Dido - No Angel
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Free Music Notes for No Angel
Free Music Review: No Angel, But She's Awfully Close...
Hit: 5 Stars
I originally purchased this album before the massive success of Thank You and even before Stan hit the airwaves. It looked like an interesting album, so I snatched it off the shelf. After the first listen, I fell in love with Dido's music. Something about her was haunting, mysterious; she doesn't have a spectacular voice like Celine Dion or Whitney Houston. There's a special quality to her singing; it's very soft and mellow, but full of honesty and a passive strength. Dido also writes her own material; a talent diminishing quickly these days. She also plays the recorder extraordinarily well.
The first track and one of my all time favorite Dido tunes is Here With Me. This song was the theme song for the series Roswell, and with it's haunting muted choral tracks and powerful drum beats, it was the perfect compliment for the show. The song includes many echoing trance sounds and emotional string arrangements. I would say that this track is one of the best opening tracks on any album I've ever heard. It sets the mood very well. (6/5)
Switching gears, the second track Hunter has a totally different style than the previous track. Somehow, the flow of the album is still smooth, and you fall right into Dido's new jazzy rock number. Hunter is a perennial favorite among people I know; it's got some great guitar riffs and catchy lyrics. The chorus is a declaration of independence, in which Dido expresses her want and need to see the world alone again. The syncopated rock organ toward the end of the track is a nice touch. (5/5)
Continuing on with her rock pop style, the third track Don't Think of Me opens quite suddenly with Dido's vocals. This is a great post-breakup song, as it has an aggressive nature. Again, Dido sings with nothing but pure honesty and raw emotion; a trait that is obvious by the time you reach this tune. The beat is simple but harsh, the guitars and strings are splendid, and she sings with plenty of conviction. (4/5)
Dido takes yet another stylistic turn on the fourth track, titled My Lover's Gone. She has a real knack for writing lyrics that fit beautifully with the music, and that is one of this song's best qualities. It's a very sad tune, as evidenced by the title. Through the first portion of the song, Dido sings with no percussion and very hushed chords. As the song continues, acoustic guitars and light cymbals join. Finally, during the conclusion of the tune, reflected drums take over, giving the song a lonely quality. (5/5)
The fifth track and a true gem of this album, is titled All You Want. At first listen it's nothing more than a simple love song. However, with a style similar to Thank You and sweet lyrics, it's a memorable song that will have you humming for hours. Melodic acoustic guitars and lush vocal harmonies make this a tune worth playing a second time. Dido's vocals really shine in the bridge portion of the song. The end is rather sad, but there's a great amount of hope to be heard. (5/5)
The most recognizable song of the album, Thank You, is the sixth track. If you haven't heard this song, you're missing out on an honest side of love portrayed in the sweetest way. This is the one tune where Dido truly shows off her recorder playing skills, and she captures the emotion beautifully. A merry piano, easy-going hand drums and acoustic guitars are the most noteworthy instruments. This is the happiest song of the album, and quickly became Dido's trademark song. (5/5)
A little strange and very much an electornica tune, Honestly OK is the seventh track. It's much darker than the previous two tracks, and will remind you of My Lover's Gone. This is a predominantly instrumental song, with warped harmonica sounds and sliding guitars. As the tune plays, you may find yourself waiting for a surprise turn in the melody, but unfortunately it doesn't happen. That however, may be what makes this song so delicate and perfect in it's own haunted way. (4/5)
Slide, the eighth track, starts out very much like Honestly OK; then the hand drums join in, giving it a Thank You touch. The lyrics in this song are fantastic, as Dido sings about encouragement and having strength. The verses are soft and touching while the chorus is powerful and dramatic. After the first minute or so, this tune sounds very much like Don't Think of Me. (5/5)
Normally, slower songs without much going on instrumentally don't appeal to me, but somehow track nine, titled Isobel, is flat out gorgeous. The lyrics compliment the music perfectly, and the constant guitar arpeggios add a mysterious sound to the already melancholy song. The entire song is sad and full of remorse. The piano and harmonica toward the end are brilliant. (5/5)
The tenth track I'm No Angel is one of my least favorites, but the concept of the song is strong and the lyrics are well written. This is the most straightforward easy-going song on the album, with the now familiar format of acoustic guitars, hand drums and light harmonica. There's nothing in particular about this track that makes it spectacular, but Dido has a way with simplicity; she can make simple beautiful, and that's what she does here. (4/5)
