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| Artist: Joan As Police Woman
Label: Reveal Records
Category: Music
New (5) from £9.99
Rating:  10 reviews
Sales Rank: 2555
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.8 x 5.2 x 0.3
EAN: 5413356512120
ASIN: B0017OCML8
Release Date: June 9, 2008
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| Customer Reviews:
| Showing reviews 6-10 of 10 | | « PREV | | |
A Law Unto Herself June 11, 2008
16 out of 16 found this review helpful
Elusive. Slippery. Beguilingly and Bewitchingly Beautiful.
The ten songs which comprise Ms Wasser's new album will not
give themselves up easily to listeners looking for a quick
melting-moment fix.
There has been remarkable development since 2006's 'Real Life'
(an absolute stunner too if you haven't heard it yet !)
This is uncompromising writing and performance from a woman
not afraid to move against the mainstream.
The fluid, almost jazzy structure, of these compositions
reeks somehow of a stifling New York City Night.
Compressed and achingly searching for intangible resolutions.
'Honor Wishes' is a brave and austere opening track.
Voice. Piano. Bass. Drums.
Ms Wasser's voice roaming yearningly through and around
the icy keyboard's chordal progressions.
'Holiday' brings us into warmer, more, exotic territory altogether.
The lilting rhythm and melody lulling us into a false sense
of security as we are drawn into the tangled, splintered cacophony
of it's remarkable closing bars.
'To Be Loved' an optimistic and upbeat, yet wistful, reflection
on the possibility of love.
'To Be Lonely', the bruised and bleeding heart of the album.
Raw. Exposed. The intimacy of this shared moment almost unbareable.
'Magpies' delivers one of the most musically satisfying and complex
brass and vocal arrangements imaginable. Another real highpoint.
'Start Of My Heart'. A slow and gorgeously evocative melody and
more words about love to stretch your heartstrings.
'Hard White Wall' is a ducking and diving accoustic guitar led
number filled with complex waves and layers of electric guitar,
synthesiser, drums and vocal harmonies. Stunning.
'Furious' chugs along nicely with the Wurlitzer holding down
a quasi-latin rhythm. Ms Wasser beligerent in the best possible way.
'To Survive' is another pared-down gem of a song.
A lullaby and lament of breathtaking beauty.
The string arrangement a masterclass of affecting economy.
Closing track 'To America' is an ambiguous and ambivalent ending.
The classy brass and woodwind arrangement and not insignificant
contribution from a junior, masculine Wainwright brings the album
to a rapturous close.
Mr Goggin's production and supporting musicianship is inspired thoughout.
A Magificent Achievement.
Highly Recommended.
(I'm tempted to say "Move over Martha" but of course we must keep
room in our hearts for them both.)
Listen, Listen, Listen and Listen Again June 11, 2008
6 out of 9 found this review helpful
This is an incredible piece of work which has already burned itself into my soul only three days after its release. Not all of the tracks are immediate and it is not generally as accessable as the also excellent 'Real Life'.
That does not in anyway diminish its worth though - it just means that you may need to give it multiple listens before you fully appreciate its brilliance.
Get it now, your need this music in your life.
Breathtaking.....of course. June 10, 2008
12 out of 16 found this review helpful
The expression `eagerly awaited' may well have been written for this album as far as I'm concerned. For those of us addicted to JAPW debut album `Real Life' for many months in 2006/7 this couldn't come soon enough. In many ways it feels like a continuation of that album, but in a good way. The production values are similar but Joan has been bolder and introduced some interesting new instrumental textures and layered backing vocals to frame that gorgeous voice with. A voice recorded so intimately it almost whispers in your ear.
At the classic length of ten songs/45 minutes it's another album to listen to from start to finish. It covers a variety of moods and themes, the two central ones being her new love and the passing of her mother. It's predominantly bittersweet and with all the beauty that entails.
JAPW's albums start to really shine after about ten or twenty plays, once the amazing harmonic twists and turns in her songs have had time to assimilate. There's a rewarding compositional depth here that's so very rare, and is treasured by this listener.
Early stand out tracks are the single `To Be Loved' (which seems to capture the entire history of soul music at one delerious point in it's unfolding) `Start Of My Heart' (once a bare piano ballad now a beautiful flower complete with almost Frippian guitar washes, and perhaps the best vocal on the album) and the title track `To Survive' (with strings and breathtaking chord changes that'll make you weep).
The icing on an already delicious cake is a fine duet with the mighty Rufus Wainwright on the album's lead-out track `To America'. That's my summer listening sorted then.
Sensational second album ***** June 7, 2008
3 out of 8 found this review helpful
if you buy the VINYL limited edition you will get the cd album free inside the same package and their is a poster... the deluxe cd format is also only avaialble for a limited time.. then a more standard version will replace it. so BUY NOW and ENJOY
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TO SURVIVE IS AN ESSENTIAL 2ND ALBUM. March 30, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Second album from New York's Joan Wasser and Co. sees her in supreme voice and the band on form. Another set of deeply rewarding songs this time with wilder, darker arrangements complimenting the lighter more soulful joyous moments.. a sprinkling of jazz,rock and avant -pop.. hard to compare her music to anyone else really.. just more joan as police woman than even Real Life was.. a uniquely talent lady at the top of her game !!! Guests include Rufus Wainwright and David Sylvian. PRE ORDER NOW.
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