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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
He sings into his guitar, slaps it around quite a bit and you wouldn't be entirely surprised if he happened to throw it down and stomp on it with his bare feet. Born in Israel, raised in South Africa and now splitting his time between Montreal and London, Yoav isn't quite like other singer-songwriters. He counts Timbaland and the Neptunes as major influences and spends as much time coaxing funky rhythms out of his battered acoustic guitar as he does strumming it. He won over Tori Amos' fans after supporting her on tour, which makes sense. The songs on his debut album, Charmed and Strange are quirky and inventive. Listening to the dense, multilayered arrangements on "Adore Adore" and "Club Thing," or even his ethereal take on the Pixies' "Where Is My Mind?," you'd be hard-pressed to believe that the whole thing was played on that poor six-string. -- Aidin Vaziri
Product Description
The acoustic guitar. Like drums or the human voice, this instrument is so common in Western popular music, it's easy to take for granted. Until you hear what it can do in the hands of an artist like Yoav. Charmed And Strange, the debut album from the London-based artist, incorporates myriad sounds: woozy vapor trails; clipped, modern club beats; Middle Eastern flourishes; flashes of quiet introspection reminiscent of Nick Drake; eerie outcries a la Jeff Buckley. All crafted by Yoav, using only his voice, an acoustic guitar, simple effects and treatments... and a lot of imagination.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By jsheldon
Format:Audio CD
As with many, I first heard Yoav at a Tori Amos concert this last December, and I do have to say his performance was pretty awesome (especially considering the act immediately following). The banging on the guitar, recording and playing of loops, then filling in the final components of each song was very intriguing. People were pretty much silent during his performances, which shows a lot for an opening act. I picked up this album the day that it was released in U.S. stores, and I've been listening to it nonstop since then. I can't say that there is one filler song on this album. The lyrics are a little weak at times, and I do prefer the live versions of There is Nobody and One by One from the Adore EP, but overall Charmed and Strange is rich, haunting, and extremely satisfying. You would be missing out on something very great and unique by not giving this album a chance. It'll be interesting to see how he will be received here in the U.S. in the coming year.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
A Kid's Review
Format:Audio CD
I've seen Yoav live several times. The man is amazing, talented, with a velvety voice that can croon, soar, and send shivers down your spine. His album, his debut, is riveting and gorgeous. Some highlights are "Adore, Adore" a song about people who are in the music industry for the wrong reasons, "Beautiful Lie" a song about dishonesty in a relationship, "Club Thing" which has a rockin beat and killer chorus. One of the most beautiful songs, though, is "Angels and Animals." It's worth $[...] for just that song, trust me. His best songwriting. The album closes with a slow, methodical version of "Where is my Mind?" originally by the Pixies.
This man can write, sing, play guitar, and all of his loop petal effects are amazing, especially watching him play live. Go see him live if you can, and snap up this album. Yoav is sure to hit it big!
This man can write, sing, play guitar, and all of his loop petal effects are amazing, especially watching him play live. Go see him live if you can, and snap up this album. Yoav is sure to hit it big!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Like many reviewers and others, the first time I heard him was his opening act for Tori Amos last year. I liked his style of strumming and drumming his guitar and recording it so it loops and he can play over it. I thought it was a fantastic way of further exploring what an instrument can do.
Yoav's voice is very mellifluous, but if there are times high-pitched singing isn't your cup of tea, some of the songs here aren't for you. (However, it's not as annoying as James Blunt's voice can be.) The sparsity of background music to his voice gives him more a lot more emotional impact. His voice is very haunting.
I didn't listen to his songs on iTunes beforehand so this is my first experience listening to more than the songs he played during the opening act - the cover of the Pixies's "Where is My Mind?", "Beautiful Lie", "Club Thing" and "Adore Adore." I love all four of those songs, and the new songs I replay often are "There is Nobody" and "Yeah, the End." There are different moods to this album. Some songs make me want to dance - "Club Thing" - others make me want to grab my special someone and slowly sway against them - "Yeah, the End" due more to its beats then lyrics - and yet more moods. His lyrics are a little simplistic, but that's good if you don't want to have to analyze a song like poetry in English classes.
