Customer Reviews

Flightsafety

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

 

 

On the word of several reviews, I went out and bought this album yesterday - a dark rain-threatened day, which was perfect for my first listen to flightsafety.

I struggle to describe this album, though other reviewers have done it eloquently. I will say that I do NOT think shannonwright sounds 'like a cross between Tori Amos and Chan Marshall', and I do listen to quite a bit of both. No, her sound is more stripped down, more melancholy, less angry (or anguished) than Cat Power. The songs on flightsafety gave me chills. I felt like I was listening to secrets. The instrumentation is gorgeous and spare, with hints of other instruments creeping in between guitar and piano - I especially love her use of the Wurlitzer organ.

In trying to describe this cd to a friend I said, "Yes, there is a little Sonora Pine (another amazing Quarterstick band), a little Cat Power, maybe, but mostly I just think this album sounds like Edward Gorey drawings - dark, imperfect, classically gothic, every sound hinting of something unsettling going on."

In short, I highly recommend this album. If you love the instrumentation, I would also check out Pullman's "Turnstiles and Junkpiles". It is another gorgeous piece of work; less sad, maybe, but equally as isolating.

Singer (in fact, a very good one), songwriter, guitarist, pianist, organist, drummer, producer...Shannon Wright's amazing arsenal of talents are put to full use on this, one of those transcendental albums that defy easy categorization.

First of all there's Wright's singing style. Possessing of a sober, mesmerizing voice that can convey strength, assertion, fragility, winsomeness, wide-eyed wonder, joy and melancholy, she never gets lost in the swirl of instruments that makes up her recordings. An innovative arranger and inscrutably melodic player (even her drumming adds to the melodic textures of her songs), Wright never goes overboard with her one-woman-band setup. Her playing always contributes to the song instead of showing off.

And then there's the songs. Wright is a lyricist of rare sophistication yet never lapsing into complete obscurity. Evocative, poetic and at times deeply emotional (her delivery, again, helps), these songs achieve a clarity of sentiment and thought unusual in this era of teen idols and smartass alt/cock-rock songwriters. Standouts are "Captain of Quarantine", wrapping a deceptively simple melody in insistent acoustic guitars; the wrenching "Heavy Crown", the whispery gem "Hobos on Parade", the twistily melodic "You're the Cup", and crowning statement of independence "All These Things" -- a song that shows rough-hewn amateurs like Alanis Morissette that you don't have to shout and screech to assert the strength of your personality.

Time Out New York championed Wright as one of the best songwriters in America right now -- a claim not too far from the truth. She can also lay claim to being one of the most resourceful singers and instrumentalists out there, crossing genres and moods effortlessly, with grace.

Dive in.

Wow. Wow, wow, wow. I will try to describe this ablum but how can someone describe the taste of chocolate?

I got this cd this morning after a long 2 week wait (I will never pay by check to amazon.com again). I was soo excited to finally listen to this cd, and bam! It hit's me, sophisticated guitar playing, and that beautiful, beautiful voice. It's so soft and sweet, yet not overly-vulnerable. And her piano playing, her drumming... can she play every instrument?

Every song on this album is a gem. My favorites- "All These Things", "Heavy Crown", "You're The Cup", "Captain Of The Quarantine", "Floor Pile", "Rich Hum Of Air".... the list could go on until I mention every song.

Really, you have to get this cd, there is no way of describing the melancholy beauty of the music or her voice. You have to hear it to believe it.

I can't wait to get "Maps of Tacit", Shannon Wright will forever be in my heart.

While she was still a member of the dark, jangly trio Crowsdell, Shannon Wright wrote intense yet sparse songs that were too disjointed and emotionally naked for most pop fans. After two albums, an EP and a collection of 7" singles, Wright broke away from the band. Around the same time, her label, Big Cat Records, more-or-less dropped out of the music industry. Disillusioned, Wright sequestered herself in a home studio in Alabama to concentrate on the material that would comprise Flightsafety. Self-produced and crafted using little more than an acoustic guitar and a piano, the record conveys powerful feelings of solitude and isolation with a completely numbing sense of introspection. Wright's voice is hushed and gentle, as she looks to heal old wounds and to express her music in its purest and most heartfelt form. - Glen Sansone: CMJ New Music Report Issue: 614 - Apr 19, 1999

I can't get over the difference between this CD and Maps of Tacit. That one had more raw emotion pouring out of it, while this one seemed more run of the mill, and to be perfectly honest, boring. The only song I really got engaged into was "Heavy Crown", which is also on Tacit (more raw and emotional).

I guess the problem is that the first three songs (besides the lyrics) are almost the same sounding song... with the accoustic guitar start that builds up to drum angst later on.

You're the Cup starts off promising with the organ, but then returns to the same tired theme from the first three songs.

Twilight Hall is an interesting song, but nothing super engaging.

Captain of Quarantine: see first three songs.

Holland is instrumental, and decent enough for that sort of thing. I'm more interested in hearing Shannon sing.

Hobos on Parade is accoustic guitar only, but later on a subtle rumbling from some sort of percussion chimes in. Which is basically the same formula as the first three songs again.

William's Alabama has a piano instead of a guitar. But the same tired drum beat. So boring. The singing was a little more engaging on this song, and moved the CD from a 2 to a 2.5 star rating.

Yard Grass: Thank you for a guitar song free from that annoying drum beat.

Heavy Crown is a good song. Not a mover like it is on Tacit, but it works out okay with piano music, and no drumming. I like it.

Overall, about a 2.75-3 rating.

I've seen Shannon Wright play live only once and would emphatically recommend that, if you can, you go see her play.

Her CD captures the essence of the live show and is very, very good. OK, it's great! Go buy it!

shannonwright has a very warm voice, which I like as a contrast to her
mostly somber lyrics. Flightsafety stands out to me for these lyrics, which
run the gamut from extremely interesting, innovative metaphors (tracks 2, 4)
to awful, what-was-she-thinking moments like "I'm her colt and she's my mare"
(track 3). But overall, I like this CD --especially the instrumental track 7.

i feel like the only crowsdell fan,shannon wrights previos band was a lot more rocking and i like it better than this excellent mellow album,you cant go wrong with real emotion and thoughtfull songwritting,i saw crowdell play 3 time and each time got mellower and mellower,the last time she said there was a new album comming out but then nothing, untill this...i hope there is more comming

shannonwright has a very warm voice, which I like as a contrast to her
mostly somber lyrics. Flightsafety stands out to me for these lyrics, which
run the gamut from extremely interesting, innovative metaphors (tracks 2, 4)
to awful, what-was-she-thinking moments like "I'm her colt and she's my mare"
(track 3). But overall, I like this CD --especially the instrumental track 7.

blah. a cross between tori amos and chan is too much for me