The eleventh and last (official) track of the album is My Life. This song reminds me of Hunter, only much slower and more subdued. As the title suggests, it's a song about independence and liberation. Relatively short, My Life leaves the listener on an unsure note. Dido has always been laid back and somewhat private about things, and this ending reflects her lifestyle. (4/5)
Fortunately, the last track is a bonus song titled Take My Hand. Sounding very much like Here With Me, this song has sweeping strings and a beautiful bridge arrangement with building staccato notes. The strong reverb makes you feel as though you're hearing this in a large church hall. Had this tune been shorter, it would have been a great radio hit. It's still (even after her sophomore release) one of her most heartfelt songs, and includes one of the most romantic and artistic ways to say `kiss me' ever: `catch the snow on your tongue, and show me how it tastes'. (6/5)
Although she had a slow start (this album was out for quite some time before it became popular), Dido made her mark with haste once her songs began constantly circulating on the airwaves. This is one of the finest debut albums out there, even in recent times. There's something here for everybody, whether you're into jazzy rock, electronica pop or easy listening. Her voice is enjoyable whether you're driving in the car or relaxing at home. I highly recommend this album, in addition to her sophomore release, Life For Rent!
Free Music Review: Emotional Mood Pop
Hit: 5 Stars
Combine Dido's clear, emotional voice with excellent production values and the result is marvelous music. While it is easy to compare Dido with artists such as Sarah McLachlan, Sophie B. Hawkins, and Sinéad O'Conner, Dido has her own style.
This CD opens with "Here with Me," a heartfelt song of longing and love. The delicate music with Dido's soulful voice sends shivers down my spine. This song is haunting and ethereal, and deeply emotional, establishing the theme for this CD.
All the delicacy is gone with the feral song "Hunter." Dido has gone from singing about the person she wants to be with her to telling her love interest that she wants to be on the hunt again, away from him. Dido's voice is quiet, yet assured. She is asking him to let her go, yet you sense from the vocals that while she is providing him with the opportunity, she will do it eventually with or without his approval. She is the hunter.
The third track is another relationship phase: after the breakup. The lyrics seem a bit strange after the heartfelt vocals of longing in the first song and the cat on the prowl strength of the third song. In this song she is more simpering and petty and thinking way too much about him. Given the strength of character in the first two songs, this song seems out of character.
The next song, "My Lover's Gone," brings Dido back on track. This time she sings the loss of her lover. The lyrics are poignant and mournful. The emotion she brings to her voice matches the lyrics well. The haunting instruments supporting the vocals are in sync rather than counterpoint. The music and instruments are delicate and misty, and have a Celtic quality to them, combining modern musical elements with an airy new age style.
Keeping with melancholy themes is a song to a departed lover in "All You Want." The harmonies and the lyrics are the highlight of this composition. On the one hand Dido laments the loss of her lover, but she also does not accept that he left for another woman, and essentially says that he made his bed, and he can sleep in it. As in most of the previous songs she remains, while upset and regretful, in control.
The next song did well on the charts, and is a pretty song about how someone can brighten a person's life. Dido's vocals are electronically manipulated to increase the complexity of this song, with overdubs and echo. This pop song is bright and friendly and has a catchy beat that combine to make this one of the most radio friendly songs on the CD. This song is also likely to show up in movies, if it has yet to do so.
Getting back to a more melancholy tone is "Honestly OK." The topic is loneliness and feeling the need to share life with someone. There is a sharp beat to this song that shows some hip-hop influence, though not in the vocals. This song turns depression into emotional art.
"Slide" brings to mind Sade. The sumptuous mellow vocal overlays and the vocal style are reminiscent of some of Sade's music. Once again Dido's voice takes charge of the song and the subject, which is dealing with mistakes and the every day tribulations of life. The electronic touches are subdued and supportive and provide an interesting and unique feel. The drums retain just a touch of island beat, again similar to some of Sade's music. However, in the end this song is Dido's.
The ninth track is melancholic, and yet the song keeps itself about a maudlin level to provide an enjoyable listening experience. "Isobel" is about love, regret and quiet resentment. It is amazing that Dido can sing about loving someone more who is in the process of going away, but that is where she found strength to carry on.
