Close to Paradise

Patrick Watson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 2, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Secret City
• ASIN: B000IAZ6W4
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,377 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #15 in Music > Alternative Rock > Indie & Lo-Fi > Chamber Pop
  • #45 in Music > Indie Music > Dance & DJ > Electronica
  • #46 in Music > World Music > North America > Canada

Editorial Reviews

One of Montreal's best kept secrets, Patrick Watson is a young piano-playing singer-songwriter who draws influences from a wide range of artists, including Jeff Buckley, Erik Satie, Bjork and early Pink Floyd. He's backed by a strong band that includes Robbie Kuster on drums, Mishka Stein on bass, and Simon Angell on guitar. The band has played with an impressive group of artists, from fellow Canadian stars like Feist, Lhasa, Champion, and the Dears, to international legends like Phillip Glass and James Brown. In age of records as mp3 cookie-cutter compilations, Close to Paradise is actually an album. Make no mistake, there are pop gems that are happy to stand on their own like 'Giver', 'Luscious Life' or 'Drifters', but 'Bright Shiny Lights' is that much more uplifting after you take the trip that is 'Sleeping Beauty'. Records used to do that kind of thing. They still can. You know, if you want them to. Play it loud, with headphones. Secret City.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Closer to Paradise" Is Among the Best of 2007, October 11, 2007

By 

Gavin B. (St. Louis MO) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Close to Paradise (Audio CD)

Patrick Watson is a Montreal based musician and "Closer to Paradise" is his first United States CD release. "Closer to Paradise" is a cycle of songs, in which each song stands on the strength of Watson's mastery of the songwriting craft. The songs have the intrinsic quality of a hauntingly beautiful cinema soundtrack. Watson's greatest strength is the gift of his soaring voice which is capable of running the multi-octave range from contralto to purest sound of a soprano using a falsetto voice.

Few male singers can hit the notes within mid-soprano range without mimicking the notes with use of a falsetto. Falsetto translated from Italian literally means "false voice". All of my digression is to a point. While technically Patrick Watson sings falsetto his mimicry of the pure soprano is very convincing. It puts in the rarest company of few other vocal prodigies like Tim Buckley, his son Jeff Buckley and Martin Sexton all have fooled even the best tuned ears of the experts.

The song arrangements have elements of the lush sound of baroque pop and the understated minimalism of ambient electronica. The four piece band behind Watson,like Jeff Buckley's former band mates are more than window dressing for his talents but an integral part of Patrick Watson's unique musical vision. Patrick Watson is the hands-down best debut album of 2007 and "Closer to Paradise" is but the opening chapter in a long musical journey.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An instant favorite, November 10, 2006

By 

cheeto (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Close to Paradise (Audio CD)

This is simply an incredible album that deserves so much more recognition.

Mostly piano driven with secondary textures ranging from military drumming to glitch, the mood is set as mellow and light with moments of uplifting bombast. Jeff Buckley, Elbow and Bell X1 are easy comparisons.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 3 reviews??, February 25, 2008

By 

Ryan R Retherford (Wheat Ridge, Co United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Close to Paradise (Audio CD)

A horrible injustice!! I've never written a review on here before but it just seems sacrilege that this work isn't more recognized here. I only just found it (a happenstance listening in barnes and noble of all places) a week or 2 ago. Like most albums that have found themselves in continuous rotation in my car, it takes a time or 2 of complete run through to grow on me. At listen 2 I can say... Excellent. two thumbs up. Bravo. Creative yet simple. Dreamy with just a hint of creepiness. Most importantly; original. Difficult to categorize. I do hear elements of a few other artists in there that are worthy of mention;

Black heart procession
portishead
william elliot Whitmore
Muse (you hear it, don't you?)
and maybe a little Tom waits ( more for physical appearance, lyricism and the weird factor) for good measure

all that equals= one of the best albums I've bought in at least a year.