Vanessa Carlton - Harmonium
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Free Music Notes for Harmonium
Free Music Review: I'm a big fan of hers!!!
Hit: 5 Stars
First I just want to say, please please don't stop making albums Vanessa, 'cause I just kept having this feeling that she's one of those people who just stops at producing albums while her fans (like me) waits and finally give up hope ( I mean, look at Evanescence, are they EVER gonna produce their second album???). After hearing Be Not Nobody, (and I have to say that I do listen to music for its quality, not because my friends like it or if the singer is good-looking, and I picked up Be Not Nobody entirely on a whim, I haven't even heard A Thousand Miles on the radio because I don't listen to the radio) I was very surprised at his girl's talent. Many people compare her to Alicia Keys, saying that she's living in Alicia's shadows, and I couldn't disagree more. I like her song MUCH better than Alicia Keys (and can I just say Alicia's second album-UGH!) and it has totally captured my heart with its well-blend of music and poetry. And I couldn't be more happy with her sophmore album. It shows she grew up, and changed her style a bit, and made it kind of darker in a lighter way (I know that doesn't make sense but it's true). Like Vanessa's first album, her good songs are not necessarily her cover songs. Although I loved White Houses, but I loved Afterglow, Half A Day Before Winter, C'est La Vie, Papa and Wreckage more (sometimes equally). Vanessa Carlton has serious talent, I heard she's gonna have a third album out and I just can't wait!!!! If you like something different, poetic and enjoys adult alternative, you should serious get this album now if you haven't already!!!
Free Music Review: Pretty girls in dresses always look sad...
Hit: 4 Stars
...or so she writes next to her picture in the album booklet
This is the first Vanessa Carlton CD i bought. I must admit I was (very) mildly disappointed. Many of the songs are slow, or sound like something out of a horror movie. Even so they seem to get stuck in my head, and I find myself replaying the album.
1White Houses-5/5 this is such a great song. I'm sure everyone here has heard it
2Whos to say- 5/5 great second track. its a little slower than white houses, but one of the better songs on the album
3Annie- 5/5 this song is SO sad, but it has a great melody. I love the variation from high to low notes. The piano is awesome too!!
4San Fransico- 5/5 This song is so just wonderful. It puts you in a great mood. Again, Vanessa does a great job on the piano, love the chords
5Afterglow- 4/5 the first slow song. its really calming, and a positive attitude
6Private Radio- 4/5 a big tempo change from afterglow. this doesnt sound like it should be a vanessa carlton song, but it seems to work ok
7Half a week before the winter- 2/5 now we start to see Vanessas darker side. this song is sort of freaky, and also really slow moving with not such a great tune
8C'est la vie- 3/5 i kind of like this one. its just different. its a mix between the darker and the lighter of the album. the bridge sort of hurts my ears to listen to
9Papa- 3/5 Amazing piano. this song sounds like it came directly from a horror movie.
10She floats- 3/5 vanessa almost whispers on this song. Its really haunting. and in the middle there is a 2-person choir and someone shrieking which really freaks me out
11The wreckage- 4/5 a great tune, but the message in the song- about the horrors of a car wreck- jsut makes me wonder what vanessa is experiencing
The enhanced CD content is fabulous. it is footage of vanessa recording, writing, and playing her music
*Over all I recommend this album to anyone who likes white houses (the first 4 songs on the album will live up to your expectations)Also if the darker side doesnt get to you, dont waste any time!!
<3 a soft rock/pop music fan
Free Music Review: Vanessa's Harmonium: A Work Of Art
Hit: 5 Stars
Vanessa Carlton's release of her second album shows how talented she really is. Her touch of piano to the tracks make the album what it is: original and breath taking.
"White House", "Who's To Say", "Afterglow", "Private Radio", "Half A Week Before The Winter", and "She Floats" stand out from the rest of the album. Each one reveals Vanessa's look on life from the past, present, and future. They also show how she see the world and what she wishes it could be.
The rest of Harmonium contain tracks that are amazing as well, for they tell stories which are ear catching. This album is not what I expected it to be after hearing her debut one; Harmonium is a work of art.
Free Music Review: Absolutely enchanting effort from the world's single most underrated artist
Hit: 5 Stars
Ok, I know the title is a bit much, but I just feel strongly about Vanessa and her latest, the spectacular "Harmonium." I am a huge fan (Nessaholic, as we call ourselves) and I have been since buying her equally amazing and highly recommended debut "Be Not Nobody." It was the first album in my life that I ever really connected to; I wrote a review of that one as well. Anyway, I believe Vanessa is the most underrated and underappreciated artist out there. Many dismiss her as a "pop princess" and don't take her seriously, while others only like the side of her that does do pop music ("A Thousand Miles", anyone?) As for the general public, MTV, and radio, they have fallen prey to the "Pop Princess" syndrome. Much of Vanessa's commercial downfall also can be blamed on Vanessa's record label, who do only mediocre promotion of her work. But I'm here to review the album, so let me end this rant right here. Onto the review of Vanessa's dazzling sophomore CD "HARMONIUM"...
