Customer Reviews

Cause And Effect

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

So I have been waiting for a cd to come along that was worthy of me taking my time to review it. I have finally found it. This cd is by my favorite artist of all time her name is Maria Mena she is a talented singer/songwriter for Oslo, Norway. Today September, 16th 2008 she released her fifth studio album entitled "Cause and Effect" in Norway and most of western Europe. I have been listening to the songs very intensely for the past few days trying to get the message she was trying to send through here lyrics. She has stated that this album is about her childhood and the emotions and things she felt are beautifully expressed through her genius lyrics. She is very well known for her chatty singing and beautiful range, she had one single released in the United States entitled "You Are The Only One" it was this song that introduced me to this wonderful artist. Now that we know some background about her lets begin...

Track 1- Power Trip Ballad: 8.5/10

Lets just say that this album starts out with a bang! Power Trip Ballad starts out with commanding marching drums rolling in, then a simple piano note starts chiming followed by Maria's familiar soothing voice. What I got from this song was it was almost a rant against all of the people in her past that have double-crossed her or done her wrong. Even though in different parts of the song she is singing about different people i.e. her lover, father etc, she always follows with the chorus line "You will always be bitter saddest part of me." It seems like she is saying this to all the people in her life that have mistreated her. About halfway through the song she is joined in the chorus by a children's choir and the effect that has on the song is tremendous. It make it very powerful to listen to. An awesome opening song for her cd.

Track 2. - Belly Up: 9/10

This song was her first single released off of "Cause and Effect" and was hugely popular and played heavily on the radios in Europe from what I've heard. The lyrics in this song are more simple than in the other songs but the message is something that I can very much relate to. She talks about her relationship has run it's course and there isn't much that either can do about it. She still has feelings for this guy, but they both lie "belly up" vulnerable and useless to do anything. I really love the wind instrument in the background of the song that creates the melody for her. This was a good choice to release on the airs to promote the album, it is catchy and easy to learn the lyrics. That is something that is very important for popular songs in my opinion.

Track 3 - All This Time (Pick Me Up Song): 10/10

This is her second single of the album but the first music video to be made for it. This song sounds like she is singing to herself in the past, and looking back on things and seeing them from a different perspective. She starts about by calling 'herself' a "self-destructive little girl", looking back on things she realizes how lucky she truly is saying:

"Think all the mean girls that pulled your hair, are barefoot now and pregnant there, and you write pop songs, and get to travel around the world."

It speaks to me, because when she says "All this time you have had it in you, you just sometimes need a push." I look at things now compared to how it was. I really love this song, and when I am depressed it lifts my spirits. It makes me feel warm and happy.

Track 4 - Cause And Effect: 7.5/10

This song is probably one of the hardest to emotionally digest when you really listen to the lyrics. I am glad she named her album after this song, that phrase has a lot of meaning and depth, and being one of the more emotionally raw & honest songs it fits nicely as the tile. It is a more upbeat song but it has a touch of anger to it. She talks about her mother a lot in this song, and states "I'll tell you the cause if you handle the effect." She sings about the pain she went through having a bad body image when she a young 8 year old girl, she even got to the point of bulimia. This is a very sarcastic song, and I believe this is how she expresses these feelings to better deal with them rather than in a slow song. The catchy guitar notes and beat make it really easy to listen to and enjoy, and when singing about something as serious as this I believe it should be as easy to listen to as possible.

Track 5 - I'm On Your Side: 8/10

This is a very delicate pretty song, it is a nice song to lead you out of the previous song Cause And Effect. She sings in a more comforting relaxing tone, that accompanied with the sweet violins and string instruments in the background truly makes this song a pleasure to hear. She talk about how even though her relationship with her "special someone"isn't perfect, and arguments arise. She is always one his side, and will always be there. She also sings that the good times wouldn't be as good without the bad ones too.

Track 6 - Eyesore: 10/10

This song is by far my favorite song on the album, it has a hint of Russian folk music carrying the song along. This song is more a confession song to me, instead of talking about bad things that people have done to her, she takes the other approach and refers to herself as an "Eyesore" saying:

"I will not uncover this confining skin, that I so reluctantly live in."