Yoav's voice is very mellifluous, but if there are times high-pitched singing isn't your cup of tea, some of the songs here aren't for you. (However, it's not as annoying as James Blunt's voice can be.) The sparsity of background music to his voice gives him more a lot more emotional impact. His voice is very haunting.
I didn't listen to his songs on iTunes beforehand so this is my first experience listening to more than the songs he played during the opening act - the cover of the Pixies's "Where is My Mind?", "Beautiful Lie", "Club Thing" and "Adore Adore." I love all four of those songs, and the new songs I replay often are "There is Nobody" and "Yeah, the End." There are different moods to this album. Some songs make me want to dance - "Club Thing" - others make me want to grab my special someone and slowly sway against them - "Yeah, the End" due more to its beats then lyrics - and yet more moods. His lyrics are a little simplistic, but that's good if you don't want to have to analyze a song like poetry in English classes.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Chet
Format:Audio CD
I too first saw Yoav when he opened for Tori last fall. I'm not sure if you can fully appreciate his music unless you have seen him perform live. Since everything you hear is coming from his accustic guitar (the beats, bass and even errie sounds played on a loop), watching him actually build a song live, completely by himself, is amazing to watch. But this CD is the next best thing.
The music has a fresh sound that is both haunting and beautiful to listen to. It's a great start and I am anxious to see where he goes from here.
The music has a fresh sound that is both haunting and beautiful to listen to. It's a great start and I am anxious to see where he goes from here.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By JaylinBooks
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I "Adore Adore" this album, to use a very lame pun, but you get my meaning. He may not be extremely well known yet, but he should be. He is an amazing singer and songwriter. Very, very unique! If you haven't listened to his music, you should!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Joseph Rose
Format:Audio CD
An excellent CD from someone out of the blue. A must have. I suggest highly.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Simply excellent! We had seen Yoav perform in Montreal doing the first part of Tori Amos in 2007 and had promised ourselves to buy the album. It's brilliant, I highly recommend it.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Yoavs Music is mostly a clean and wonderful sounding guitar. He knows how to master effects and stereo / surround effects. I think song 1,2,5,7 and the beginning of 9 are well done. I hope he has a great career way to go!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great album
I Just love the Sound ón the album, the guitar sound and effects is great and there is notning like it.
Published 2 months ago by Daniel Maul
5.0 out of 5 stars
A KEEPER
I caught a song by Yoav recently playing on Sirius, Not familiar with the artist, but impressed, I jotted some of the lyrics into the computer and got info on the dude. Read more
Published 2 months ago by cherie smith
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love it!
Bought this album just for song "Where is my mind", however, I still like the version with Emily Browning more!
Published 6 months ago by Jeff
5.0 out of 5 stars
Super One Man Band
Released in 2008, this CD is definitely different as compared to anything that I have ever heard before. Different in a good way. Read more
Published 8 months ago by To The Max"Bax"
5.0 out of 5 stars
best album of the year
this is easily one of the best albums of the year. his beat, his singing, he just gets it.
this is the real stuff. its so authentic, his groove. Read more
this is the real stuff. its so authentic, his groove. Read more
Published on July 12, 2008 by anonymous
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing
This album is great. I enjoy every song on the album. I saw him perform with Tori Amos and loved him when I saw him then. It has songs that make you want to get up and move to.
Published on June 19, 2008 by Mad Mars
4.0 out of 5 stars
awesome guitar technique
i think yoav has ingeniously generated a new style of playing the guitar. its not in the rock genre but more of its own kind. Read more
Published on April 12, 2008 by Megan Kilgore
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love it
I love the sounds on this album. The whole thing fits together well and his use of goth guitars and percussion (on his guitar) work well together.
Published on April 1, 2008 by Brett L. Schuchert
5.0 out of 5 stars
Yoav is AMAZING!!!!!!!
This is one of the greatest albums I have heard in my entire life! It brings joy to a not so joyful world. 3 WORDS--- GET THIS ALBUM
Published on March 13, 2008 by Brandon
