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Little Love Affairs - Nanci Griffith
by Holland1
Nanci Griffith is an American singer-songwriter whose music falls under the country/folk/bluegrass category. Technically speaking, I'm not usually a huge fan of this category, but I find something very endearing and enchanting about Nanci Griffith and I love her music. She is a hopeless romantic and I get the impression from her music ... that she's spent her life trying to find her true love.
Nanci is just about to release her twentieth studio album, and I'm pleased to say the quality of her work has not slipped over the years as often happens when artists keep going into their late fifties/early sixties. She has worked in collaberation with many big names over the years, and is a big name in her genre.
This is probably my favourite Nanci Griffith album, and one of my favourite albums full stop. It's a beautiful album, with a big focus on love, loss, heartbreak, and keeping dreams alive. I think this is an excellent album for anyone experiencing problems in their relationship, it's a great "break-up" album and is very easy to relate to because everyone's been there.
The song listing for this album is:
1 Anyone Can Be Somebody's Fool
2 I Knew Love
3 Never Mind
4 Love Wore a Halo (Back Before the War)
5 So Long Ago
6 Gulf Coast Highway
7 Little Love Affairs
8 I Wish it Would Rain
9 Outbound Plane
10 I Would Change my Life
11 Sweet Dreams Will Come
I'd find it difficult to pinpoint any weaknesses on this album, although for some people some of the songs are a little more country than others. Nanci is from Texas so she has a very twangy (doubt that's a word but I couldn't think how else to describe it!) voice, and she sounds like a bit of a country bumpkin. It's quite cute really, and it does come across in her songs although she has a very powerful crystal clear voice.
All of Nanci's songs tell a story, there's no fillers on this album. The opening song probably gives an idea of the kind of thing you can expect on this album. "Anyone Can Be Somebody's Fool". How true that is. The clue is in the title, but this is a song about how easy it is to be blinded by love and find yourself doing things you'd criticise if it was one of your friends. I love everything about this song from the melody, to the lyrics, and the beautiful voice that sings it.
"I Knew Love" is one of my all-time favourite songs, with lines such as "I knew love, when it still meant forever, when a feeling shared didn't always have to hurt, and a promise that was made would go unbroken. I knew love, when it was more than just a word". I have found my eyes welling up many times listening to this song.
I get the impression that Nanci feels like she belongs to an earlier generation, as she seems very wistful about the past and has a romantic view of how the world was back then. This is portrayed in her song "Love Wore a Halo (Back Before the War)". I guess this fantasy world is based on the fact that no matter how hard life was in times gone by, people used to be a lot more loyal to one another.
I find this album is suitable to listen to whatever mood I'm in. It has a lovely mixture of upbeat songs, and more thought-provoking tear-jerkers. I find that Nanci sings with such honesty and every word is spoken with feeling. She really wears her heart on her sleeve. Most of her songs are based around love and relationships, and the blinding effect being in love can have on you. The song "I Would Change My Life" is a good example of this, with the chorus "I would change my life, if you would only change your mind". Most people can relate to the feeling of feeling so strongly about someone you'd do absolutely anything for them, and in Nanci's case she often sings about times when this isn't reciprocated, which can be very painful. I used to listen to this album when I have been in similar predicaments, and it's such a good way of being connected to real life and taking comfort from the fact you're not alone in feeling this way, and it won't be forever.
This album is one of Nanci's less country/bluegrass sounding albums, so is a good starting place if you're looking for an introduction to this wonderful woman's career.
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Fearless - Taylor Swift
by SparksFly
This album is a more mature account of a young woman's life than Taylor's self-titled first release, but it hasn't lost the youthful energy of popular tracks like 'Picture to Burn' and 'Our Song'. Many people will have discovered Taylor from her top 10 track 'Love Story', from this album, but those who weren't impressed shouldn't give up ... on her yet as this album has so much more to offer. The stand out songs on this album are the angry account of heartbreak found in 'Tell Me Why' and the piano based, haunting 'Your'e Not Sorry' which will stay with the listener long after they've turned off the CD player. Taylor may not have a powerful voice like Beyonce's but her softly sung songs will please anyone who wants to hear well written tracks about love, boys and heartbreak sung by a singer that every woman can relate to. However, not all of Swift's songs are about boys, and one particularly emotional song on Fearless is 'The Best Day' in which Taylor sings to her mother about how much she appreciates her. Who wouldn't be affected by that!?
Overall, Fearless is the perfect second effort for a singer Taylor's age and this album will please older fans and younger alike whilst having personal lyrics that everyone can enjoy and sing along to as the girl can write song catchy hooks!
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Play On - Carrie Underwood
by xxlucexx
Play On by Carrie Underwood.
Those of you who are fans of American Idol may remember Carrie Underwood from the 2004 series of the show. From her first audition Carrie was a favourite to win the show, she got better and better every week and nobody had ever seen such raw talent on a talent competition. Big things were ... predicted for the small town girl who was born in Oklahoma in 1983. Carrie did not only go on to win American Idol but since then she has become the most successful artist Split Infinitive (consider revising) out of the show. Carrie Underwood has established herself as one of the best country singers in the world with her consistent and wonderful music and her angelic singing voice. Carrie's first album Some Hearts was the biggest selling album in the USA in 2006, going platinum 7 times and certifying her as the most successful American Idol winner. Success after success has followed for Underwood who has gone on to break multiple records for country-music, release more platinum albums, win many awards including Grammy's, have sell out tours and grow into a country-music icon. Carrie Underwood has achieved so much throughout her career and I predict she will continue to produce incredible music for years to come.
