Customer Reviews

Apparently Unaffected

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's refreshing to see real artists like Maria Mena in the pop music genre. Her lyrics today have become even more raw, thoughtful, & heartful. Half the time they're even fun! They pertain to matters many people her age (or just people in general) can relate to in their life. I like seeing young, talented artists step outside of the packaged paper Happy Meal box of typical romantic or raunchy popular U.S. songs and write lyrics with hand-crafted, genuine, real life situations that are on real people's minds everyday. Many of her fans call her music "therapy," and consequentially some of the material might be considered a little negative. Her voice is beautiful and unique. Her album has acoustic arrangements that usually don't sell well in the U.S. for some reason, and so unfortunately not many producers in the U.S. go that route, which makes finding her music a blessing to me. If you're an old fan of her album White Turns Blue, this album is just a little edgier & riskier (hard to explain..she describes it as more "open" & honest), and it's not as light & peaceful as her first one. So some old fans might miss the old style of music, but she definitely evolved her music in some way, and I think it's one big step forward for Maria! Good job on another great album, Maria. Keep 'em comin'. By the way, I have to disagree with the above reviewer: I think Our Battles is a great song. (It's one of my favorites on the album - the music to it grew on me, and I think people can relate to it. I like the lyrics, "I'll just write this down with hopes that you'll understand....You set the standard for my future.")

My favorite album by ANYONE in 2005 (I got a copy from Germany, before it was released here...some tracks from the internet, too). Someone ticked Maria off between her previous album and this one. She's all grown up now, and not going to take it anymore. The girl is brilliant, and needs a ton of airplay and video exposure in the U.S.-- why is there NONE? "You're the Only One" is the only video I've seen here, and that was only once, at 2 a.m., but enough to hook me into this tremendous artist's world. I can't wait for more!
Note: She sings on a rap-ish band's terrific track called "Everytime"... sorry, but I forget their name. Definitely worth tracking down, however. More more Maria! -Swift/ Marina, CA

Really Awesome CD both musically and lyrically. Although I really do not like Track 4. All in all a really wonderful cd.

this album is a step in the right direction for this norwegian sensation.

there's a dark theme that is very dominant in maria's latest album; quite obvious in the opening track Internal Dialogue ("covered your scars," "i am not honest"). This is further evident in the interludes as well as Our battles.

on the light side, Boytoy Baby is a fun track with an even funnier chorus hook. These Shoes is another that stands out. Calm under the waves is a very mellow track and a great way to close out the album

once again maria mena's voice is what makes her music so unique and makes this album a great listen

Notable tracks:
- Internal Dialogue
- This Bottle Of Wine
- Boytoy baby
- just Hold Me
- Nevermind Me

I first heard Maria Mena's I miss you love and fell hard had to buy the album and love every song. One of those CD's that you can listen to from beginning to end and not tire of. Excellent album and feel sorry for all those whom haven't heard of her and her talent.

I too discovered Maria Mena by accident. The stunning "Just hold me" track was playing on the radio, as I woke up on a rainy Sunday morning. After it ended up and the DJ said about her "the best Norwegian female singer of 2008", I ran to Google and typed the few words I could remember from the chorus. Her name popped up after a few minutes.

Now I have her complete discography and I've come to love her. But especially this album, "Apparently Unaffected", has really blown my mind. My favorites are "Just hold me" (of course), "Our Battles" (for its powerful lyrics) and "This bottle of wine".

Maria shows what it means to be a real artist. With no support from 'X-Factor'-like programs, without winning American Idol, without a team of songwriters/stylists/choreographs, and -probably most important- no studio tricks (I've seen here playing live on YouTube), she has created not one but many instant classics. If she had started her career the same time Madonna did, I don't know who'd be considered the Queen of Pop by now. Obviously not the same thing, but Maria Mena has demonstrated how easy it is for her to create, to impress her audience with her voice and her lyrics (just as Alanis Morissette did when she conquered the world with "Ironic"). As some of you said in your reviews, it is a shame that commercialism and boobs-driven music industry just concentrates on frivolous, temporary sexier stars.

A tip for those of you who like to sing: if you connect external speakers to your CS player, while playing "This bottle of wine", try to partially unplug the jack, so only the first contact is connected. You'll hear only the music, her voice magically disappears but the music doesn't loose any detail.

Maria, Maria, Maria. I've been following her since about...the end of 2003. First picked up White Turns Blue and then when I found out about AU, I had to get it. Oh my gosh! So lovely. Miss You Love, for me atleast, is worth purchasing this album alone. Internal Dialogue is true life story of not just Maria but many others across the globe, so this song definitely is moving. Just Hold Me and Our Battles rock! Lyrically superb. These Shoes and This Bottle of Wine are fun songs to sing aloud and dance too. Maria has done it again. :]

I first heard Maria Mena on internet radio from Amsterdam where she is a hit there in Europe. Great music and voice. Sometimes in America we get sanitized music over our airwaves and don't get exposed to great artists like Maria Mena. She deserves a listen and you will want this CD.

I have grown to be a pretty big fan of Maria Mena, from her unique and lovely voice to her knowledge of how to make some entertaining and smart rock/ pop with some actual mature lyrics; it has all be impressive for me. White Turns Blue is especially a great collection of songs from Maria. I was so eager to hear her next album, and was in hope to hear new growth come from her for I believed she was one of those singers that continue to get better each album.

I must say I am kind of disappointed with Apparently Unaffected though. I don't hear way too much growth from this album to White Turns Blue honestly. She really hasn't grown a great deal. In some ways matter of fact I think WTB is more mature than Apparently Unaffected. Especially when it comes to the lyrics of Boytoy Baby. That has to be the most immature and might I add negative song she has ever sung and I really dislike her in that light. Bottle of Wine is another set of lyrics that don't make her sound too mature. I don't know she takes a few steps back on this album when it comes to maturity, which is sad to say. But then there are more mature songs as Internal Dialogue, and Calm Under the Waves that balances it out well.

This album can really bring you down for she is pretty negative on the whole album. She really needs to lighten up some, for she comes off bitter. Some negative songs are natural and healthy on an album yes, but doing it on a whole album just comes off as repititive. Overall the whole album is addictive in some spots; there are a few gems worth hearing.

Internal Dialogue- B- Reflective and strong.
This Bottle of Wine- B- Fast and interesting.
Miss You Love- A- Very lovely/ sensitive.
Boytoy Baby- B- Hate the lyrics, but the song is catchy.
He's Hurting Me- A- A very well- done song from her. The lyrics are very sad.
Just Hold Me- A+- To me the best song on the album, and one of my faves from her. I love the way she sings the song.
Long Time Coming- B- Slow but it grows on you.
Nevermind Me- A- Grown to be a favorite
These Shoes- B- It's catchy but the lyrics I don't like too much.
Our Battles- A- Love this one, very well written.
Calm Under The Waves- B+- Lovely, very airy type of song. I really enjoy her on this song, but mostly because of the guitar and her voice.

Now the three parts of If You'll Stay In My Past, which sound like a whole song broken down in three parts and placed on random parts of the album, are pretty boring.

Out of it all, I give the album 3.5/ 5. To have her newest album fall behind her last is not good. I do like the album a good deal when it comes to the breakup songs, but it's definitely not better than her last. But I hope she does make another album soon- yet throws out shallow lyrics like Boytoy for good.

this product is ok. There really is only one or two songs on the album that are any good. the rest are kind of hateful or depressing. Would be better sold as a single for the good songs. Doing business with Amazon was really good though. But of course it always is.