Dido - Life for Rent
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Free Music Notes for Life for Rent
Free Music Review: Dido does it good
Hit: 5 Stars
Dido may not be a great technical singer, but she is so refreshing and pleasant to listen to in today's world of manufactured pop, bad rap, & Nirvana "wannabe" type bands that have so taken over the airwaves (oh, how I miss the 70's & 80's!). She is one of the very few solo artists currently in the scene who writes her own songs and also has a lot of control on the production. Simply put, the outcome results is good pop music that people of all ages can enjoy. Her lyrics provoke feeling, yet are kept simple and never overwhelming. In "Life for Rent", I feel the lyrics are more mature this time around. Just an example from the title track ..."if my life is for rent and I don't learn to buy, well I deserve nothing more than I get, cos nothing I have is truly mine...". This is simple, but clever. In my opinion, this is how good pop song lyrics should be.
The first thing I realised was how much cleaner the recording is as compared to "No Angel". It must have been recorded on better equipment as there is much less hiss on this album. Some people have argued with me over this, but I have a few copies of "No Angel" and there's definitely a lot of unintentional hiss on all copies. I feel you are seriously hard of hearing if you cannot recognize it. I'm not talking about the vinyl record effect used on the title track either...which was obviously intentional.
We hear some of her typical voice characteristics on this album, but the quality of singing has seemed to improve. In the title track during the second chorus, she does her signature slide of voice into the high falsetto that she does so well without yodeling. She does it so beautifully, that it gives me the chills at times. This is definitely one of my favorite tracks on the album. Her voice also shines in the chorus of "Don't Leave Home". There is power and strength there that we didn't get to hear on "No Angel". If you liked her voice in "No Angel", you will love it here as well.
Some people have rated this album (for better or worse) according to how they feel it compares to "No Angel". If that were the case, then I would have to give it 4 stars instead of 5 since I prefer "No Angel" better as a whole. However, "Life for Rent" stands on it's own and I feel it should be rated as such.
The reason I prefer "No Angel" better is because it has a certain flow to it that keeps you listening song after song. I also preferred the musical arrangements a bit better. Some of "Life for Rent" seems overproduced a bit. I wonder if it was due to this p*nut guy who is credited for a lot of the programming. Whomever is was used way too many samples and beats which we've heard way too many times. This is probably my biggest gripe about this album. Example, the sampled male voice in "Who Makes You Feel" drives me nuts! The scratchy vinyl record effect is also getting a bit old. It was cool on the song "No Angel", but they should have left it there. But as for the lyrics and the strongness of the songs along with better vocals, "Life for Rent" is a winner. A live performance of this album without all the fancy programming would be amazing!
Free Music Review: Solid Sophomore Album
Hit: 5 Stars
I have been looking forward for quite some time to Dido's follow-up album to "No Angel". I felt that "No Angel" was one of the best debut albums ever by a solo woman. I have read some reviews here where people are complaining that "Life for Rent" is too acoustic. Yea, I guess I can see where that is coming from, but it really is like 2 or 3 songs that are *truly* acoustic and one of those is the hidden track. I actually think that is not a bad thing as Dido's voice is so smooth and flowing that having an acoustic track or two helps add to the song as the "stripped down" version places more emphasis on her voice.Here is the track listing:
1) "White Flag" - the first single from the album, great intro with the strings and a song that sounds very much like one that would have been on "No Angel". Great hook - 10/10
2) "Stoned" - one of the more electronic songs on the album, sounds a lot like a Faithless song (Faithless is a group that Dido is in from time to time that is headed by her producer and brother, Rollo). I didn't really like it that much on first listen, but it has grown on me - 8/10
3) "Life for Rent" - the title track and one of the better songs on the album, another great hook - 10/10
4) "Mary's in India" - a weird song, it has grown on me somewhat, somewhat acoustic - 7/10
5) "See You When You're 40" - another song that sounds like a Faithless song; okay but nothing special - 8/10
6) "Don't Leave Home" - My favorite song on this album! Everything about is great - the lyrics, the instrumentation, Dido's singing, worth the price of the CD alone here - 11/10
7) "Who Makes You Feel" - interesting song, has a nice vibe to it - 9/10
8) "Sand in my Shoes" - I love the way Dido sings this song; reminds me a lot of "Take my Hand" from "No Angel" - 10/10
9) "Do You Have a Little Time" - this song is another weird one with the strings at the beginning and then the chorus has this weird synthesizer part to it - 7/10
10) "This Land Is Mine" - one of the few *true* acoustic sounding songs on this album, it is one of the better ones on the album - 10/10
11) "See the Sun" - Great way to end the album; perfect blend of voice with instrumentation, this really makes the song a good one - 10/10
The hidden track is alright, nothing special. It is more of an acoustic track, but a decent song.