1. "White Houses"- A fantastic album opener and great choice for a first single. I believe this would've been a hit if not for A&M's pathetic promotion. Anyway, it's a beautiful, catchy, and poignant song, reflecting on a young woman's journey through adolescence and the loss of innocence. 10/10
2. "Who's to Say"- Another beautiful song with a great message. It is about a love that is not approved of by family, friends, or even the government, in the case of same-sex partnerships. Begins slow, then the drum beat kicks in and it morphs into an even more amazing tune that'll blow you away. It sure did for me. Catchy, yet beautiful and meaningful all at the same time. Vanessa is no Britney Spears; the song may be catchy, but not in a cheesy way. 10/10
3. "Annie"- This one is perfect. BEAUTIFUL melody; amazingly poetic and deep lyrics. Propelled by Vanessa's refined and breathtaking piano playing, it grabs hold and doesn't let go. Also, for those of you who say she cannot sing, this song should prove you wrong. The notes Vanessa hits in this are effortless and so, so gorgeous. 10/10
4. "San Francisco"- Vanessa is on a roll with yet another great melody. The bridge is particularly memorable. A grand, sweeping, and majestic song. 10/10
5. "Afterglow"- The first real ballad on the album, it starts off with just Vanessa's vocals and piano and a hint of strings. Then, after the first chorus, the beat hits, bringing with it the orchestra and bass. This song's arrangement and the way it was put together is so wonderful. I love it. 10/10
6. "Private Radio"- With this song, Vanessa perfectly combines darkness and catchiness. About insomnia, it has dark lyrics and a dark undertone, but the song's sugary hooks keep it from getting too heavy handed. 10/10
7. "Half A Week Before The Winter"- With this song, Vanessa breaks away from her beautiful and elegant pop songs and returns to a place of gothic darkness and majesty as heard in her previous album. This song has amazing lyrics that carry great imagery. In fact, the song's entire atmosphere evokes bewitching, dark, and haunting emotion. A definite favorite. 11/10
8. "C'est La Vie"- Oh, I love this song. My second favorite. The Fender Rhodes keyboard adds the perfect touch, and once again, Vanessa's vocals shine. In the bridge, she swoops from low to high, back to low, and back to high again. It really shows off her beautiful and impressive vocal range. This is another awesome track that totally dispells the "girl can't sing" theory. 11/10
9. "Papa"- Similar to "Wanted" from her debut album, but shorter. The length bothers me slightly, but it's still a good song. Vanessa's classical influence, particularly the composition of Debussy, really shows in this song. 10/10
10. "She Floats"- Oh, wow. What can I say. The album's grand closer, it is sheer perfection. Everything about it is perfect. The melody, the arrangement, the vocals, the amazing piano...god. It's so incredible. The darkest and most gothic song on the album, it even contains a spooky choral element in the bridge, complete with a high, shrill, female scream. Without a doubt, my favorite song on the album, and possibly the best song she has ever written. 20/10
11. (HIDDEN TRACK) "The Wreckage"- A short, simple song, it's the album's hidden track. Dark and oozing with passion. Great, evocative lyrics. I only wish it could've been longer...but overall, I give it a 10/10.
Well, there you have it. A spectacular sophomore effort from Vanessa; she never fails to deliver. I look forward to her third album, coming out around Winter 2006. Someday the world will realize and appreciate the awe-inspiring talent of Vanessa Carlton, and when that day comes, us Nessaholics can be proud of sticking by our girl and believing in her.
I have let this go on far too long already, but I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this album. "Be Not Nobody", her debut, is equally amazing and also a necessary purchase.
Free Music Review: Extremely Underrated
Hit: 5 Stars
Vanessa Carlton originally made it big with "A Thousand Miles", that awesome piano song everyone loved. Unfortunately, there is such thing as too big of a hit. It's likely that Vanessa will be plagued by this song for the rest of her life. (But I suppose that can be a good thing.)
Harmonium got negative reviews from almost every single magazine critic, quite possibly the toughest critics there are, but the majority of the people seem to like it. And with poor promotion from her record label, this album flopped.
I'm not going to give my reviews on every single song because they're all good. (Except C'est La Vie. It just bugs me.) It's very deep and poetic, which only a good musician can give you. Every single person I know who has The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and The Rolling Stones also have a copy of Harmonium. I find that interesting. And most of them aren't ashamed.
Anyways, this CD is AMAZING and EXTREMELY UNDERRATED!!!! GO BUY THIS ALBUM NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!