"I'm no Angel" says that regardless of whether she is an angel, she tries hard to do the right thing. The lyrics are interesting and well performed. However, it seems that the vocal style is less in charge and Dido seems to struggle just a little to keep up with the instruments. Because of the power of the other songs on this CD we know she has the ability, so it is perception rather than fact. The result is that vocally this track is one of the weaker ones on this CD.
Dido reasserts herself lyrically and vocally in "My Life." Dido could have sang this song with a regretful tone, as though she is breaking up with someone or has differences with someone that are causing her to do something she does not want to do. Instead she says she does what she does because she is in charge of herself. The steady beat is assured and is beautifully and quietly executed musically. This song also seems to reflect Dido's true personality, which shows up in earlier songs. Perhaps this song also dares anyone to criticize her music, advising everyone that this music is who she is and she cares not what anyone says about it.
"Take My Hand" is a deep song, expressing the empathy that someone can have for another for whom they care deeply. When you are that deeply in love for someone there can be no lies because the emotions are plain to see; a wonderful and pretty song with a fast beat that proclaims the depths love can achieve. The music and the vocals in this song are strong to underscore the strength of the singer's love.
Listen to this album without distractions, because these songs are emotional and complex. The music is beautiful, the lyrics are well written. The few moments of weakness are well outweighed by the strength of the remaining songs. This excellent album is for those who like Sarah McLachlan, Sophie B. Hawkins and perhaps even Enya.
Free Music Review: No Angel - one of the greatest albums of the past decade...
Hit: 5 Stars
As of 25th August 2002, No Angel has spent 97 consecutive weeks on the UK Album Chart. It has gone 9x platinum in the UK selling 2.4 million copies, selling a further 14 million worldwide. Dido deserves all this success but it's a shame it's all because of Eminem. Dido wrote or co-wrote every single song on the album. Each track is different in their mood and reflect unique times in her life. No Angel has won many awards and recieved great critical acclaim, so I decided to buy it. Here's my review of each song...Track 1 is Here With Me (10/10). This was Dido's first single to be released and was a hit all over Europe where it made No.4 in the UK chart in February 2001. The smooth vocals of Dido are supplied with a soft undertone for the first chorus before breaking out into a powerful love song. Dido's vocals are perfect for the track. The lyrics are beautiful and thought-provoking. Track 2 is Hunter (10/10) was the third single to be taken from No Angel where it entered the UK Top 20 late in 2001. The guitar influenced and rocky bassline is supplied with poetic backing-vocals. Dido is never one to make a fuss about making a great video - but the video to Hunter is probably her best to date. Track 3 is Don't Think Of Me (10/10). This is one of my favourite un-released tracks on the album. I like the lyrics at the beginning of the song and the traditional Dido indie bassline (try saying that ten times fast!). The chorus is a full-on raging revenge-attack and this should've been released as a single. But the bit where Dido whispers doesn't suit her - it would've been better just left as an instrumental for 30 seconds or so - whispering on tracks is for sleazy Christina Aguilera. Track 4 is My Lover's Gone (10/10). This is a beautiful, haunting ballad and definetly one of the best on the album. I love the lyrics, "my lover's gone, his boots no longer by my door, he left at dawn, and as I slept I felt him go". I also like the lyrics, "my lover's gone, no earthly ships will ever bring him home...again". The instruments used are superb and haunting. For such a short track, it makes one hell of an impact. Track 5 is All You Want (10/10). A video was made for this but the song was never released as a single. This is another one of the best tracks on the album. The video is just a compilation of behind-the-scenes footage from tours and performances. The lyrics are yet again fabulous. Track 6 is Thank You (9/10). This was the second single to be released from this album in the summer of 2001 where it made No.3 in the UK and was a big hit all over Europe. This is the biggest Dido single to date because of the famous lyrics, "my tea's gone cold, I'm wondering why I got out of bed at all. The morning rain clouds up my window, and I can't see at all" which was sampled on Eminem's mammoth No.1 hit, Stan. The video is good but strange. Track 7 is Honestly OK (8/10). The instrumental at the beginning of this track is very good. The song itself is good, but not amazing like some of ther rest of the tracks on this album.
