Customer Reviews

Be Careful What You Wish for

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Kristen has again come up with a spectacular cd, and another is on the way. For full details on her schedule of events, and ways to get her other *not out of print* (at all..) cd's and tapes, go to her web site.. home.intranet.org/kristen_hall/

Kristen Hall's latest and most mainstream album left me breathless from the first listen. Anyone who hears this album will find at least one song that relates to them. For me personally it was "Open Arms," a song of part-time-lovers' angst. But this isn't an album of self-misery; one can also find acceptance in "Following My Compass" and OUTright rage in "Proud Man." And, just to put the cherry on the sundae, guest vocals by Indigo Girl Emily Saliers on "Following My Compass" mesh and harmonize with Hall's raspy voice so well, that one would think they were made for each other. All in all, a brilliant effort by a very tallented songwriter who is not afraid to show a full range of emotions.

I heard Kristen Hall open for the Indigo Girls many (7, perhaps) years ago and I immediately went out and got this album on tape. A few years later my car radio was stolen and I was most upset that this tape was still in it. Now I have the CD and still listen to it regularly - in fact it's in my CD player as I type this. I love all the songs but "Following My Compass" and "Seeds of a Lifetime" are my favorites. I love Kristen's voice - it seems to wrap itself around the lines of each song. The music sways as you listen to it - very clean - Produced by Jerry Marotta who has certainly helped to make enough good music in his career to know what it sounds like!

I first bought Kristen Hall's "Fact and Fiction" on a whim after listening to a few tracks on a store listening station. I wasn't disappointed. Kristen has a raspy but pleasant voice and sings wonderful folk-tinged songs with real heart.

"Be Careful What You Wish For..." is more produced and consequently the worse for wear. The songs aren't as catchy either and all start sounding the same. This was a problem with previous albums like "Fact and Fiction" too, but is even more pronounced here. This is one of those albums that you listen to for a pleasant background noise, then when it's over, you can't remember any of it.

The least interesting of Hall's three albums is also, sadly, the only one that remains in print.

Hall is a first rate songwriter, with a terrific raspy voice and engaging guitar style. Her first album "Real Life Stuff" established this fact with a stunning set of a dozen songs sparsely produced with an acoustic setting. "Fact and Fiction" was more of the same, with a tad more production.

This release finds Hall still in fine voice, and singing a decent set of songs, but the over produced nature makes it difficult to stand out by comparison.

Do what you can to find one of the first two albums (especially "Real Life Stuff") and get this one if you can't. It is better Kristen Hall than no Kristen Hall! Come to think of it, if you buy this one maybe it'll encourage somebody to get her first two albums back into print where they belong!

If you like Lilith Fair music, you MUST check out Kristen Hall. She has be influnced by the Indigo Grils, and the can be heard on this CD. Her music ranges from upbeat, "Following My Compass," to a darker more soulful sound, "Let It Rain."

This cd is well worth a listen.

CD sent in very good condition
Packaging good also
Delivered in due time

Kristen Hall is probably one of the most underrated female singer-songwriters I've ever come across.

A contemporary of the Indigo Girls, Michelle Malone and Patty Larkin in the 90s wave of femme folksters, this 1994 album was her 3rd (and only major label) release that almost brought her to the brink of recognition. But she never quite made the big time, as her other releases thereafter fell onto the indie wagon.

While she came to prominence later as a founding member of Sugarland in the noughties, she too left the power country outfit by the time the Grammys rolled round for their mega-selling debut album. Perhaps country isn't quite Hall's calling, and she had to remain true to her roots in folk.

This album contains the infectious 'Cry Tomorrow', the should-have-been-stadium-anthem 'Let It Rain' (covered by Amanda Marshall in her debut album), a fuller version of 'Just So You Know' (original acoustic version found in her 1990 debut 'Real Life Stuff'), and has Emily Saliers of Indigo Girls guesting on 'Following My Compass'.

I once spent 13 hours in a car on a spontaneous road trip with a roommate and this one CD. For us, "Following My Compass" was a standout, but every song uses Kristen's raspy voice to its fullest potential. That road trip was nearly 10 years ago, but this CD is still in my car. I highly recommend it.

Every song on this CD is great. I like the folk sort of feel to it. I look forward to hearing more of Kristen's music.