Saying that she isn't perfect and has been ashamed of her actions, and things she has done. Her vocals a showcased so beautifully in this song that the first time I heard it backed up by another powerful orchestra it gave me the chills. I get choked up listening to this song nearly everytime.

Track 7 - Where Were You: 7/10

This song reminds me more of her older music because it has some of her cute chatiness in it, and doesn't rely on the vocals to carry the song. It is more of a story with nice analogies and an ironic "Where were you?" after describing feelings from difficult parts of her life.

"If I had known you then, the outcome would have been better"

This song is adorable, and makes me wish that I had someone to say that to, and really actually mean it. This song I like more every time I hear it.

Track 8 - I'm In Love: 6/10

This song demonstrates what I have heard other people say, and sort of describes the way I feel after someone after getting to know them really well which is: "Young people around my age fall in and out of love at a faster rate than older people do.

"I'm in love again, again, again. You may call me tomorrow my friend."

It doesn't take me long before I get emotionally attached to someone. This song is sweet and always makes me smile when I sings the chorus.

Track 9 - Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: 6.5/10

I have a love-hate relationship with this song. It is very powerful and dark song, that makes me angry as compared to the rest of the songs that usually instill good feelings. Just click on the name of her album near the top of my post and listen to the song yourself. It is very dark and blunt, with depressing string progressions and a lot of cellos in the background. It makes me feel "cold" inside to be describe it.

Track 10 - Dear...: 9.5/10

This is a nice relaxing song to end of the album, it talks about a dear friend of Maria's and how even though they had a lot in common

"We were never meant to be lovers, we just mirrored each others self-destructiveness."

It is a thank you song for always being there when she needed them, and putting up with all of her crap, and essentially saving her life. This song is very comforting to listen to and I am very happy on where they chose it to be, if it had been anywhere else on the album I don't believe it would've had the same effect.

~*~
I only have a few negative things to say about this album, and the one thing is that all the songs are slow and lingering for the most part. I want to hear a bigger variety of songs come on her next album. It was highly lacking in my favorite kind of upbeat jumpy loud songs that I have heard her sing before. I have to be in the right mood to listen to most of this album, and really appreciate it.

I think that she has grown a lot as an artist as she had moved from album to album, and this one reaffirms my belief that she has matured a lot to share this much emotion with the world. This cd is so packed full of raw feelings that it might be hard to listen to for some, but I recommend that you all go to her myspace and listen to it, or go to Amazon and pick up a copy for yourself. You won't be disappointed. Overall I give this cd an 8.5/10.

This album is very relaxed.If only in it's stylistic approach. the production is sparse..mostly it's her and piano. And i like that about her album. The content of the lyrics is very depressing and self-loathing. She's been through a lot thanx to her parents and she's not really over it.
Her writing is very clever and fearless, She'll say what you're thinking but too afraid to say.
The songs themselves, the melodies are so good on this album and memorable. All in all it's a melancholy but extremely personal and honest album from Maria.

this is my favorite album of hers, i was introduced to maria mena when she released "you're the only one" in u.s. and this is a mature album of hers compared to her past albums... and she is very honest and open in this album that tells about her past...

like others do... i will rate the songs

Power Trip Ballad 10/10

Belly Up 9.5/10

All This Time (Pick-Me-Up Song) 9.5/10

Cause and Effect 10/10

I'm On Your Side 8/10

Eyesore 10/10

Where Were You 8.5/10

I'm In Love 9/10

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy 10/10

I was Made for Loving You 7.5/10

Dear 9.5/10

Pros- I absolutely love this CD. Maria Mena is a force to be reckoned with. Truly. She writes her own music, the instrumentals sound gorgeous, her voice is like wind, her lyrics really draw you in. This album gives me the sense that I'm looking into her diary and reading her deepest secrets and fears. It really is very stunning, and by far one of my favorite CDs. There's only 2 songs on the whole album that I'm not crazy about, and even those are okay. In my opinion, the major gems on the album are: "Power Trip Ballad," "Belly Up," "All This Time," "I'm In Love," and "Self-Fulfilling Prophecy."

