Customer Reviews

Comatised

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I was worried when buying this album (after seeing the "Charm Attack" video and thinking "She looks cool") that the single would be the only striking, standout track on the album. It isn't. "Lazy Days" is one of the best vocal performances I've ever heard as her voice moves from quiet at the beginning of the song to a climactic final note at the end of the bridge. This is the albums best track. I also enjoyed "Northern Star" and "Comatised" on first listen. I have come to appreciate much of the rest of the album, but it doesn't quite reach the highest rating. I think the album's weakness lies only in Leona's lack of songwriting maturity, something that I'm sure will develop because of the promise shown on the album's best songs. This is a spectacular debut and I can't wait for more from Leona Naess.

Stepdaughter to Diana Ross, strikingly attractive and New York-based Leona Naess almost seems like she should be successful on these credentials alone. Surprisingly though there's very little hype at all about the talented British singer-songwriter, something that comes as even more of a surprise when she turns out to be actually very good indeed. She may have the credentials to be cool, the new next-big-thing, but the fact that she actually pulls it off is what makes Comatised so good. Elements of several other artists abound here, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Beth Orton is the name that springs most frequently to mind, with inflections of Tori Amos in the style of music if not in the lyrics.

Gentle guitar and piano driven pop seems to be the order of the day, urged on by gorgeous vocals. Wisely Naess doesn't go for an all-out laid-back, spacey album, something that she's clearly capable of given the fragility of tracks such as Lazy Days. Instead she tries her hand at a little variety on the album's best track Charm Attack, one of those songs that you feel you should have heard before because it hits you so instantly. There are also gentle rock and roll elements on Anything, neither of which diverge from the general mood of the album or feel out of place. This is the kind of music where a great deal of its appeal is to be found in the vocals, which are admitedly beautiful and on tracks such as the appropriately named Paper Thin, have the same effect that Sarah McLachlan's voice had on Fear.

Of course like any young singer trying to find her feet there is the odd clunky lyric and trip up, especially on the overly sentimental Chosen Family. However, the potential is more than evident here for a very promising career indeeed, something which Naess proved with her even better sophomore album I Tried To Rock You But You Only Roll, which is definitely worth seeking out for anyone who is a fan of Comatised. Showing more variety and greater assurance in her musical abilities it is perhaps a better starting point, although on its own Comatised is one of the best female singer songwriter albums of the past few years.

I remember a few months back, I first heard that single on the radio, and I could'nt help but think to myself on how much I started to adore that song. After hearing it, all I wanted was the album,But I was afraid that it was going to be one of those affairs where the only good song is the one you bought it for. But I relented, and bought the cd anyway, because not only does she have the face of an angel, but the price was right.

Man, get ready to be blown away. Charm Attack moved to the back of the list, because I couldn't get enough of "Lazy Days", the opening track to album. Put it on in the dark, lay back, and just listen. Do you hear it? It's magical. The swirling background voices, the gentle beat, and Leona's angelical moan. I was hooked. She put alot of effort into this album, and it shows. But it is up to people to give it a chance. Don't worry about Fiona, Dido, Jewel, or Tori. Leona is Leona. That's good enough for me.

I started with Leona Naess's later, "more mature" works and worked backwards to this one, and as it turns out, this one is her best record. Her third, Leona Naess, was sweet enough, but what that one doesn't have that this one abounds in is a sense of fun, a playfulness about her lyrics and songs that gets bogged down on later releases. "Anything" is the most propulsive thing she's ever done, the single "Charm Attack" is exactly what the title says it is, and her ballads "Lazy Days," "Paper Thin," and "Northern Star" are beautifully sung. Naess isn't a terrific artist, she's not the best lyricist out there, and she's certainly not reinventing the wheel on this record, but there's a pop energy that's unmistakable to her, and Comatised is the best display of that.

As the music industry tries, unsuccessfully, to replicate the mediocre acts that represent everything bland and safe about commercial music, some musicians seem to succeed at creating wonderful music anyway. Leona Naess' Comatized is an indication that there are some really talented "20 something" songwriters out there.
I caught her live show when she was opening up for Ryan Adams and was compelled to run to the store and purchase her albums as soon as possible. Her show was unbelievable; her unique voice combined with her genuinely sincere disposition on stage made for an unforgetable experience.
Leona Naess is a great singer/songwriter. This CD is in my CD player 95% of the time: I am really hooked on several of these songs.
Leona, along with several other young singer/songwriters, is a refreshing change to the mainstream music scene right now. The future looks bright.

I can't explain what prompted me to buy this album...probably the serious focused face on the cover as well as the price...however, this CD is so great. it's a little quiet storm of an album that marks a new great talented female. I own so many female artist albums, and this ranks close to tori, fiona, and lauren christy. Lazy Days takes some warming up to but leaves you spellbound and craving more to hear the lush ending. of course charm attack is ear candy with a badass hook...i love earthquake...that song is so catchy it almost keeps me up at night just wanting one more listen. BUY the album...the best new female to emerge since DIDO. DEFINATELY. OH and this girl is not a tori or fiona imitator like so many...shes guitar rock with a hold on her own!

The first thing that comes into mind after listening to Leona Naess' music is "Why is her music not as well known as it should be?"

I first heard "New York Baby" from a friend and the instant I heard it, I told myself I had to check her other songs out. After listening to a few more of her song, I just had to buy this CD.

This is one of those CDs where you just know it's worth the money you spent because 90% of the songs you would listen to over and over again.

Just great songs packed into a simple CD.

naess is a siren. her music is reminiscent of belly, the breeders, texas...i can even hear a little pj harvey. but other than these tiny hints of other artists...she has a style all her own. her voice is absolutely beautiful; she can rock out, and her ballads are pure gold. her melodies are unpredictable and the album itself works like a passionate day of adventure.

Simply the best record I have heard in a long, long time. Leona Naess has crafted a singularly appealing musical story which runs up and down a ladder of emotions. Rather than breaking the hit-single-ready "Charm Attack" right out of the gate, she starts off with "Lazy Days", which sounds deceptively simple, but carries charm of its own. The third track, "Chase", is good old-fashioned headbanger rock. It makes a perfect segue into the lovely melodies of "Lonely Boy".

I could say good things about every cut on this album, but it's better that you discover them on your own. However, a few songs are worth mentioning here-namely "Comatised", "Earthquake", and "New York Baby". How often do you find a title track buried at cut 7- and worth the wait? The second to last cut on Leona's debut album, "New York Baby" is good enough to lead off almost any veteran rocker's finest effort. And don't touch that dial after the wistful closer, "Paper Thin". Leona gives us a hidden reprise of "New York Baby" which makes you feel you're watching the final scene of a terrific movie.

I discovered this artist through a friend's recommendation. I have not heard boo about her on the air or in print. It's the sorry state of radio in Baltimore-Washington that we're not hearing music like this, instead of the sorry parade of junk that we've come to accept. So run out and grab this CD before it disappears into the Twighlight Zone of great music that never got heard.

I first heard "Charm Attack" on the radio in Atlanta. It's not getting huge air play here, but I hope it will soon. Hearing Leona Naess compared to Tori Amos is not quite what I would like being a hard core Tori-phile, but it is a compliment. I would compare Leona's voice and writing style to Dido instead. They both have a lovely, dreamy voice and excellent writing talents. My favorites on the CD are deffinately "Charm Attack," "Lazy Days," "Anything," and "Comatised." This is a fun CD that is easy to listen to and I would highly recommend it to lovers of Dido (also great, check out her CD "No Angel") or just music lovers in general.