Track 8 is Slide (8/10). The lyrics on this song are great and interesting. It may tell a story about Dido's past. I like the swaying beats and soft undertone but this song passes along almost unnoticed... Track 9 is Isobel (8/10). I like the instruments on the beginning of this song but the song in itself is not very good. It seems to just sit there and make no effort to impress the listener. Track 10 is I'm No Angel (9/10). This is more like it! After the past three songs been pretty poor, this makes up for it. I'm No Angel is a standout track with a catchy bassline and cool vocals from Ms. Armstrong. Another great track. Track 11 is My Life (9/10). This moody ballad is slow and moving. Dido's voice is perfect to suit the song and the piano is great. I wish I could think of more to write about this song but I can't because it's no different to any of thre other songs on the album. Track 12 is Take My Hand (BONUS TRACK) (10/10). This is good...very good. I have the feeling the music was produced by Rollo of Faithless as she has a good connection with them. The funky, dance bassline sounds a lot like One Step Too Far from earlier this year. People who bought the first edition of No Angel should trade it for this special edition version as this song is brilliant - you have to have it.
OVERALL GRADE: 10/10
No Angel is a tricky album to describe. I feel that the first six tracks are pure brilliance and are the best on the album. But the quality seems to drop as the album progresses while suddenly getting better. I often repeat myself by saying "great lyrics" and, "perfect voice", but it's true. A lot of people who don't have this album will think I'm making it up, but people who do have this album will know I'm not. The presentation of the album is rather poor. I mean, couldn't she come up with something better than a picture of herself in the word 'Dido' and a grey background? The inlay of the CD is intersting. It has pictures of Dido as a girl, her family and pictures of her from the present.
Free Music Review: Dido's debut an entrancing mix of world, Celtic influences
Hit: 5 Stars
Dido's stellar debut "No Angel" was a welcome addition to a market saturated with boy bands and catchy pop one-hit wonders. "No Angel" is an album with staying power--it is still on the charts almost two years after its release, with good reason.Dido's voice brings to mind Sarah McLachlan and Dolores Riordan at times: her soft, fluid phrasing and breathy tone searches for love and its absence in the twelve tracks (there are European and Asian versions that feature extra songs--collectors will want to hunt these down in place of the US version as they offer music videos and other goodies in addition to the standard tracks on the North American release).
1*Here With Me--I first discovered this song when Sarah Brightman covered it on her "La Luna" album. I can't pick a favourite between the two versions--both Dido and Sarah bring their own unique touches to the song. This was also used as the theme to the TV series "Roswell." Very brooding and melancholy at first, but Dido declares that she will not give up searching: "I won't leave/I can't hide/I cannot be until you're resting here with me"
2*Hunter opens with a strummed guitar chord and moves to a layered chorus. Dido seeks to escape an empty relationship, to "be a hunter again."
3*Dido's snarling, mocking attack on her boyfriend's *other* girlfriend: "So you're with her, and not with me, oh how lucky one man can be/I hear your house is smart and clean/ oh how lovely with your homecoming queen/Oh how lovely it must be."
4*This is my favourite song off "No Angel." It is almost a Celtic lament in sound: echoing vocals, very soft, wavelike background music, the sound of seagulls, the layered harmonies and the lyrics: "while I watch the ocean, my lover's gone/ no earthly ships will ever bring him home again."
5*A slow, Alanis-Morissette-like pop ballad with an electric guitar supporting the fact that "you and your sin can leave the way you just came in/send my regards to her."
6*"Thank You" has received the most airplay of Dido's songs and not without good reason. From the catchy conga drum opening to the intertwined piano and guitar and Dido's delivery, this is a gem: "And even if my house falls down now/I wouldn't have a clue/because you're near me and I want to thank you."
7*A rather harsh, dissonant opening of electric guitar and synth fades into odd synthetic noises combined with accordion. The most club-like of the songs on "No Angel." The chorus is pure "Surfacing"-era Sarah McLachlan note for note.
8*A similar opening to "Honestly OK" with synthetic background noises, again very electronic, even the filtering on Dido's vocals in the chorus.
