Voice of an Angel (No Angel - Dido)

Member Name: Dr_Evil

Product:	No Angel - Dido
Date:	19/11/00 (265 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Amazing vocals

Disadvantages: Hasn't got the recognition it deserves

I decided to buy this album after hearing the Dido track ‘Here With Me’ and the sample of ‘Thank You’ used in the Eminem song ‘Stan’. I was not disappointed as No Angel is a beautiful album, and judging from the other opinions I have read this seems to be a pretty much universal opinion from anyone who has heard it. The only surprise is that it has taken so long for ‘No Angel’ to get a UK release especially when Dido was actually born in the UK

The first track on the album, and my favourite, is ‘Here With Me’, which is used as the title music for the US teen sci-fi drama, Roswell High. The haunting melody and Dido’s enchanting vocals make this song an excellent start to the album. The next two tracks ‘Hunter’ and ‘Don’t Think of Me’ are more upbeat tracks but again it is Dido’s brilliant vocals that shine through especially on the superb and powerful chorus of ‘Don’t Think of Me’. The fourth track, ‘My Lover’s Gone’ is very mellow and, although not one of my favourites, is still an enjoyable song. I would say that ‘My Lover’s Gone’ and ‘Slide’ are the only tracks on the album that I am not keen on, although that is not to say they are bad songs but just not quite as good as the rest.

‘Thankyou’ is probably best known for being sampled by Eminem in a track from his ‘Marshall Mathers LP’, ‘Stan’ and for being featured in the Gwyneth Paltrow film Sliding Doors. Although I love this song, I would say that it is let down by a fairly weak chorus which seems to be just filling space between the amazing rhythmic verses. I hope that the fact that ‘Stan’, a song about an obsessive fan, will be Eminem’s next single release will give Dido greater exposure and more people will be able to hear her angelic voice. If you like the verses sampled
on ‘Stan’ then I can guarantee that you will love ‘No Angel’.

The songs are well written, and despite the fact that the lyrics are actually quite depressing in places the beautiful vocals are uplifting and make the album a joy to listen to. On the title track ‘I’m no Angel’ Dido sings ‘I’m sorry for my weary life’ and ‘I hope that you see this heart behind my tired eyes’. Track 9, ‘Isobel’ is a moving song about Dido’s concern for her friend, Isobel, who has left home after being let down by her lover.

I was slightly hesitant over buying the UK version as Amazon hadn’t listed the bonus track that is present on the Import version on the UK version, but thankfully the bonus track, ‘Take my hand’ is included. ‘Take my Hand’ is upbeat with a strong dance beat but also a beautiful melody which showcases the full range of Dido’s vocals and is a perfect end to a perfect album.

I have read reviews comparing Dido to Sarah McLachlan, Beth Orton and even Sinead O’Connor but I think this does her an injustice as although the style is similar she has a unique voice of her own. Dido formerly sung in Faithless with her brother Rollo who co-produced many of the tracks on this album. Although

As I said at the start of this review, I had only heard the tracks ‘Here with me’ and the sample of ‘Thankyou’ when I bought the album. I am pleased that I decided to buy it though as it has hardly left my CD player since and hopefully, by writing this opinion, people reading it will be encouraged to buy the album too. Dido was actually a guest on ‘Later with Jools Holland’ giving brilliant performances of ‘Here with me’ and ‘Thankyou’ and although Jools made a goof saying the track was ‘No Angel’ from the album ‘Thankyou’ she seemed very well
received by the audience and the other guests. ‘Here with me’ is also currently on the Radio 1 playlist so Dido’s unique talent may finally get some of the recognition it deserves when the single is released in February 2001.

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