Play On is Carrie's third album and was released in November 2009. The album has 13 songs in total and it plays for approximately 48 minutes. The album has sold over 2 million copies in the USA alone and has been another huge success story for Carrie. The album cover is beautiful; it shows Carrie sat at a table with some daisies in a vase and one in her hair. Carrie Underwood is beautiful, classy and a great role model for young girls, which is why I think that she, has been such a huge success all over the world. I do not think that Carrie is as well known in this country as she is in the USA but she definitely has many fans over here. I cannot say that this this is my favourite Carrie Underwood album as they are all so good that it would be difficult to choose between them but it definitely has some of the best songs on it. This album is very mature and has songs covering love, helping people, religion and hope. Carrie deals with subject matters beautifully and she promotes hope and faith through her music.
1. Cowboy Casanova
The album starts with a feisty, feel-good country track. It was the third single to be released from this album back in September 2009. It is a fast-paced sassy song which has a similar feel to it as her previous song Before He Cheats. In the song, Carrie's vocals are very impressive as are the rocky instrumentals. In the video for this song, Carrie dons some ball-gown outfits and warns everyone about that Cowboy Casanova. In this song, Carrie recommends that you run for your life in order to avoid this devil in disguise. The song is really fun and great to sing-a-long to!
2. Quitter
This song starts with an incredibly catchy country sound and continues to delight throughout the verses and chorus. The classic 'boy meets girl' lyric at the beginning sets the song up to tell a beautiful story and once you have heard it you will just want to listen to it again!
3. Mama's Song
Over the years, Carrie has quite a few songs which are family-orientated, this one definitely being my favourite. It is a beautiful ballad to her mum which asks her not to worry about her as she moves on in life and settles down with Prince Charming. It is a perfect song which every mum would want to hear from her daughter. It is emotional and heart-warming, a perfect country track. I love Carrie's family values that she portrays in her music, it is positive and personal to people who can relate.
4. Change
This song is pleasant to listen to and it has a very important message behind it. The song is about believing that you can help change the world. The lyrics are all every motivational and inspirational, my favourite line is 'the smallest thing can make all the difference'. I love how Carrie uses her talent and position to create positive songs like this, they are so worthwhile and meaningful.
5. Undo It
This is possibly my favourite track on the album. It is about getting your heart broken and wanting to undo it all. The 'na na na' riff completes the song by making it very catchy, as does the play on the U on the word undo. The lyrics are fantastic in his song, 'you want my future you can't have it, still trying to erase you from my best, I need you gone so fast'. This song is country-pop at its best.
6. Someday When I Stop Loving You
This is a very delicate and intimate ballad with an emotional performance by Carrie Underwood. The song is about struggling to move on and fall out of love with someone. The song has some beautiful lyrics in it such as 'when the sailing ship don't need her moon'. From start to finish, the song tells a lovely story and Carrie sings it with real meaning.
7. Songs Like This
This song is so fun and has the incredible country girl charm and attitude that Carrie Underwood displays so perfectly. The song is addictive and very catchy! It is about bad boys, jerks and revenge. This is definitely one of the most entertaining songs on the album. I love the bridge where the strong instrumental is removed and the typically country ending.
8. Temporary Home
This song was a huge hit single for Carrie. The song has a religious theme and is about how our home on earth is our temporary home and that we are just passing through. To really understand and feel this songs message you have to be quite a spiritual person or open to that kind of thing. The song is very interesting, Carrie has a strong faith in God and I find faith very inspirational as I do not think that it is always an easy thing to commit to. This ballad is very thought provoking, inspirational and beautifully sung. The song goes through different scenarios which people can relate to from a single mum to her own personal story of her Grandpa.
9. This Time
I do really like this song but I would not say that it is one of the strongest songs on the album. It definitely has an upbeat country sound to it and Carrie belts out those notes perfectly but it is not as good as similar songs as it is not feisty enough. The lyrics lack a little something for me to with lines such as 'maybe it's the stardust in my hair'.
10. Look At Me
This acoustic style ballad is simply stunning. It is mellow and Carrie's voice is incredible with a lovely backing vocal in the chorus. The song is about falling deeper in love with someone every time that they look at you. Nobody does country ballads better than Carrie Underwood and this song is a fine example of how emotive and beautiful one of her songs can be.
11. Unapologize
This is one of my favourite Carrie Underwood songs ever. Carrie is taking back her apology in this song after telling somebody her true feelings for them and then saying sorry. The song is quite upbeat and very catchy. Carrie's vocal is as always incredible on this song. This song really does stick out for me on the album, as it is one that you can listen to repeatedly without getting sick of it. There is a strong drum and electric guitar instrumental in the intro to this song and throughout which makes it feisty and original.
12. What Can I Say
This song is performed with country act Sons of Sylvia. The male vocals do nothing but compliment Carries and make for a very successful collaboration. It is definitely one of my favourite songs on the album and has a kind of Lady Antebellum feel to it.
13. Play On
The final song on the album is the album title track. It is an uplifting, upbeat track with inspirational lyrics that promotes the message to never give up. This is the perfect song to end a fantastic album; it leaves the listener feeling motivated and hopeful. This song is a great example of how music can really inspire people and make you feel good.
Play On is one of my favourite albums of all time. I am a huge Carrie Underwood fan and I could listen to her music everyday. I love this album because every track is just as good as the next; there are no songs that I would not want to listen to. All of Carrie's songs have incredible meanings behind them and the lyrics are all very thought provoking. There is something very genuine about Carrie's music; it is uplifting, inspiring and timeless. Without American Idol, who knows, maybe Carrie Underwood would still be undiscovered, all of her talent going to waste. Luckily, we do have her music and I think that it is only a positive thing. Carrie is the perfect role model, beautiful and she can really sing.
I would definitely recommend this album!
It can be downloaded from iTunes for £6.99.
Thank you for reading : )
Review also on Ciao under luccey.
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