Vanessa Carlton - Harmonium
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Free Music Notes for Harmonium
Free Music Review: Most Impressive Album of 2004
Hit: 5 Stars
Vanessa Carlton I did not truly recognize till White Houses. To me White Houses beats all three of her previous singles on Be Not Nobody altogether. I only had to hear White Houses a few times before buying her album Harmonium immediately. I was curious what else she had to offer besides WH. Well I must say the rest of the album holds up with the same strength and maturity as White Houses, and proves that Harmonium is definitely a step up from the very radio- friendly Be Not Nobody. The lyrics are stronger, and the sound is much more beautiful, intimate and even darker. Vanessa shows on Harmonium that she is not a pop princess at all. She has a lot to do and say in her music, and it doesn't matter if the radio likes it or not.
This album made me a very loyal fan of hers, plain and simple. She is talented, a growing songwriter, and her voice, while some may not like it- I actually love. Her voice grabs your attention because it isn't like a million other girl's voices out there and her singing along with the lovely piano just makes altogether great music to me.
1) White Houses- A- The first and sadly only real single here in the US. This song didn't even do well and that's a shame because it's really a catchy and relatable song. The piano is especially lovely.
2) Who's To Say- A- This should have been a single as well for it is just as catchy and actually quite beautiful song.
3) Annie- A- - This song had to grow on me a little, but it really is a mature and moving song. The lyrics are incredibly heartbreaking.
4) San Francisco- A- This for sure should have been a single not only is it with radio- friendly sound but it also is well- written.
5) Afterglow- A- A slower song, and very beautiful.
6) Private Radio- B+- Most assume this fast- paced song should have been the next single, but I still think there are better songs on this album. This song had to grow on me definitely.
7) Half A Week Before The Winter- A- Well done song really. It sticks out on the album the most for it's odd and serious lyrics. I love the darkness of the song.
8) C'est La Vie- A- Probably my favorite song on here. It is such a bold song.
9) Papa- A- The piano is just excellent in this song, it keeps you listening to the end. The lyrics are a little confusing at least to me, but the piano is the star in this song.
10) She Floats- B+- Another grower of a song, but I got into it. It really is well- done of a song, and once more gives that dark, chilling feeling.
11) Untitled- A- One of her best on here. She is just amazingly powerful in this song.
So overall some songs will have to grow on you, like many great albums eventually do for all of us. And another thing was how short some of the songs were- I wish some were a little longer. Yet this is a great and memorable album. Vanessa Carlton is way past her A Thousand Miles image on Harmonium and that is refreshing. I hope she continues on the same road because I think she'll only get better. We'll have to see, nonetheless, how impressive her growth will be on her third upcoming album.
Also try and get her bonus track Where The Streets Have No Name- AMAZING cover Vanessa does on that song. It's worth knowing definitely.
4.5/ 5
Free Music Review: Amazing Vocals, Meaningful lyrics, and Great Piano!
Hit: 5 Stars
A followup to her debut album Be Not Nobody, Vanessa Carlton's Harmonium is definantly one of the better CD's that have gone unrecognized. Although I am listen more to bands such as the Goo Goo Dolls, Audioslave, Unwritten Law, Cold, etc., this is one of my favorite pop albums.
Although her lyrics are simplistic, they have a deep, elegant feeling to them. Her style on this CD varies from the relaxing, Who's To Say, to Private Radio, a catchy pop song that is about the only mainstream song on here. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Vanessa isn't like other young female artists, who throw down lyrics about their boyfriends. No, she writes her own lyrics about life, her own experiances, and, well even things as odd as crashing her own car(THe Wreckage).
Breakdown of the CD
1. White Houses-Has an amazing video, was on the charts. This song attuned me to Vanessa, and has led me to get her CD. It is a catchy beat, and good lyrics.
2. Who's To Say-About a disapproved relationship. A slow song, but deep and great piano playing.
3. Annie-About a girl she met that had cancer. The piano playing is excellent, the lyrics move along, and the singing is perfectly fitting with the tune.
4 San Francisco-An upbeat song about her favorite city, and one of my personal favorites. Beautiful piano and singing, and the lyrics are on the lighter side. This song also showcases the great range Ms. Carlton's voice has.
5. Afterglow- This is a nice slow song. The piano and singing is soft, and has an almost calming effect. Lyrics are some of my favorites, especially the chorus "If you could see/What's come over me/Then you would know/Cuz' I'm walking free/Wind at my back/and bathe in afterglow". Almost sends chills up your spine.
