Customer Reviews

Beyond the Frame

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What a beautiful album. It is quite a delight to hear something so fresh and so powerful. Ms. Lee bares her heart and soul on this album. It is not always a comfortable listen, but nonetheless, it is emotionally fulfilling. It is complex and disturbing at times. A lot of this album is the side of life that everybody goes through, but never talks about--pain, rejection, depression, disfunction, and her own experience with violation. There is a lighter side to the album, and it does balance out the dark. There is a little something for everyone to relate to. This is a very heartfelt album. Overall rating: 10/10.

Let me begin to say that I discovered Jennifer Lee on XM Radio. It took me back to early Tori Amos. She is definitely different than Tori, but her passion, piano skills, and music composition struck me like a lightnening bolt. She is fantastic. I got the album and haven't stopped listening to it. It is so diverse. So many topics, let me tell you, she has stuff to write about and it is interesting stuff. Very inciteful; some of it is full of venom, which I love. Overall, Beyond The Frame is intense, diverse, musically and lyrically brilliant, and above all-- unique. I got chills listening to it the first time (though I still do with some of songs). I was surprised to say the least, when I heard it. You don't get entire CD's very often with 12 great songs. "Popular" is a scream. My favorites are "casualty" "morphine" "popular" and "whole." I have to say, this is becoming one of my favorite albums, and I hope she stays around for a while. We need artists like her.

There is a passion in this music. Beyond the Frame showcases miss Lee's undeniable talent. To pick a favourite among them is difficult. The songs are very compostitional and intricate, which lends themselves quite well to an ecclectic music lover's palette. "Casualty" and "Morphine" are magificent. "Liquid Ice" leaves you wondering what just happened. There is such an emotional outpouring, it is hard not to completey immerse into her world. She has "the" talent. You will uncover a new layer with each listen. Very intelligent, inciteful music. Listen to this one...

This album is not for everybody. I bought it on a whim (I liked the album cover), and put it my ipod with really low expectations, and it just hit me. I just listened, (there is a lot to absorb) and didn't find myself wanting to flip from song to song. I can't express the feeling I get while listening. She is a bit like Tori, but not really. It is an intense album. Almost bipolar. There are just so many different topics. I read that this is her debut album, that it was a do it yourself, and this is what makes it that much more impressive. Beyond the Frame is one of "those" albums. It is a very compelling album, and like I said before, probably not for everybody. If you are a fan of Tori Amos or Sarah McLachlan, you should check her out. She is uniquely herself, but she is one of those alternative pop rock hard to classify artists because it looks like she is in a genre all of herself, which is really cool. I am a huge Tori fan, and a Sarah fan. Tori will always be #1, but I am eager to see how Jennifer evolves as an artist. Hopefully she will put out an album equal to or greater than Beyond the Frame. Highly recommended album.

I cannot recommend this album enough. I have had it now for a month, and I am kind of obsessed with it. I love every song on it. This is a great female singer/songwriter debut album. The lyrics are quite poignant. It awakens so much in me. Jennifer Lee has entered my heart and mind. From beginning to end, it is a masterpiece.

I am having a hard time categorizing this one. It is a culmination of Tori Amos, Sarah McLachlan, and Charlotte Martin. Jennifer Lee is in a class of her own, though. The breadth of material is enormously engaging. There is so much stuff underneath her proverbial hood. Lyrically, she leaves a lot to the imagination, allowing one to paint their own mind video. I have been listening to this album now for 2 weeks, and I discover something new each time I listen. The more I "see" inside her, the more I uncover as I relisten to the words. There are songs that stick out, ones that would have a popular appeal, and there are some that are like wine, you want to sip them, and savor the moment, and completely understand the flavor in which you are indulging. I agree with another reviewer, this album has its disturbing moments, but obviously she doesn't want to dance around her pain. She just gives it "as is," which is refreshing. I usually don't write reviews, but when I heard this album, I was impressed. She is a true talent, and I highly recommend Beyond the Frame.

I was blown away when I heard this one. This girl is a powerhouse. Her words are profound, her piano ability is phenomenal, and her voice is beautiful. It is truly a confessional masterpiece. There is a lot to discover on this album. I am deeply inspired by Beyond The Frame.

Beyond The Frame is truly one of those albums you can listen to start to finish without getting sick of.