Overall, you have to give this album a chance. I remember with "No Angel" that the first time I listened to it, I only liked like 3 songs ("Here With Me", "Thank You", "Don't Think of Me"). However, the more I listened to it, the more I liked all the songs. It may take longer with "Life for Rent", but it is a solid album in its own right. It is also better than anything else that is on the radio. One of the best albums of 2003. If you liked "No Angel", you will enjoy "Life for Rent". Just don't write it off after one listen.
Free Music Review: best sophomore effort!
Hit: 5 Stars
when an 'outofnowhere' singer became huge with her debut album release their followup album.some of them might get more creative control in their 2nd album. some of them might come out
with a different sound, some of them play it safe. but not many of them really stand out as high
as their debut effort. list such as, nelly furtado, norah jones, failed to captivate me with
their 2nd effort. Taking that into consideration, i also doubt dido's sophomore album: which came out
not like what i think it will be. Dido shines in her new album. I guess that what happen a brilliant
songwriter team up with a brilliant composer(her faithless brother). Life for rent is a well crafted
effort of a simple song writing with addictive sound. the message of the song strike straight to the heart
of its listener.like it or not.Dido is one of the best female song writer. The one and only female
song writer who can write song with simple words but meaningful. the album starts with
life for rent- well crafted, carefully written, addictive chorus. this song means alot to her. and
im sure, to others also. 10/10
stoned - this song is got a housey vibe in it.which is good. i reckon dido voice the house mix song.
she has that soothing addictive voice. dj, mix this song will ya. 8/10
life for rent - addictive guitar chord. simple. sad. OMG.this song popz! 10/10
marys in india - dis is a storytellin song. its a bit country. ballad. a good song. just the guitar and
dido's voice. 10/10
see you when youre 40 - uptempo song. but slower than stoned. focus more on dido soothing voice and drums. 7/10
dont leave home - dis is a love song. sweet.the message is clear. jeez! i just luv the guitar!!
haunting!3rd single from the album.10/10
who makes you feel - this song has many layer of sound. i like dis one cause its a bit of 21 question song.and
the sound has this 'yeap yeap' everytime dido finish her question. kinda funky. kinda flirty.kinda dark.its hip. 8/10
sand in my shoe - Im Soo into dis song. the music is hip. urban, fast beat. simple. straight to the point.edgy.
addictive. great singing along song. totally a live show song. 11/10
do you have a lil time - slow ballad, not dark enough but mellow. the music is kinda lazy. with one main 'sound loops' song and added sound
here and there. least favourite. maybe shes experimenting.well...it doesnt work for me tho. 5/10
this land is mine - somehow i cant help myself but imaginin a sun finally set after that dark slow ' do you have a lil time'.
i keep imaginin sun risin up when listenin to dis song. a good relief. nice simple guitar riffs. dis is definately a camp fire song. :) 10/10
see the sun - its the last song. and this song definately has that 'encore' vibe. a bit average but able to give that last satisfaction to press on the replay button again. 10/10
life for rent is definately a standing ovation piece of work. if theres an award for best sophomore album. dido is definately a winner!
Free Music Review: Great CD for a Rainy Day!