6- Private Radio-One of the few marketable songs, on this album, it has a fast moving, pop feel. Writen about insomnia, it has light lyrics, but the singing is good all the same.
7. Half a Week Before the Winter-One of the stranger songs, it has a darker sound to it. The piano is good, and so is the singing.
8. C'est La Vie-A great song, with pretty good lyrics. Nothing much to say about to say about this one.
9. Papa-Although a great song, this isn't my favorite on the CD. The lyrics don't connect with me, altough the piano is great.
10. She Floats-A great song about a ghost, with delightfully odd lyrics. The piano and intro are great, along with the soft hushed singing.
11. (Bonus) The Wreckage-Another compelling odd song about crashing a car. The piano, lyrics, and vocals are memorably haunting, which seem to come to mind at night, driving alone on a lonely road.
Overall, Vanessa Carlton has greatly grown since Be Not Nobody. Sadly, due to poor marketing by her label, A&M, and her inability to gain a big head over her first albums success, such as marketball princesses Hilary Duff and Ashley Simpson.
Lastly, Vanessa is one of those quirky albums you can't put down. Pity some can't open their eyes to something besides, repetitive and pointless rap and hip-hop.
-Joe age 13
Free Music Review: Even Better Than Her First Album!
Hit: 5 Stars
This was the first album I bought by Vanessa Carlton. As I said in my review in Be Not Nobody, her first album, I did not buy BNN because I thought A Thousand Miles would be her only hit and so I didn't buy it. But then I heard White Houses, her first song off Harmonium, and I could not get this song out of my head and soon bought it. I was not disappointed. Vanessa's second c.d. is greatly profound, beautiful, mesmerizing, and emotional. I loved it from beginning to end; and even now after having this c.d. for months I still find it hard to skip any song. This c.d. is kind of interesting as well because Vanessa appears to have gone a bit more darker than her first c.d. but Vanessa sounds so very honest; she means what she says and that's another reason why I love this c.d.- and why mainstream hates it. Mainstream hates any songs that go to the very depth of the heart and pulls out all these feelings we do not speak out about in public, and that's why I believe Vanessa's c.d. is not selling so well. Well I find this c.d. a breath of fresh air compared to a lot of mainstream and it's mainstream's loss they do not hear music like this. Vanessa has grown more mature and it is proven throughout this c.d. After this c.d. I was greatly compelled to buy Be Not Nobody and I was not disappointed with the first either but indeed strongly believe Harmonium is even better! After this c.d. Vanessa Carlton grew to be one of my favorite singers and she has been a great inspiration I'm sure to many. Vanessa could have sold out to the mainstream but she refused to and that is what is great about her and I hope she never changes that independent attitude. We need more honest singers like this woman.
White Houses- A+- Amazing. After the first time I heard this it would not leave my head.
Who's To Say- A+- Very beautiful song; if making another single, it should be this one.
Annie- B+- Don't get me wrong, lovely lyrics and very moving, but based on sound it was just an all right kind of song.
San Francisco- A+- This song is very catchy- I love the piano on it and it truly does make you feel Vanessa is leading you through the city.
Afterglow- A+- One of my most favorite songs by Vanessa, very beautiful.
Private Radio- B- Although this is a fun song to hear, I don't really connect to what she's saying. I believe she's singing about insomnia.
Half A Week Before the Winter- A- I don't get what it is about this song but the dark lyrics are very interesting to hear and it's fun to think what the heck she is talking about in this song. The piano I like a lot in this song as well.
C'est La Vie- A- This song is raw and just plain awesome.
Papa- A- I love the sound in this song and the way Vanessa sings in it is very catchy.
She Floats- B- Very dark kind of song. I like the piano in it and the lyrics again are very interesting to hear but it was just an all right song to me sound- wise too.
Hidden Track: The Wreckage- A- I don't know why she hid this song I love the song. The lyrics anyone can relate to in one time of their life.