Cons- If you're someone who likes happy music and lyrics, then this may not be a good buy for you. This album, out of all others, really stands out the most when it comes to her personal struggles. Many of her songs mention her issues with her parents, her eating disorder, etc. etc. The lyrics are incredible, and there's no doubt that many of the people who can relate to the subjects that she sings about will adore her expression and her amazing ability to vocalize her inner demons, but for those who have a less bleak outlook on life you might find yourself becoming bored, annoyed or depressed (or all three) by her melancholic themes.

I really do hope that even if you think you lean towards the cons and are thinking twice about buying it that you buy it anyway. Even if it's just to listen to, then sell to someone else. It really is a very well done CD, lyrically and instrumentally. This kind of stuff doesn't come out often.

This is by far one of my favorite albums, ever. Each song in and of itself is perfection. Her voice is in incredible shape and she shows the best of her abilities on each track. The lyrics are so deep and meaningful and yet ambiguous enough to allow the listener to relate to them. I would try to pick one or two 'favorites', but I can't. The entire album is a favorite and I can't say enough good things about it!

I. Adore This album. It was so worth the purchase. The songs are real, as they often are with her. Deep, a reflection of her heart and mind. So thoughtful, full of flow and her lovely crystalline voice. I absolutely find myself intruiged by her words, the lyrics, the realness of it. You feel like you're in a captivating story, you go beyond your home and into someone else's problems. You see you're not alone. She understands. Pain is worldwide. I actually had a hard day when I got the album. In the dark, her words soothed my wounds as I cried.

My ultimate favorite songs on the album were:

1. Power Trip Ballad- upbeat, follow-long, real.
2. Cause and Effect- powerful, inspiring.
3. Self-Fulfilling Prophecy- saddening, fills you with deep emotion
4. Eyesore- softer, yet strong

Though I give every song on the album above a 7 rating. Don't deprive yourself from this powerful adventure.

Never have I been so in love with a single artist for so long... When I first heard "You Are the Only One" I will admit that I was not too favorably impressed... I wanted to hear more of her songs so I could understand how she became so popular, and upon discovering "Sorry," "Fragile," and "Lullaby," the songs became like haunting melodies and it got to the point where I could not go to sleep without listening to her... I gave all my friends the album so they could experience how amazing she is... Over the years I have become a Maria Mena fanatic; consistently she releases albums that are simply amazing... I have all of her previous albums and I still listen to all of them... Every time I listen to "Nevermind Me" and "He's Hurting Me," it feels like the first time I'm hearing them and I am simply moved... I listen to Maria when I am in love, sad, lonely, happy... He songs transcend mood to take on a life of their own... I have only heard a few songs from this album but I have teared up on every one of them... "I'm In Love," "All This Time," "Belly Up," and "I'm on Your Side" follow the always passionate, heartfelt Maria style... I can honestly say that Maria Mena is a master of her craft and I anxiously anticipate anything that she releases... I would listen to Maria sing the phonebook because I know she would put her entire soul into it...
Peace and Love...

First off let me say that I love Maria Mena, I think her music is highly overlooked. I would have given this album a five, but it's taking me a minute to get used to it. What I'm used to hearing from her is big, open instrument filled choruses that sound very epic. And in this particular album she's stripped herself down to just a piano for most of the songs. Don't get me wrong, I think the songs are gorgeous, they're just not par for the course. Eventually I know I'll love it, but right now I'm just warming up to it.

Maria Mena has become one of my favorite singers in a very short time. I own all of her previous releases and they are all catchy, hook-filled and instantly likable. I wish I could say the same for this release. On Cause and Effect, Maria has abandoned her long-time collaborator Arvid Solvang, who apparently was a big part of the sound on her other albums. I hate to use the word boring but I can't avoid it. Still, I will be looking forward to her next release and hoping for a return to form; and I highly recommend Apparently Unaffected, White Turns Blue, Mellow, and Another Phase. If you are new to Maria, start with any of those.