the way that I make you feel?
Who loves you and knows you the way I do?
Who touches you and holds you quite like I do?
Who makes you feel like I make you feel?

8) Sand in my shoes.
This track seems to me, to be the end of the relationship, they have been away on Holiday and said their goodbyes, but she still wants to be with him. This track is quite a bit faster than the last, with some nice base and electric guitar.
The first verse of the song goes

“Two weeks away, all it takes, to change and turn me around,
I’ve fallen, and walked away, and never said, that I wanted to see you again”

Actually it could have been a Holiday romance, and she is sad to be going home, not having made any plans to see him again, as she says in the chorus,

“I’ve still got sand in my shoes, and can’t shake the thought of you,
I should get on and forget you, but why would I want to,
I know we said goodbye, anything else would have been confused,
But I want to see you again”

9) Do you have a little time?
I think the title says it all, she is feeling that her partner has no time for her; he is too busy rushing around, to even notice her, in one of the middle verses she sings,

“Why do you still run, when you could walk with me?
Life will pass you by when you move this quickly,
What can you see when you are spinning around?
Do you have a little time for me?

This track is very slow, and starts with a violin and in comes a gentle drum, even though the chorus is a lot slower than on most of her other tracks, it is still very catchy.

10) This land is mine
This song speeds up quite a bit from track 9, I feel that she is singing about the fact that she has been on her own a while and is now letting this man into her life, she seems to be telling him that she wants to share her life, and everything with him, and he is welcome, but not to forget that its her life.
I think she has been through a bad relationship; she has had battles, and losses, but is feeling stronger now.
This is a nice relaxing song, starting off with some nice slow guitar and piano. I love the catchy chorus

“This land is mine, but I’ll let you rule,
I’ll let you navigate and demand,
Just as long as you know this land is mine,
So find your home, and settle in,
Oh I’m ready to let you in,
Just as long as you know, this land is mine.

11) See the Sun
This is all about being there for someone, I think a friend has lost a loved one, and is hiding away and moping around, not going out, still wearing black,

She sings
“I’m coming round to open the blinds,
You can’t hide here any longer,
My God you need to rinse those puffy eyes
You can’t lie still any longer”

She convinces him to start living again, and to see the sun,

Chorus
“And you probably don’t want to hear, tomorrows another day,
But I promise you’ll see the sun again,
And you’re asking me why pain’s the only way to happiness,
And I promise you you’ll see the sun again.

12) The closer you get
Now this track was a complete surprise to me, as there are only 11 tracks listed on the cover, there are no lyrics in the booklet, and no mention of this track, so I guess it’s an added bonus.
I actually missed it the first time around, because when track 11 ends, there is about two minuets of silence, then this track appears.

As there are no lyrics I am not really sure what it is all about, it is a similar tune to track 11, but who's complaining?

Some more info

The nicely set out booklet contains some black/white photos and the lyric’s to all the songs.

Dido and her Brother Rollo Armstrong wrote most of the songs.
There are also a few tracks on this album that are co written by Rick Nowels and Mark Bates, as well as Dido and Rollo, there is one exception, and that is “See the Sun” which was written solely by Dido.
At the back of the booklet it says, Dido and Rollo produced all tracks,
With one exception, Mike Hedges also produced track 11.

The album is on Arista label Ref 828765459822, and was released in the UK end Sept 2003

There are two web site addresses, for more information they are,

www.lifeforrent.com
www.didomusic.com

My conclusion on this album,
I am very impressed with this album, I loved her 1st one “No Angel” I had heard a few
tracks from “life for rent” which I really liked, but wasn’t sure what the rest of the CD would be like, well no worries there …… it is fantastic,
If you have the first album and enjoy it, then you are sure to love this one too.

There is only one thing I am not too happy with, and that is, although it says on the cover,
“This CD will play on most computers with 95 and over” it won’t play on mine, (win 98)
I know 3 other People with the same problems.

I am not sure how much this cost, as it was a Christmas present, they are around £8-£12 in
most record shops at the moment,
I did notice last week that “No Angel” had gone back up in the album charts,
and that both were now in the top 10, also our WH Smiths
were selling “No Angel” at an amazing £4.99.

Thanks to everyone who read, I just hope I haven’t missed anything really important out.
Take care Heatherx