Free Music Review: Harmonium
Hit: 5 Stars
okay I would like to say thay i think this is the best cd I've ever bought in my life. I'm not even joking you... and if you think im wrong, that's okay... I don't really care. :D
White Houses- The song is about a time with her friends, and she's talking about how much fun she had and just all the experiences she had, this song is close to my heart, I seriously relate. The lryics are so relatable, and you feel like one of her friends. 10/10
Who's To Say- This is one song that I'm sure I'll love forever. It's about her and her boyfriend and how no one approves of them and how young they are and how sometimes you listen to your family and sometimes you dont for your own good. This is kind of like Beautiful by Christina Aguilera, but more subtle. Like it kind of goes along with like same-sex relationships and stuff. The lyrics are amazing. 10/10
Annie- It's about a little girl she meets and she's dying and she loves Vanessa a lot, and she just really admires her. She thinks that she shouldn't think that trying to live is life. One of my favorite songs of all time. Most definitly 10/10
San Fransico- Obiously, about San Fran and it's about what her perspective is about the city. The piano, and band playing in the back is great. This song just... really makes you want to go there. 10/10
Afterglow- Slower than the other ones but most definitly one of my favorites. The song's about is talking about this revalation she's having and how the person's shes trying to tell inst understanding. "If you could see, what's coming over me then you would know..." I love this one 10/10
Private Radio- This one could have definitly made it on the radio and would have done really well. Catchy... very catchy, and a good song. Not my favorite, but a good one. 9/10
Half a Week Before Winter- I'm ont exactly sure what this song is about.. not my favorite... actaully probably my least favorite. But it's not terrible. 7/10
Cest La Vie- Omigossh I love this song. It's really raw, and it's really tell-it-like-it-is. The music is beautiful and it's one of my favorites. 10/10
Papa- Really slow beggining. But the piano, and everyhting is really beautiful and really raw edged. Not as pretty at Whtie Houses, but still very good. "Boy you give good, love plastic love." 9/10
She Floats- I love the lyrics to this song, and the orchestra is amazing in this song. Very girl interrupted. People say it reminds them of Avril Lavigne, but no... it sounds like Vanessa. 8/10
The Wreckage- The lyrics are really... Let's just say that you have to read between the lines of the song... It's not easy to apprehend. But still very good, thought not my favorite. 7/10
as you can see i really thought this cd was great. People say it was a bad second album.. I myself, didn't buy the first one, but I honestly think it's the best cd i own... and i own alot.
Most Definitly buy this cd... haha hopefully this wasn't too long.
:D
Free Music Review: Beautiful
Hit: 5 Stars
Vanessa has created a masterpiece that "Be Not Nobody" cannot touch. Both albums, though I like them the same, are so different and extraordinary. This album shows Vanessa's new maturity and voice. She is extremely talented and very underrated. She does not get near enough recognition she should.
White Houses- This is not one of my favorite songs on the album, but it is very innocent and full of life. You can tell Vanessa put a lot of thought into this one. Nice opener and single.
Who's To Say- This song has quickly become my favorite song on the album. It's the most emotional song Vanessa has ever recorded, and you can tell it just by how beautiful and raw her voice is. THIS is Vanessa at her best.
Annie- Though the whole song is amazing, the first fifty seconds or so are absolutely awesome. The piano is beautiful and the flute adds a great touch. This song makes you wonder why no one thought of such a wonderful idea before. Great song.
San Fransisco- This song is very relaxing and fun. It's something you can get up and dance to if you're in the mood. The piano in the beginning is very pretty and well- written. The chorus is good and after about two minutes, the song gets very exciting.
Afterglow- This is a very heartfelt, relaxing song. The instrumentals are so beautiful and the words are well-penned. It's one of my favorite songs off the album.
Private Radio- This is such a different song for Vanessa. It's one you can get up and dance to. It's so...upbeat. This song is great and very radio friendly. It's very different from the rest of the album.
Half A Week Before The Winter- The lyrics to this one are strange, the beat is odd, but it's still a great song. Not one of the highlights on the album, but good nonetheless.
C'est La Vie- The instrumentals are awesome. The words are interesting as well. I love the way her voice slides. I think that it sounds very different and suggests a change of pace. The song is very good.
Papa- This is the "Wanted" of Harmonium. The piano is perhaps the best of this album. I don't get much out of the words, but the tune is amazing. The only downside is the very short duration of the song. Besides that, the song is very good.
She Floats- This is one of my other favorite songs on the album. THIS is the Twilight of Harmonium. It's so amazing. The screaming in the middle sends chills up my spine. Nothing can touch this song. It's the most unique song I've probably ever heard.
The Wreckage- I like the lyrics. They're sad. The vocals are good. The piano is good. It's kind of boring though. It's not one I skip, but I certainly don't push the back button. 9/10