Customer Reviews

A Crash Course in Roses

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When you are absolutely floored by an album from a genre that is nowhere near your favorite, you know it's great. I bought this CD after hearing the beautiful "100 Miles" on public radio, and was delighted I took the chance. This is the best album of 1999. No question. Curtis gives her singer/songwriter folk songs an occasional rhythmic kick in the pants that does wonders for them. "World Don't Owe Me", "Wise to the Ways", "What's the Matter", "Fall Away": all magnificent. The second half of the CD is less astonishing, but overall this is highly, highly recommended. That voice! Beautiful and ordinary, like your dear friend who sings. Clever, understated lyrics that cling to you like benign leeches. This is the kind of CD that makes you wish you knew her. Buy this.

Even if the world "don't owe her nothing," Catie Curtis is still willing to lay her troubles down and play one more song. Many songs seems to be dealing with the confusion we often feel in relationships when our world if falling apart. Whether it is a relationship where you have been completely honest or one where you have secrets.

Catie Curtis delves into the world of pain, love, loss and even hope. You can hear the longing for unconditional love in her lyrics. She seems to be singing about a woman who has a deep need for understanding and is exploring life in a thoughtful way. The lyrics also express the desires of a heart that is ready to fall and fall hard, but only for someone willing to help her understand the complexities of relationships.

"Gave Me Love" - Seems to be speaking about a friend who loves unconditionally. Maybe the type of friendship we all secretly desire and sometimes try to give. "Don't give up on me now."

"World Don't Owe Me" - If you have ever realized how much we are not owed and how blessed we are by gifts from friends we never thought we'd ever meet or gifts we receive as surprises. This is about resolution, about just sitting back and saying that even though we are not "owed anything" there are things that could make our lives easier and happier and more beautiful.

"100 Miles" - One of my favorite songs. If you've ever wondered where you are in a relationship this will make so much sense to you. It seems to deal with insecurity and a fear of ending a relationship that already seems to be ending on its own. I love the lyrics:

"It's gonna rain, it's gonna pour
Through sickness and worse can I love you more
You carried me when I fell
Can I carry you, can I love that well."

"Far Away" - A wistful song about taking a lover for granted and asking for a deeper commitment. "Are we building trust, or just taking chances?"

"Wise to the Ways" - She doesn't know what makes her cry anymore. Does this mean she is crying over everything? A world-weary song. If she said what she should say, she would be screaming. A stark picture of reality.

"What's the Matter" - The moon dances on the waves in a town where there are no city lights. She questions why people fear other people because of their choices or backgrounds, religion or nationality.

"I'll Cover You" - Mysterious and caring all at once and strikes me as being quite beautiful in meaning. If you were ever worried about life, this is the song you'd want to hear a friend sing. Emotionally satisfying.

"Burn Your Own House Down" - Seems to be speaking about a friend who is giving up on a relationship and wants to destroy their world. Maybe it is about staying in a relationship and trying to find love where you first found it. How often does anyone believe in you and tell you that they see hope in a failed relationship? She seems to be saying that her friend should look at the relationship from a new perspective.

"Roses" - An entire landscape of emotions.

"Look at You Now" - Tribute to a friend who made it through the tough times.

"Stay Up All Night" - Sassy seduction. If she could just stay up all night with the person of her dreams.

"Magnolia Street" - This song really gets to me. It is about destiny and knowing you love someone when you first meet them. "A dream, but it's true, I am not the same since I met you."

"Start Again" - Cute lyrics about a second chance.

Hidden Track - Keep listening after Start Again. A song appears! ;)

I love Catie Curtis' voice and how it mingles in an ethereal beauty within an intimate circle of warmth created by the added energy of improvisation. Each song is filled with deep feelings and lots of introspection.

Thanks to you. ;) Another find from a friend who knows where my heart lives.

~The Rebecca Review

catie is absolutely amazing. this cd is proof of that. i was a little nervous about it ... the usual questions popped into my head (ie. "would it be as good as the others?") however, after hearing it the first time, all of my worries were eradicated. it's a perfect cd. now, having listened to it a few (hundred) times, i can assure you that it is AWESOME.

After making two amazing albums a few years ago, it seemed like maybe "ACCIR" wouldn't be as good, but i was sadly mistaken. This album surpasses her first two major label works. The lyrics are deep and amazing to say the least, and the music is powered by some great drum beats. The slow, and mostly vocal "Magnolia Street" is one of the strongest tracks on the album. My personal favorite is "What's The Matter" on which Curtis sings "This town was my biggest fan/'til i was who i am" and "what if i am black or jew/straight or queer mother of two/run around in a hippie dress/ride my bike in a leather vest/what's the matter"....the album shows Curtis' great maturity, and i can think of no album that is better than "ACCIR". Her voice is amazing and it shows on the other strong cuts "Burn Your Own House Down", and the way-radio friendly "World Don't Owe Me". This album is so great, and ims easily the best album i own.

I heard the song 'Troubled Mind' from Truth From Lies and was amazed, so I immediately went out to look for the CD ... they didn't have it, in fact, they didn't have anything by Catie Curtis in the record store. I was disappointed but decided I'd wait until I had more money to get it off the internet. I still don't have it - but, I stumbled upon this CD at a used music store and decided to buy it since I liked 2 of her other songs.
This is such a mellow CD, a perfect listen for those lonely or moping around days. I am so glad I bought this gem. Some songs speak better than others, my favourites being 100 Miles, Fall Away, Wise To The Ways, Burn Your Own House Down and Magnolia Street. Even though some songs seem lacking such as Gave Me Love which seems to repeat too much and Start Again which sometimes seems a bit boring, this CD is a great listen and a good buy, I recommend it to anyone.

This CD is amazing, astounding, inspirational, and just plain Catie. It was my first Catie experience, but I am hooked. I can not explain how fabulous her music is. She leaves me breathless. Her lyrics are beautiful and truthful, I still cry when I here "Magnolia Street". I have owned this CD for three months and I have not gone a day without listening to it. I recently saw her in concert and i was blown away. SHE ROCKS! Anyone who loves Lilith Fairish tunes, or just beautiful music, will love Catie! BUY THIS...I am telling you, you will love it! I am obsessed!

When Catie Curtis finally hits, it's gonna be big. Buy this album now and you can say you listened to her when... If you like pop music with a folk sound, the Lilith Fair type, buy this album. You won't be sorry. Catie's unique voice and personal lyrics make this album one you'll want to listen to over and over again! What's the Matter and Magnolia Street are hits waiting to happen.

"100 Miles" hooked me. I bought the cd anticipating a pleasant reminder of a lady whose music reminds us of what being grounded actually means, discovering reality through the heart. Thanks for another lovely set of songs, Catie!

Well... I'm not really a hotel clerk in Jersey, but I could be... if it meant I got to be Catie's soulmate...

I own all three of Catie's CDs,and I love all of them dearly, but this is, by far, my favorite! I have owned it for over two weeks, and haven't taken it out of my CD player yet! Not only has she grown as a singer, but as a songwriter too. These songs speak to me on a much more personal, but somehow universal level, than her earlier songs do. I always find it freaky when singers write songs that apply exactly to my life, and that is exactly what Catie has done (with songs like Fall Away, I'll Cover you, What's the Matter, and Magnolia Street) in A Crash Course in Roses. Buy it! You'll be tickled pink! Well, at least, I was... :)

Catie Curtis writes lyrics that are both personal and universal and set them to music that is catchy and beautiful. Her voice is distinctive and conveys a great deal of emotion. I was a little leery when I got her first cd but she has won me over in a big way and her new cd is even more accessible and engaging. Give it a try!