Laura Cantrell - Humming By the Flowered Vine
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Free Music Notes for Humming By the Flowered Vine
Free Music Review: Interesting blend of new Laura and old Laura
Hit: 4 Stars
From the very first sound (a cymbal roll on 14th St.), Laura Cantrell signals that this album will bring a new sound for her. It's a solid effort, and may well yield a wider audience
Both of Cantrell's first two albums were an exercise in nostalgia-nostalgia, in my case, for an era that I never experienced the first time, yet instantly felt transported back to anyway.
This album differs most markedly in regards to instrumentation. I identified her earlier works with that airy acoustical guitar sound, and also a fair share of steel guitar and violin. Here, we variously find electric bass, piano, even distorted electric guitar. Where her earlier works were all marked by clean, straightforward percussion, often in cut time or even a waltz, here we have find more modern percussion techniques, often no drumming at all. There is much less of the close harmony, and the background singers, when present, have a more pop sound.
Cantrell had earlier demonstrated a tendency to be anachronistic in her lyrical and thematic choices on her own compositions, combining classic country sound with modern lyrics and ideas (or, in other cases, classic lyrics colored with irony by the context of our modern world). But that sublime mix of nostalgia and wry irony is diminished. There are exceptions. "What You Said," particularly, along with "California Rose," "Wishful Thinking," and "Poor Ellen Smith," would fit comfortably into either of her prior two works.
The rest of the album is stylish and enjoyable, but I would describe it as more contemporary folk or pop than country. I'm reminded variously of Sarah McLachlan, Lucida Williams (who wrote "Letters," which appears here), Dar Williams, and Sixpence None the Richer, to name a few. For older fans, the tracks named above more than enough to justify the purchase price, and you may find you like the newer sound of Laura Cantrell as well.
Free Music Review: Note on the mixing
Hit: 4 Stars
Since I concur with the positive comments on the performance posted by other LC fans, I won't bore you with repeating mine here. but I must add a negative comment here on the mixing and/or mastering of this CD: it is ill-suited to LC's extraordinary artistry. LC's beautiful voice is made distant, edgy and the volume is too low relative to the instrumentation. The dynamic range is compressed; the instrumnts are one big muddle, with too much upper midrange and little bass. This especially strange here, as her previous album (WTRosesBA) was mastered in pristine HDCD sound.Too bad about this one, as the perormances are very fine.
Still, I am a huge admirer of LC's work, and hope that no one will be deterred by these comments from buying this, despite the mediocre sound. I hope that the next one will be mixed and mastered at the high level of Ms. Cantrell's artistry.
Free Music Review: Beautiful
Hit: 4 Stars
I didn't think this album was as successful a showcase of Laura's musical taste and talent as her previous albums, but this is a beautiful collection of songs nonetheless. Aside from her hypnotic voice, I think what makes Laura so addictive is her impeccable taste in music. The obscure songs she pulls out and covers on her albums are just absolute gems and it sometimes shocks me that many of them aren't better known.
As for this album, the music and production are of the highest quality and Laura is on top of her singing game. My two main complaints are that the album is a bit slight (only 39 minutes of music!) and that there seems to be some out of place songs on here (Letters jumps out at me as one such example).
However, this is still a great album and "14th Street" is worth the price of the CD alone.
Free Music Review: A successful one, if a departure
Hit: 4 Stars
It's true this album is a bit of a departure from the 'updated' Kitty Wells
sound of her first two albums-- but I think successful. The only slight
overreach IMO is Lucinda Williams's "Letters," which even approaches
rock slightly, but isn't that distinguished a song (apologies to LW fans).
I like the somewhat new mix of instruments and those ballady songs like
"Khaki & Corduroy" (great stuff!!) & "Bees." I think her writing is finding
a more individualistic voice & this album is a positive step forward-- & I like the trad. ones too, including cool yet semi old timey vibe on "Poor Ellen Smith" (upbeat sad story approach!!??). Graceful & singular talent.
Free Music Review: Perseverance Pays Off
Hit: 4 Stars
I had not heard of Laura Cantrell, and purchased this CD on the strength of a glowing newspaper review. I was particularly interested in the reviewer's comparison with Lucinda Williams. The first couple of times I played the CD I was disappointed. There was not the raw energy of Lucinda; in fact a few of the tracks were a little too pretty for my liking. However I persevered, and I have come to like the CD immensely. The music is clever and subtle; there is excellent backing and some very good lyrics. Laura Cantrell's voice grows on you, and while not as raunchy as Lucinda Williams, it fits naturally with the songs on this CD.
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