Dido - Safe Trip Home
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Free Music Notes for Safe Trip Home
Free Music Review: So what if it's not radio friendly?
Hit: 5 Stars
I think the reason why a lot of listeners of Dido are disappointed in this album is because it's not full of the "radio friendly" pop songs they're use to. However, in my opinion, that doesn't make this album less brilliant than her previous two. It's a solid release and I think it just takes a couple of thorough listening sessions to let it sink in.
For one, the lyrics on this album are by far her most expressive ever. If you take the time to actually listen to them, they tell a story that you can picture in your head. That's brilliant song writing. Sure, a lot of it is sad, and it might not be your cup of tea, but she wrote it from the heart without the intention of making perfect "pop" songs.
Also, the musicianship and production is the best I've heard from Dido. I'm surprised at the 1 star reviews due to this aspect alone. Some of the drumming is amazing, and the use of different types of instruments is a nice change from other typical pop albums. The arrangements are also very unusual, but fresh. However, that may be another reason the songs don't sound so "radio friendly" as some prefer. It is not too busy sounding and cluttered as you sometimes hear in over-produced albums. You can clearly here ALL parts being played as well as the intricate sounds in the background that Dido sometimes likes to throw in.
My only (slight) disappointed might be Dido's use of her own voice. Her voice is definitely in top form and pleasant as usual. However, she doesn't sing with the authority she's capable of. Anyone who has seen her perform live knows she's capable of singing more strongly to give more impact to the songs. However, since most of the songs on this album are mellow, her soft airy voice works well to convey the emotion.
Anyway, please give this album a couple of tries before dismissing it. If you can't get past Dido's typical style and be open to her new sound, then in my opinion, you don't really accept the strength or growth of her as a songwriter. It certainly doesn't mean you have to *like* it, of course. Perhaps, you prefer the more catchy melodies of the past. To be honest, I miss them too. But, I'll say it again, this album is no less brilliant than her previous efforts, it's just different than what we are used to hearing from her. At the very least, it deserves credit where it is due which is in Dido's songwriting and the excellent production. These 1 star reviews are ridiculous and have no merit.
Free Music Review: Quietly affecting!
Hit: 5 Stars
Dido burst onto the scene in 1999 with her multi million selling debut "No angel", an electro/pop/dance affair led by the hit "Thank you" famously sampled by Eminem on his #1 hit "Stan".
Her sophomore disc "Life for rent" saw her heading in a more Folk-y acoustic direction which I didn't like as in my opinion, it largely lacked tunes and was too gloomy (I actually returned the CD to the store and took Aretha Franklin's new disc instead).
Third CD "Safe trip home" sees her returning still treading in Feist/Emiliana Torrini territory, but with her edginess back, probably thanks to featured guests like ?uestlove (from Rap group The Roots), Mick Fleetwood, and Brian Eno.
Opening the disc is the groovy and catchy "Don't believe in love" (with a bassline that reminds me in parts of The Beatles "Come together"). This is the most upbeat song. Continuing along those lines is "Never want to say it's love" (with a groovy bassline). The Brian Eno produced "Grafton street" (with Mick Fleetwood on drums) is a swirling dramatic ode to her late father. It features a mournful recorder solo from Dido and has a slight Celtic feel. "No more trips to Grafton Street" she laments. Stunning!
The waltz-like "It comes and goes" is one of my favourites and features a hushed chorus with an instrumental break. "Us 2 little gods" is a bouncy Folk-y acoustic affair with hand claps.
"Let's do the things we normally do" features lilting percussion and sweeping strings. "Burning love" has a light Blues feel and features Citizen Cope providing harmonies in the chorus as well as two solo verses. Closing is the almost 9 minute epic, "Northern skies" with a choppy bassline and beats, and dramatic strings.
Taking the tempo down are ballads like "Quiet times", the piano/strings only "Look no further", and my favourite, the piano/guitar "The day before you came" with bassline and strings creeping in as the song progresses. Lyrically, it reminds me of ABBA's "The day before you came".
Quietly affecting!
Free Music Review: You don't make it home from space in one second
Hit: 5 Stars
If there's anything I've learned about quality music, you can't judge on its initial listen or two. A good rule of thumb for me has become: If I like your CD instantly, I know I won't for long. If I don't like it when I first hear it, I will probably love it. So I have no review at all to give to Dido's new output. I bought it, I've heard it four times, but trying to say what it means at this point would be like trying to tell you all about winter on the very first day of winter. You just can't know it all based on the first day of the season.
I'm an ardent fan of hers, but just like her last two albums, her lyrics, her songs, the beats, her voice, it all has ways of dropping in on me at odd moments, whether I'm actually listening to it or not; a year later I may find that Safe Trip Home will be an album I can't live without for the rest of my life.
I'm a fan of the Turkish singer Berdan Mardini. I have three of his albums and was convinced that his latest was basically a waste of space. But a funny thing happened over time, and many months later, Berdan's soft voice and strong music made his way back into my car cd player. Now I don't know how I lived a year without it. Dido's safe trip may not make it into overly critical or impatient ears, but I'm sure that she will make a safe trip home to my heart and mind, and she will get there in her own time.
Free Music Review: quietly strong piece - give it a chance
Hit: 5 Stars
There are no immediate standout pop tunes like "White Flag" or "Here With Me". - no anthemic choruses. Instead the verses are strong and are punctuated by the chorus. The CD chugs along and weaves its spell using more traditional instruments such as bass, guitars, strings and brass. Less synth driven beats - subtle light percussion moves the music forward. The tempo stays mellow throughout. I really enjoy this CD and listen to it regularly. The single "Don't Believe in Love" is good...I like when she sings "says leave right now or quicker"...she's restrained yet so intense. All the songs are good. The loss of her father runs throughout the CD... "Grafton Street", "The Day Before the Day.", "Let's Do the Things We Normally Do." "Quiet Times" and "Look No Further" are sweet songs about those everyday routine things that people share in their relationships that make them so special. All of her CDs sound personal and melancholy. Safe Trip Home's quiet sadness is what makes it so poignant. The melodies are strong...they get in your head and stay there...but you have to listen to it a few times to catch on to its subtleties. It's not commercial. it's a mature piece. The CD ends on a downer with with the excellent trip-hop sounding "Northern Skies"..."I have returned to sombre greys"...she's never been very far from them.Free Music Review: Another precious gift
Hit: 5 Stars
Dido's songs from her past two albums have followed me for almost 10 years now. I think I know them all by heart, and I feel like they've become some sort of friends to whom I can turn to in every situation. When I travel, when I'm sad, when I'm in a good mood, when I drive. I don't have a particular kind of music I listen to all the time, but I "have" have a few artists who deeply touch me with both their music and their lyrics.
Needless to say, I had huge expectations for that third album. I must say, 'Safe Trip Home' fullfills every single one of them.
It is a great pleasure to listen again to her sweet, light voice, and her adorable British accent. But it actually goes beyond that. I have found the singer I always liked, but there is definitely something new in this album. More rythm maybe, more emotions. But it remains quite hard to identify. Exactly as it is hard to identify why her music is so enjoyable. Some of the songs in this album are just pure wonders. Like "Us 2 little little gods" or "The things we normally do'. Some are pure Dido material, like 'Look no further'. She put some beautiful arrangements, violons, piano.
I'm thankful for all these songs that are probably going to follow me for many many years again.