Customer Reviews

Dreaming in Romance Languages

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

 

 

Catie Curtis' "Dreaming in Romance Languages" is an excellent collection that juxtaposes her dark lyrical images with sweet optimistic melodies. This creative tension creates some of her most interesting and affecting work to date. On the closer "Dark Weather" the lyrics "Some days the ocean's cruel, the waves, they don't suffer fools" counters with the languid rolling melody. Stephanie Winters' cello embodies deep sadness on "Doctor," "Once upon a time there was a little baby bringing light to the world." "Red Light" is one of Catie's most lighthearted breezy melodies with Julie Wolf's accordion giving a holiday feel crosscut with the lyric, "Mister fire marshal suspects the landlord of the penny arcade while all his plastic prizes and Riley's Clam Shack fall burning in the waves." Beth Nielsen Chapman helps write "Cross Over to Me" with one of Catie's lovely melodies, "I've been out there alone, you've got something I need." Jimmy Ryan who worked with Catie on her 1991 "From Years to Hours" set is back again and co-writes one of my favorite tracks, "The Trouble You Bring." The only track Catie didn't pen is Mark Sandman's "The Night" which is a dreamy track, "I hope you're waiting for me across your carpet of stars." "Hold On" is classic Curtis, "I lost my one-way ticket home; I'm at a busted telephone and I got no way to show you you're not alone." "Deliver Me" is another delight, "All the angels that I love, they don't hang out above, they come down to deliver, they deliver me." This is a strong set filled with consistently excellent songs done as only Catie's can sing them. Enjoy!

All of Catie Curtis' CDs are terrific and this one is no exception. In "Dreaming's" most powerful songs the singer focuses on repairing a relationship gone wrong. As with "My Shirt Looks Good on You," several of the songs are real rock and roll--a fun departure from Catie's beautiful folk songs. The best of the best on "Dreaming in Romance Languages" is "Dark Weather"--a classic addition to the "We Can Work it Out" canon of music.

This is my first exposure to Catie Curtis. I very much like her straightforward honest songwriting and overall style. There isn't much pretension here which is refreshing. My favorite tracks are "Hold On", "It's The Way You Are" and "Cross Over To Me" which features some brilliant electric guitar. There are some weak tracks as well particularly "The Night" and "Dark Weather". All things considered, this album is not likely to change anyone's life but has definitely made me want to explore this artist more.

I have been a Catie fan since I was in college, and I'm so psyched to hear this new album. This record is vintage Catie- warm, inviting, and really catchy. It just has a great sound- Hold On and It's The Way You Are are my favorites- upbeat, intense, real lyrics and gorgeous melodies. I've been listening to it in the kitchen non-stop since it arrived last week.

who me? yup, big fan of Catie.

Once I was hooked, had to buy all her CDs. This one is the same great stuff as the others. Sexy, smooth.. makes me want to cry.. something about Catie's songs get to me. The sound, the lyrics, I sure don't know what it is that gets under my skin and makes me FEEL so much. Hurts so good!

Saint Lucy, catchy tune, gets me humming. Then, the rest are all luscious.. great for make out music, or to fall asleep to. Will send you to a nice, cozy dreamland. My sweet Norman and I often put on a Catie Curtis and snuggle up and drift off to la la land. Feeling secure, safe, and loved. nice feeling.

Haunting. That's it. Hauntingly beautiful. Indeed. Listen and you'll be hooked too.

I've been a fan of Catie Curtis for a long time. She is a wonderful, vulnerable-sounding singer and a songwriter of the everyday who pounces on you with her romanticism. She's been able to write lovely, melodic socially-conscious songs ("Hole in the Bucket"), funny songs about her human urges ("Slave to My Belly"), memorably dark songs with messages ("The Wolf," "Larry"), and personal songs which truly make one think that Catie "dreams in romance languages:" "Falling Silent in the Dark," "Come to Me," and so many compositions from her magnificent A CRASH COURSE IN ROSES: "I'll Cover You," "Roses," "Look at You Now," and the near-perfect "Magnolia Street." The last is truly gorgeous and moving.

So, it's with some regret that I must ask where this Catie has gone. I don't see much of her in her last two cds: MY SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU and the new DREAMING IN ROMANCE LANGUAGES. I must disagree with the Amazon editor who sees this last album as a maturing of her talent. I rather see it as a real loss of her melodic and writing sensitivities. There is not one song on the last two records which can compare with the strongest items in her back catalog. Most of the songs are shapeless, musically, with little to hang on to and less to remember. Many seem to revisit themes about breakups and get-togethers with none of the poignancy and originality of A CRASH COURSE IN ROSES. I don't know why this is. Catie writes in one of the better compositions on the new cd, "Doctor, I've got a problem with my imagination. I don't use it any more..." Come back, Catie.

Catie blew me away with this one and producer Trina Shoemaker (known best for her work with Sheryl Crow) left her signature as well. DIRL is well written and the perfomances are a force of nature. This album really demonstrates Catie's range of talent, with equal success in both the folk and pop tracks on this album. I highly recommend it.

I also recommend that listeners find out about a documentary produced during the recording of this album. The film, "Tangled Stories", is due out later this year: www.tangledstories.com

Catie Curtis has one of those effortless-sounding voices that are so warm and conversational, like the sunny tomboy from next door with the winsome smile who never went anywhere without her guitar. On this release, her best since her debut CD "Truth From Lies," Catie covers a lot of familiar terroritory (love 'n stuff), but with a slightly-more-rockin' Sheryl Crow kind of edge. It works for her. Think Indigo Girls without all that pesky anger.