Sophie B. Hawkins
Jan. 22nd, 2009 11:08 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stoutfellowI first became aware of Sophie B. Hawkins after hearing her sing "As I Lay Me Down". I enjoyed the song enough to take a chance on buying her Whaler album, and after that Wilderness as well. I'll discuss those albums in some detail under the cut.
I enjoyed Whaler quite a bit; there was only one song - "Swing from Limb to Limb" - which didn't appeal to me at all. Hawkins' voice is strong and clear, with - when appropriate - a certain sensual breathiness. The songs are not particularly deep, but her voice, the backups, and the accompaniment are well-arranged, and I like listening to them.
"As I Lay Me Down" was, as I said, the first of her songs to catch my ear. It belongs to the same class as, say, Linda Ronstadt's "Somewhere Out There"; the singer is far away from her love, but is comforted by memories and confident in love's continuation. It's not the most original of themes, thus, but there's some nice syncopation in the lyrics. It's a mellow and comfortable song.
"Don't Don't Tell Me No" is probably my favorite song from this album. Again, the theme isn't all that exciting, but the song is suffused with joy, and there's some very nice work with bells.
"Did We Not Choose Each Other" is a bit more interesting thematically. The love affair is past the giddy stage, and the hard work of building something that will last is beginning. In the later sections the lead voice is near-monotone, rhythmic and determined, with the backups and accompaniment providing color. It's a good combination.
Other songs on the album include the raucous "Mr. Tugboat Hello", the driving "Right Beside You", and the languid "Sometimes I See". Most of them are fairly conventional love songs, but, again, the arrangements are rich and enjoyable.
Sometime between Whaler and Wilderness, I understand, Hawkins fell out with her producer. (Or so I recall; her Wikipedia article seems to have changed since I first read it.) Wilderness was self-produced, and I think it shows. The arrangements are sometimes inventive, but not as lush as on the earlier album, and Hawkins' voice seems to have lost some of its clarity. Sometimes it verges on shrieking, even. Still, there are a number of songs on the album that I enjoy.
"Blue" is another love song, this time of the "I haven't told you yet" variety. Hawkins' singing is a little on the thin side, but the song is fun. The ending features some unconventional sound effects, including barking dogs, ringing telephones, and other street sounds.
"Angel of Darkness" is somber and painful, telling of a love gone wrong. The singing is a little shrill, but that's not out of place for this song.
"Open Up Your Eyes" is closer in quality to the earlier album. It's another "notice me!" love song, again with some unconventional sound effects.
The rest of the album is a mixed bag. I rather like "Surfer Girl", despite its very strained metaphors, and "Walking on Thin Ice" isn't bad, but "You Make Me High" would, I think, make dogs howl.
If my first encounter with Hawkins had been via Wilderness, I doubt I'd have gone any further with her. I enjoyed Whaler a great deal, though, and if I buy any more of Hawkins' work it will be in the hope that that quality, or something like it, will return.
I enjoyed Whaler quite a bit; there was only one song - "Swing from Limb to Limb" - which didn't appeal to me at all. Hawkins' voice is strong and clear, with - when appropriate - a certain sensual breathiness. The songs are not particularly deep, but her voice, the backups, and the accompaniment are well-arranged, and I like listening to them.
"As I Lay Me Down" was, as I said, the first of her songs to catch my ear. It belongs to the same class as, say, Linda Ronstadt's "Somewhere Out There"; the singer is far away from her love, but is comforted by memories and confident in love's continuation. It's not the most original of themes, thus, but there's some nice syncopation in the lyrics. It's a mellow and comfortable song.
"Don't Don't Tell Me No" is probably my favorite song from this album. Again, the theme isn't all that exciting, but the song is suffused with joy, and there's some very nice work with bells.
"Did We Not Choose Each Other" is a bit more interesting thematically. The love affair is past the giddy stage, and the hard work of building something that will last is beginning. In the later sections the lead voice is near-monotone, rhythmic and determined, with the backups and accompaniment providing color. It's a good combination.
Other songs on the album include the raucous "Mr. Tugboat Hello", the driving "Right Beside You", and the languid "Sometimes I See". Most of them are fairly conventional love songs, but, again, the arrangements are rich and enjoyable.
Sometime between Whaler and Wilderness, I understand, Hawkins fell out with her producer. (Or so I recall; her Wikipedia article seems to have changed since I first read it.) Wilderness was self-produced, and I think it shows. The arrangements are sometimes inventive, but not as lush as on the earlier album, and Hawkins' voice seems to have lost some of its clarity. Sometimes it verges on shrieking, even. Still, there are a number of songs on the album that I enjoy.
"Blue" is another love song, this time of the "I haven't told you yet" variety. Hawkins' singing is a little on the thin side, but the song is fun. The ending features some unconventional sound effects, including barking dogs, ringing telephones, and other street sounds.
"Angel of Darkness" is somber and painful, telling of a love gone wrong. The singing is a little shrill, but that's not out of place for this song.
"Open Up Your Eyes" is closer in quality to the earlier album. It's another "notice me!" love song, again with some unconventional sound effects.
The rest of the album is a mixed bag. I rather like "Surfer Girl", despite its very strained metaphors, and "Walking on Thin Ice" isn't bad, but "You Make Me High" would, I think, make dogs howl.
If my first encounter with Hawkins had been via Wilderness, I doubt I'd have gone any further with her. I enjoyed Whaler a great deal, though, and if I buy any more of Hawkins' work it will be in the hope that that quality, or something like it, will return.
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no subject
Date: 2009-01-22 06:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-29 04:27 am (UTC):)
I do enjoy your music posts; they're so thought-ful.