Little Broken Hearts

Positive elements can't overcome the songwriting's general blandness, May 1, 2012

By 

William Merrill "eclecticist" (San Antonio, TX United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Little Broken Hearts (Audio CD)

(3 & 1/2 stars)

I always enjoy Norah Jones' singing, and I like what producer Danger Mouse, a.k.a. Brian Burton, has done with her sound on Little Broken Hearts. However, only three songs on the album really stand out for me: "Good Morning," "Say Goodbye" and "Out on the Road." The rest of the material has a sort of ho-hum quality that always threatened to move it into the background of whatever I was doing as I listened. Still, Burton deserves credit for an excellently produced album. He added little subtle bells and whistles that spice up the sound, plus some equally artful adjustments to the vocals (a hint of reverb here, a smidge of double-tracking there). The musicianship is also quite good throughout, including Ms Jones' own work on keys and guitar. Ultimately, though, what undermined my pleasure with Little Broken Hearts was that so many of the songs, all co-written by Jones & Burton, are completely unmemorable. Perhaps Norah is suffering a bit from "Ryan Adams Over-Productivity Syndrome." Maybe with all of her side projects (Little Willies, the Rome album, her acting), the focus on her own solo work was diluted. Whatever the reason, this new album is very nice-sounding but otherwise undistinguished.

Somebody That I Used To Know

One of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard., February 16, 2012

By 

nochoa - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Somebody That I Used To Know (MP3 Download)

I heard this song while watching some video show and immediately jumped up out of bed when it went off to order it on Amazon. Even if you're in a good relationship right now, most people can remember the love that broke their heart and relate to this song. Though sad, it's awesomely beautiful.

Call Me Maybe

Call Me Maybe (MP3 Download) I'm not saying this is a classic or anything because it probably won't go down as one. But as far as catchy, foot-tappin' pop songs go, this one is one of the best out right now. Forget my girl Katy Perry's "Part Of Me" or the latest of Nicki Minaj--we now have Carly Rae Jepsen churning out this feel good pop ditty.

And catchy isn't even the half. The lyrics seem as if they could be picked up in just a few listens as I was humming some of the song on the first run through. The keyboard work is very infectious, the video, cutesy and the ending, hilarious.

Not to be missed.

We Are Young (feat. Janelle Monáe)

 We Are Young (feat. Janelle Monáe) (MP3 Download) Where did it come from? That tune just kept going through my head. At first I couldn't place it. Then I remembered a recommendation on the Rhapsody web site that I had listened to just once. I finally tracked it down and it turned out to be We Are Young by Fun. I went back and listened, and listened and listened. At that time I did not know that the Glee cast had covered it. Just as well. This is a superior version by the composers themselves

To put it mildly, this is a truly captivating and complex piece of pop music. Another reviewer has depicted the story of the song, and it seems mostly on track. However, FUN has purposely created some obscurity in the lyrics, so it is hard to pin down a clear narrative. If you look at the video on the wearefun.com website, a violent bar room brawl occurs as the band plays on. In any case, the overwhelming message of the music is upbeat and unmistakably hopeful, evidenced as well by the two refrains that weave in and out of each other, "We are young, so let's set the world on fire" and "Carry me home tonight."

The music is what caught my attention from the beginning: the rapid drum beat gives way to the solo voice of the Nate Ruess but stays in the background, then a soft intermittent piano chord eventually takes over from the drums, followed by a shift to a strong wall-of-sound effect belting out the melody and introducing the dominant drum beat. In the acoustic version this melody is clearly a duet with Janelle Monáe; in the full band version it is not clear if anyone is joining Nate Ruess. The repeated refrains comprise the majority of the song broken up by a return to the introductory theme; then the whole thing climaxes with a strong melodic shift compounded by the voice of Janelle Monáe providing a counterpoint at the climax. Finally the song returns to the main melody and ends similar to where it started: the solo voice of Nate Ruess with only piano backing winding down and bringing the piece to an open-ended conclusion.

But it is the catchy melody that creates the real power of this song. I can listen to it again and again and not get tired of it, and will hum it to myself for hours on end. Is the song a masterpiece? Time will tell, but in the meantime do enjoy FUN. It is a truly artful group and deserves all the attention that this song is beginning to bring.

Born and Raised

A superb, down home album from John Mayer, May 22, 2012 Mike Birman (Brooklyn, New York USA) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE) (TOP 500 REVIEWER) This review is from: Born and Raised (Audio CD) In his excellent DVD "Where the Light Is" filmed in 2007, John Mayer adamantly insists that those who think they know his music are mistaken. He suggests that a true artist should be a musical chameleon capable of changing the face he shows the world. Mayer also suggests that even he doesn't know what that true face may be. Nothing he has released since then contradicts that viewpoint. This superb record, which hones his artistry to bare essentials in both song writing and production, is merely the latest evidence of that. Sounding as if it might have been recorded in his basement, Born and Raised features the very essence of Mayer's artistry. The songs are melodic and memorable without being cloying. Mayer's lyrics are probing and insightful but never self indulgent. With a decidedly Country tinge that is nevertheless strangely timeless in its appeal, this is Mayer's least commercial and most accomplished CD to date. Songs like "Speak For Me" and "Born and Raised" sound as if they have always existed and that Mayer simply grasped them out of the air, put them in his guitar case and took them home. He has traveled a long way from his beginnings as a pop heart throb. Mayer's talents as guitarist, singer and song writer make him today's most versatile musician, each new release a snapshot of where he currently resides. This latest release showcases John Mayer living at home, just south of the crossroads where American music has its roots in both folk and the blues. Born and Raised is a strong release from a gifted artist. Mike Birman