Hit: 5 Stars
It's a grey day in (usually sunny) Florida as the outer bands of tropical storm, Arlene are starting to dump a ton of rain outside. For melancholy weather such as this, I put the perfect musical soundtrack into the CD player... Dido's "Life for Rent". To be perfectly honest, I picked this CD up at my used CD shop for the two very worst reasons anybody could ever buy a CD. One, a really pretty girl at a party told me she loved it and two, I liked the cover. Pretty bad...huh? Well, once I started playing the CD, I couldn't get that voice and the songs out of my brain! Dido has this almost haunting voice, that just stays with you. It soars over the trip-hoppy/trance like beat of the music. When she sings a song, boy do you believe it! The only way I can put it is that she really knows how to get across the emotions, that are are behind the tunes. That voice just seems to cut you to the bone and goes right through you. Earlier I had mentioned a storm reminding me of this CD and that seems to be the perfect metaphor for "Life for Rent". It's the storm that follows having your heart broken. The whole album seems to be about having love in your life and losing it. Thats my take on it. I don't know a whole lot about Dido Armstrong or her personal life. But this women must have been through one heck of a nasty romantic break-up to unleash the lyrics and emotions behind some of these tunes. Probably one of the most bitter is "See You When You're 40". She sings..."you think you are complicated, deep mystery to all/well it's taken me a while to see, you're not so special/all energy no meaning with a lot of words/so paper thin that one real feeling could knock you down." Boy, would I hate to be on the recieving end of those lyrics! All the songs on this album are just so memorable. "White Flag" (one my favorites on the CD) at first glance is a fist pumping anthem about love. But if you really take a close look at the lyrics, the singer seems to be both obsessive and destructive about her failed relationship declaring "I will go down with this ship and I won't put my hands up and surrender." Even gaining love shows signs of bitterness. On "Mary's Gone to India" the singer is pretty much telling the character, Mary off. Apparently Mary left for India, dumping her boyfriend, Danny. The singer is pretty meanly telling her, well you might have treated him like sh_t, but he's mine now and I'm going to treat him right! Other great songs on this album include the title song "Life for Rent" and the delightful post-vaction, "Sand in My Shoes". At least "Life for Rent" ends on a happy note with the post break-up, get out of bed tune, "See the Sun". On that song, Dido sings "And you probably don't want to hear tommorow's another day/but I promise you, you'll see the sun again/and you're asking me why the pain's the only way to happiness/and I promise you, you'll see the sun again." That's a good thing to know. Thanks for a great piece of music Dido! Great CD, highly recommended!Free Music Review: Amazing!
Hit: 5 Stars
This CD is amazing. No other artist can even come close to what Dido has managed to do with this album, as the whole CD is great, which is rare in todays albums. She has a soft voice that might seem strange the first time you listen to it, but it keeps making you go back for more and more.
White Flag--A great song, but can get kinda old when listen to to much ;)
Stoned--One of the two up-temo songs on the album, it breaks the mood with its great beat and great lyrics.
Life for Rent--A great song that when listen to, explains that you should live your life to the fullest.
Mary's in india--A good song,but you will probally skip over it the first time you play it about half way in. Don't worry though, because playing the CD the second time, you'll go more and more into the song, and it will quickly become one of your favorites.
See you when you're 40--Again, you will probally skip over it the first time you play it about half way in, but it grows on you, and with its great lyrics
Don't leave home--At this point in the CD, if you havent heard a whole lot of Dido, you pick up her music that she sings. Its another great song, with the same great voice and the same great lyrics.
Who makes you feel--This song though, stands out. You may wonder whats happening when you hear the opening of it, but Dido then comes in with a higher song than she normally sings, but still manages to pull off a great song.
Sand in my shoes--Another up-tempo track, it explains of a love that she met while away for two weeks, but then had to leave as she went home. Another great one :D
Do you have a little time--The darkest song on the CD, has to be one of the 2 best(See You When Your 40 is tied with me). The strong violin entrence makes you listen to the song, and draws you in. Its just great.
This land is mine--The most out of place song on the CD, this track makes you think more of a folksong than a Dido song. The guitar in the back also backs that up heavily.
See the sun--There's just something about this song that makes you love it. It speaks of how you shouldn't reflect in the past, and if you do, how to cherish it. You may notice, expecially on a computer, the song is very long, about 10:00, but after See The Sun ends, 2 minutes later (at 7:04, not that I love it that much ;)), another song starts to play.
So leave your taxi waiting......., the songs suppose to be called "Closer", and was put on as an afterthought, for an extra something for the listerns, but the song is anything but the quality of an afterthought. It has the same great lyrics, and the same great Dido music in it that makes you just love this CD, and makes you play it over and over and over again.