Daybreaker

Beth Orton | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 6, 2012)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Astralwerks
• ASIN: B000069HH2
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (69 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #79,558 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Like Beth Orton's previous offerings, her third album makes a slight first impression. Sure, the jangly acoustic guitars, drifting melodies, and robust voice are pleasant enough, but it is only after a while that the true potency of the songs becomes apparent. "Nobody can keep you from the one you know you are," she sings quietly on "Mount Washington." Fueled by her mother's early passing, each of Orton's songs is accordingly anchored by a deep sense of sadness and loss. Despite the occasional electronic flourishes at the hands of collaborators such as the Chemical Brothers and Everything but the Girl's Ben Watt, and the beaming West Coast harmonies she shares with pal Ryan Adams, Daybreaker is a supremely personal record. "There's a concrete sky falling from the trees again and I don't know why," she muses on "Concrete Sky." And like Tim Buckley and Nick Drake--the hopeless folk icons that came before her--there seems to be a sublime urgency in her work that suggests a seemingly innocent song like "Thinking About Tomorrow" is not so much about optimism as fate. --Aidin Vaziri

Product Description

Out of print in the U.S.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Between a Rock and a hard place? August 8, 2002

By Phil Dwyer

Format:Audio CD

I usually come to a review wanting it to answer one simple question for me: should I buy this CD or not? The trouble is, while the question is simple, the answer is not. Let's try to deconstruct the reasons why you might consider buying this album:
1: Beth Orton fan with both her previous albums? Buy it. If you're looking for the lyrical splendour of 'Blood Red River' or 'Devil Song' from the Central Reservation album, you may be disappointed: this collection doen't have Beth reaching deep into your soul and tugging it inside out in that way. But, having not played it for several days, I awoke this morning to find 'anywhere' buzzing around in my head and demanding to be played.
2: Ryan Adams fan, looking for a Ryan fix before his next album (I thought he was going to release four this year - what happened to that?). Hesitate. He backs Beth on a couple of songs, (and sounds eerily like a young Elton John in places on Concrete Sky), and wrote one of the songs in the collection exclusively for her (this one's gonna bruise). But it doesn't sound like a Ryan Adams song as delivered by Beth. God Song comes closest to any alt Country heritage, but that's more Emmylou Harris influenced than Ryan influenced.
3: Chemical Bros fan/Everything but the Girl Fan, wanting more of that oeuvre? Depends. If you've heard Beth's voice on CB recordings and love it, go ahead. But you won't find a lot of their brand of music here - she's got a very distinctive place, and it's far away from theirs.
4: Simply curious about an artist you don't know who has a top-selling album out. Buy it. Then go out and buy Central Reservation and Trailer Park. But only if you like great melodies, beautiful lyrics, and a heart-rending voice. Otherwise leave it alone.
Some have commented on the version of Carmella on the album, and pointed out that it's not as good as the version on the EP. I tend to agree - I can't decide if that's because I heard the four tet remix first or not. Which brings me to the final point. Beth seems to by trying to shake off her 'downbeat' image - especially in concert. She's definitely blasting out the songs on this album on tour at the moment - and doing some rock chick posturing on stage. Which might put her in the no-man's land between true rock chick, and lyrical songstress in which people tend to get ignored or torn apart. I'd vote she stays with the songstress.

31 of 36 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Well Worth the Wait August 1, 2002

By Wendy Kaplan

Format:Audio CD

Wonderful Beth is something of an enigma. On first listen, her collections always sound bland. Nice, sweet, haunting, even--but bland. But somehow, the listener always wants to hear the CD "just one more time."And one more time after that. And each time, the subtle poetry of Beth Orton, her unique voice, her use of music as a key to unlocking her (and our) most private thought just grows and grows.

A friend of mine bought this CD the first day it was available (as did I). We both thought it was nice, but ordinary. Yesterday we discussed it again. I admitted I can't stop listening, and that I find something new every time I do. My friend agreed entirely, and gave what has to be the most understated compliment of all: "This one's a grower."

And so it is. Give it a listen and be enchanted.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Jaw-droppingly beautiful!! October 14, 2005

By Nse Ette TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Audio CD

I had never heard anything by British singer/songwriter Beth Orton before this CD. My introduction to Beth was on the inflight entertainment of a British Airways flight where 3 cuts off this CD were featured; `Concrete sky', `Paris train' and the title track `Daybreaker'. Those were enough to convince me to get the CD.

Melancholic and atmospheric soft acoustic folk/rock with a dash of electronica best describes this beautiful CD, a #40 hit on the billboard album charts. Like a number of reviewers have mentioned, repeated play reveals more subtleties of this stark serene beauty.

`Paris train' is a lilting ballad with gently jangling guitars and forlorn strings. In a similar vein is `Mount Washington'. `Concrete sky' is more upbeat (but still delicate) with Ryan Adams harmonizing on the chorus.

One of my favourites is the horn drenched delicate `Anywhere' with a faint jazzy/Caribbean atmosphere and swirling strings. Jaw-droppingly beautiful!! The upbeat `Daybreaker' filled with pulsing and haunting jerky synthesizer effects, and hollow beats is another highlight. A trip hop delight!

`Ted's waltz' is a delicate ballad with faint shuffling percussion, shimmery guitars, and a wistful vocal performance from Beth.

Introspective, serene and beautiful. I'll be looking out for more of her music.