Customer Reviews

The Elephant's Baby

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I heard Clare Fader's music on MTV's The Real World last season and it was like a breath of fresh air! I have considered myself a huge fan since then. When watching the latest Real World in Paris (how perfect for her!) I knew from the first notes of "The Wine" that it was her!

Fader's singing is sexy and sweet... but also seasoned and well-traveled. She's like an old time cabaret singer from the thirties. The lyrics are sharp, fun, smart and luscious... the musicians and arrangements are grand and adventurous. It's like going on an adventure.. being told an exotic tale of love, wine, sex, and cabin fever! I would say that you will love Fader too if you like Pink Marntini, Paris Combo, Paolo Conte, Django Reinhardt, Andrew Bird, Lullaby Baxter, Tom Waits, Julee Cruise, or Edith Piaf....

Her web site says she and her band The Vaudevillains have a new release coming out soon. I can't wait!

I respectfully disagree with M.Elkins, I think ELEPHANT'S BABY is for everyone, at least everyone with the merest hint of taste.

THE ELEPHANT'S BABY is both wonderfully retro and perfectly contemporary at the same time (not an easy trick to perform).

Clare Fader's voice is spectacular, the arrangements superb, but what puts THE ELEPHANT'S BABY over the top, and what makes Clare Fader feel like "The Next Big Thing," is her incredible song writing ability. Each song is a well executed short story in and of itself. Her tales are fairly twisted, but in a sweet rather than dark way.

I urge you to buy it now so that when Clare Fader is famous in a year or two, you can say, with haughty delight, "Oh, I've been listening to her for years!"

As a big fan of Paris Combo, Andrew Bird, Tom Waits and Pink Martini, I followed the Amazon trail to find Clare Fader. Where did this album come from?! Who cares, I'm just glad I found it. A modern mixture of dark & quirky cabaret, smoky jazz, circus & muzette music. More please, Miss Fader!

This is a truly remarkable album. Powerful, original and evocative. The lyrics, all by Ms Fader, are quirky, witty, and inventive. Her voice is exquisite. The arrangements are brilliant, innovative and fun -- just listen to "Drunk on Skin," "Isle of Summer," or any of the other tracks. The musicians come from all over the place: Canada, Montreal, Eastern Europe, the USA, and bring a magical texture to the album, with powerful tango rhythms, haunting celtic influences, bluesy torch ballads, and a circus air throughout. Every song on this album is destined to become a classic. Buy it.

Clare Fader has mastered bringing cabaret back to life. Her debut album contains some great songs and shows promise for the future (her future would produce an even better album a little while later).

1. Animal Charm - quirky, catchy, and fun... a sing-a-long type of song. A

2. Sister Of Mine - another catchy song. B+

3. The Wine - fun, quirky, and catchy... this song was featured on MTV's The Real World for a reason. I dare you not to sing along. A+

4. Love is the Cruelest Cliche - a slower song with strings, oboe, and piano backing Ms. Fader. B

5. Drunk on Skin - great lyrics, great music, Clare's done it again. A-

6. Wedding Day Lament - a slower, storylike song that'd fit perfectly into a musical. B

7. Alice - my least favorite Clare fader song... it's slow and not overly catchy... doesn't seem to fit well on the album, in my opinion- but I'm glad it's here, because it's something else from Ms. Fader. C

8. Johnny - the album picks back up in pace with this one... a great sing-along. A

9. Cabin Fever - another one I can't help but singing along to. How does she do it? Great lyrics. A-

10. Queen - a slow-down point again... but not necessarily bad. Another song that'd fit well into a musical. B

11. Isle of Summer - the climax of the musical that is the album. Wonderful way to close the album. A

Listening to The Elephant's Baby is one of my favorite antidotes to a melancholy day. There's something about Clare Fader's magical little world of cuckoo clocks and candlesticks and morphine and gin that draws me in, and never fails to cast its spell over me. The music itself is a gorgeous shimmer of sound featuring instruments from cello to spoons to tin whistle. The lyrics are enchanting and the arrangments are gently perfect. My favorites include "Sister of Mine", with its air of dark mystery and delicate harmonies, and "Love is the Cruelest Cliche" with its wry humor and ironic wisdom.

The Elephant's Baby has remained near the top of my CD stack since the night I bought it. I can't recommend it highly enough.

I can't believe I heard this on MTV's Real World! Fader's songs are the first piece of music I've heard on MTV in years that I've wanted to buy. I'm speachless. The songs sound dark and sexy yet playful all at the same time. I've read on her website that she's getting ready to make another record. I can't wait.

someone was disappointed with ms. fader's elephants baby because they were expecting me, lullaby baxter. i urge that person to listen again with an open heart. the elephant's baby is a record evoking nostalgic, and new again, musical styles. however, it is a work of art completely unique and creative in and of itself. clare fader's vocal style makes for the perfect, wonton, cabaret singer. her arrangements are pure entertainment. and she got it all off the ground from her own elbow grease.

To be honest I wasn't entirely sure what I was getting myself in for when I ordered this album. A friend of mine, who used to know one of the band members, told me I just `had' to get a copy. It is somewhat of a cliché to say that I was `blown away' but that is exactly what happened. I found my self entranced with Clare's enticing vocals and clever lyrics. Witty, charming, it evokes a past decadence yet still retaining a quirky modern atmosphere, a true delight to immerse oneself into.

I was interested by this album from what I heard of the track "The Wine" especially the use of German made almost Garbo like in sound. I was pleasantly surprised at finding a kaleidoscope of listening pleasure whith each track containing its own unique sound and thoughtful lyrics - listen to "Drunk on Skin" or "Johnny" and be amazed. I am looking forward to listening to more of Clare Fader in future.