Customer Reviews

Avalanche

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
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In a perfect world, Britney Spears and all the other pop queens would be flipping burgers at McDonalds and Thea Gilmore would be one of the reigning Goddeses of the music world. In a perfect world, major record company A and R people would not be suffering from terminal cases of rectocranial inversion and would instead be pushing an artist as talented as Thea Gilmore to the top of the charts.
If you are dedicated to finding the rare gems in the music world, THIS is one of the artists for whom you are constantly searching. My only hope is that she isn't left in the dust of the mainstream effluvium born of greed and lacking the appreciation for great talent.
Both Avalanche and Rules for Jokers are outstanding works which should be included in any serious audiophiles collection. From this point on, if Thea Gilmore records and releases it, I'm buying it with no questions asked.

One absolutely must not confuse Thea Gilmore with the long queue of female singer/songwriters who flow through the music industry each year. She is several notches above the vast bulk of the others in musical talent and especially songwriting ability. She is very young, but I have a gut feeling that Ms. Gilmore is going to be around for a while. As a performer, she is adequate as a singer, but these are absolutely first rate songs, and while I might not buy an album of her covering other people's songs, I would buy anyone's covering hers. I can't say enough for her lyrics. They are witty, clever, impassioned, literate, and

Musically, she reminds me a lot of Joni Mitchell and Sam Phillips filtered through Elvis Costello and Bob Dylan. She isn't on their level yet, but she just might have the potential. The amount of growth between her previous album, RULES FOR JOKERS, and this one is enormous. Frequently a new artist will produce a great first album, only to show that they have nothing left for their follow up. The best artists improve on their follow-ups.

I am on the fence as to whether I like her slower songs or her upbeat ones. There is some real beauty in songs like "Avalanche," "God Knows," and "The Cracks," but I get tremendously energized by cuts like "Mainstream" and the incredible "Heads Will Roll."

This girl really has talent, and it is going to be very interesting to see if her next album comes up to the level of this one in quality. We just might have a major talent on our hands.

God, hearing something as sophisticated, well-crafted, edgy and laden with melody -- as this album -- makes you realize what a sad and tawdry state the world of pop music is in. Not to say this is "pop," but it treads, wonderfully, beyond categories -- without losing a sort of pop sensibility (the modern production and arrangements). But all of that would be for naught if the songwriting and performance were weak, and Avalanche is ANYTHING but. I discovered Gilmore on a recent NPR Weekend Edition -- what a great revelation. Do not pass this album by -- in fact BUY it.

Thea Gilmore comes at you like a mysterious stranger you'd like to get to know better. You are intrigued by her originality, her depth of feeling , her passion.
The songwriting is the strength of her craft.Thea's songs pull you in and don't let go. I have been taken by this young lady since her previous release " Rules for Jokers". The stories she weaves, fascinates and stimulates, where you feel that you been pulled into her considerable universe.
This is music that matters. Music that you will find more challenging, the more you listen.
Creative with an ample supply of brilliance.
Avalanche will give you goosebumps !

I must admit to buying many cds on a hit or miss afair, this one was by far a tremendous hit. Exceptional song writing, lyrics that have bite and tunes that will have you remembering them for days. Often a bit sceptical of what the press declares as "the best female song writer Britain has to offer at this moment" I would have no doubt in agreeing with them this time.

One of my recent pleasant discoveries - the lady has voice and drive. This one doesnt need MTV videos to cover lack of talent.Decent professional job.

Thea Gilmore is a master orator in the language of music. I have seen it said many times in comparison to the likes of Dylan that 'she is on her way' but truth be told she is already there and the only thing any other master has on her is a discography covering a larger time span. In fact she is so prolific that it cannot be said that many have more compositions under their belt.

While she has touched on harder rock, blues, and hints of country and pop with apparent ease in the course of her career she is folk at the core and I think anyone buying this album, or her others for that matter, should be aware of that fact just so they know what they're in for. If that's your style or you're open to it then you will fall hard for her music. And what was one of the things everyone loved about Dillon and other folk legends? It was the oft simplicity that allowed those with a hankering to pick up a guitar and play along. This is quite true of Thea's music as well.

Lyrically she is a poetic genius spewing forth verse such as:

"The suns in my eyes
Between
The smoke trails of aircraft
The kite tails and light shafts
There's a language in the sky
...
There's a rumour
Dirty as a chimney stack
Quiet as roadkill"

And that's just the tip of a massive Gilmore iceberg with plenty more reaching deep beneath the surface.

Melodically she is equally as talented and this will become evident as you find yourself humming her songs long after you last heard them. And not in a "damn I can't get that cursed song out of my head" way but rather in a way that will draw you back to your stereo/iPod/whatever for visit after visit.

So here is a very young woman who has already written more good music than many aged veterans, is prolific as the dickens, is maddeningly brilliant and witty, and here you have one of her finest collections. Don't just stop here though, I highly recommend all of her works.

On a final note I agree with the comment about her voice and covers. She does have a nice voice and she can definitely sing but relative to her song writing it's not her key feature.

Can't wait for more Thea. If you write it, I will buy it.

I love Thea Gilmore and I love this album. When I first heard her, I knew she was what I was looking for in a time where music is commercialized and there aren't many singer/songwriters on the radio. There has been so much hype about Thea, and the hype is true. Check out this album or Rules for Jokers...they are both a great addition to your CD collection. PICK IT UP NOW!!!!