Casualty
-one listen and I was hooked "I should have known by the way you walk on your own glass that I'd cut my feet"--awesome, powerful song--great choir and string arrangement.

Morphine
-musically amazing, lyrically entertaining, and thought-provoking, cool tangents. "we're inventing something here, way beyond the spread, losing all our frames"--the lyrics are potent, but are masked by a contradictory melody.

Just Love Me
-this one is piano only. slow and sad, but pretty. tugs at your heart.

Sweet Trilling
-I love how this one starts out--strings and drums, then the piano comes in with a strong blow. Cool song. she has issues with feeling worthy of sweet trilling, which I think this is about "receiving" oral. "should I want to relieve your swelling, today, cause my needs are emerging". well put.

Pollution
-wow. I have never quite heard it put like this before. I have tried writing a review about this song earlier, and because I mentioned the title of this song in my review, I guess it went through a filter and didn't make it. So, this "pollution" song is probably one of my favorites. It has an awesome beginning, then bam, it hits you with an astounding string arrangement, and percussion/drum beat. Wow. The words are quite intense. It reminds me of Tori Amos. I can't quote this song, because I can't keep writing reviews and having them rejected, but if you believe in the power of woman, angry woman, this song rocks.

It
--lovely, and very different than the others. Beautiful lyrics and melody. Poetic.

Popular
-wow. angst. another favorite. the words completely paint the picture of how mean girls can be to the nice girls. I love this one. Plus, the piano is bluesy and energetic.

Clean UP
-heavy. but there is so much feeling in this song. I guess this is a song about feeling suicidal. It goes through the thoughts of self-loathing--very descriptive and heart breaking. This one gives me chills and makes me cry. "will I self-destruct this night, my companion is my pain, I look for answeres and no one lies here but me" and yes, it gets heavier. The ending is full and powerful. A depressing but great anthem. beautiful.

Liquid Ice
-this deals with rape. Again, the melody is contradictory to the message, which makes it listenable. It is truly confessional and sad. Potent, nonetheless. Great song for women.

Distance
-sullen. good song. quiet and lovely. love the strings. great ending. kind of a "hate you" ending-definitly roweds me up -- its as if she can't hold it in any longer, and just lets go.

Seasons
-more of a reflective song. Intelligent, and very melodic. I would have preferred she used strings with this song, instead of the drums. It is still a favorite.

Whole
-heavy sigh... what can I say. I am a sucker for love songs. And yes, after all of the torture, and darkness, and angst, and intelligence, and middle fingerness, she ends the album peacefully. I have to say this is one of the best songs on the album. Again, I am noticing a pattern with Jennifer Lee, she likes to abruptly change the song melodically and sometimes lyrically,in the blink of an eye. It is cool, and what makes this entire album special.

Stunning. Really. I hope she makes more records like this one.
10/10.

I love this album. It is fun, diverse, moving, and often painful. Every song is different. I get charged up on songs like "Casualty" and "Popular", and equally melancholy on songs such as "Clean Up" and "Distance". I can't really pick a favorite, that is tough. Ms. Lee is a brilliant artist and I am addicted to say the least. Through this album, I seem to be able to see into her soul and because of this, I have been able to connect with her on a very deep level. All and all, this girl's got guts, and the album will move you-- Beyond the Frame is fantastic!!!

"Beyond the Frame" is indeed an experience. The piano playing is amazing, her voice is so full of passion, and the lyrics are out of this world. I laughed, I cried. Each song is like a miniature novel-very intelligent and inciteful, they take you places both mentally and emotionally. This is a very intense album. The songs really do range from being light to heavy and unveil into the infinity. There is nothing, lately anyway, that I have listened to that compels me to introspect and just feel moved. It cures any blases you might be feeling!

It is too bad albums like this aren't mainstream. We are fed so much garbage, that an album like this one would feel strange to most people-thus dismissing it without really hearing it. I discovered Jennifer's music through a friend of mine and I thought I would tell those of you on Amazon who like older Tori Amos, Sarah McLachlan, Jewel, and Alanis to check this girl out. These ladies haven't put out anything exceptional for quite sometime-nothing personal and real, anyway. Though Jennifer's sound is much different than all of theirs, I hear bits and pieces of the others, but she has a voice and style all of her own.

I look forward to more music from Ms. Lee (hopefully), and I may the Jennifer Lee force be with you!