9*"Isobel"'s bodhran-like opening dissolves into strumming guitars---and a chorus suspiciously reminiscent of Sarah McLachlan's "Ice Cream"--the chord progressions and notes are almost *exactly* the same as the "Ice Cream" lyrics "It's a long way down/it's a long way down." Even Dido's delivery sounds *exactly* like "Surfacing"-era Sarah McLachlan. This song has a very world-music feel: tambourines, different kinds of drums. The song is reminiscent of Sarah McLachlan's "Adia": "It's been a long day coming and long will it last/When it's last day leaving, and I'm helping it pass/By loving you more."
10*"No Angel" is a pleasant coffee-house ballad that, again, sounds a whole lot like...you guessed it, Sarah McLachlan...especially on the chorus when Dido sings "but does that mean that I won't fly" and it ends up sounding exactly like the end of Sarah McLachlan's "Possession" off "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy." "No Angel" closes with a rather unexpected harmonica solo.
11*"My Life" opens with an intro fitting of a smoky torch song: slow, sultry jazz with a drumstick and bluesy piano intro that morphs into a pseudo-gospel choir chorus. Very smooth late-night listening along the lines of Anita Kelsey's contributions to the "Dark City" soundtrack ("Sway" and "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes").
12*The acapella, echoey opening on "Take My Hand" turns into a pulsing, danceable synth sound fest, slowing back down to a classical-sounding piano finale.
"No Angel" is an inventive, soulful album featuring a number of musical influences: club, dance, pop, jazz, coffeehouse, Celtic, and a vocal similarity to both Sarah McLachlan (delivery) and Dolores Riordan (tonal quality). Plenty of variety for everyone's tastes, this album is sure to become a classic.
Free Music Review: DIDO "NO ANGEL"
Hit: 5 Stars
There's alot of reviews on Amazon that I think are just completely pointless, I'm not saying that someone has to totally agree with what I think over someone's album, even when someone gives an album a really good review it can different because we all interpret music in different ways. I wish Amazon would delete the pointless reviews that don't mention the actual album in any way at all.
I think there are some brilliant albums that have been released but there aren't alot of albums that are exceptionally brilliant, "No Angel" by Dido is definitely an exceptionally brilliant album, she has completely got her own style going on, first of all I'll talk about her voice, there are so many artists with amazing voices, whether it's powerful or whether they have alot of different ranges, without sounding too dramatic, the word to describe Dido's voice would be pure, she hasn't got a really powerful voice but she does have a pure sounding voice, the only other artist who's voice I would say is pure would be Tina Arena, she has a very powerful voice too. On songs like "My Lover's Gone" or "Take My Hand" I don't think anyone's voice would actually work other than Dido's, on "My Lover's Gone" her voice and the music makes you feel like you're kind of in the song, I always picture she's singing by the sea on this song, "Take My Hand" shows the electronic sounds that are the main part of Dido's music, then there's the songs like "Here With Me," "Hunter," "All You Want" and "Thank You" that were all obviously going to be singles, yet there not too mainstream, it's good that Dido doesn't write music with the intention of being a hit in the charts, "Don't Think Of Me" is a nice sing-a-long track that I thought would have been a single, but it doesn't stand out as a song that would be a single, none of her songs do, they're all of a similar sound and just simply Dido's style. I think "Isobel" is quite a sad song, the lyrics seem sad to me, I'm not sure what it's actually about, I'll try and find interviews with Dido to see what she said about it, her voice makes it sad though aswell. You also never get confused with what she's actually singing, there can be artists who have the odd word that you need to check but because her voice is so pure and clear, there isn't that problem with Dido. "Christmas Day" is a great little story, and although it has a Christmas sound, it's not too Christmasy, I don't think it would fit on a Christmas album either. "Honestly OK" and "Slide" have a really good electronic sound, "I'm No Angel" has an acoustic guitar on it which sounds good. "My Life" is a simple little song where Dido is saying how everything isn't anyone's buisness because it's her life.
This really is an exceptionally brilliant album, I don't particularly like writing reviews as such as I don't think I'm good at giving an accurate description of what I'm reviewing, I guess it's because you have to actually hear the album, so even the New York Times or whoever couldn't actually say what an album is really like. If the reviews that got posted on Amazon which don't mention anything about the album were deleted because they're pointless, I wouldn't actually write reviews, I just think the ratings for people's albums go lower than they actually should be due to this.
So, 10 out of 10 from me (or 5 out of 5 for Amazon) :)