Gown

Jo Hamilton | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 21, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: CDBY
• ASIN: B001URRY9C
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #264,116 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

The Independent

★★★★ "oceanic"

★★★★ "an unashamedly grown-up record that dares to step out of the boxes we have reserved for our female singer-songwriters."

★★★★ "An amazing voice.. that can glide like KD Lang or essay Bjork weirdness" --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Product Description

UK special edition of the British singer/songwriter's 2009 album including three bonus tracks: "Alive Alive", a live version of "Release Us" and a radio remix of "Think of Me". When Brit songstress Jo Hamilton released her epic art-pop-embroidered Gown in 2009, few would have predicted the critical fawning that would accompany its breakout status. The album is a heady musical brew of modern progressive pop, a lushly produced series of cinematic songs that simultaneously feel both classic in Kate Bush-styled scope yet agile and dark enough to bookend easily with Bjork and Bat for Lashes' Natasha Khan. This is grand and serious stuff, but always kept accessible with Hamilton's personal and sometimes playful touch. If you missed Gown the first time around, try it on for size now. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unsurpassed Loveliness, June 22, 2009

By 

P. Taylor (Wisconsin, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gown (MP3 Download)

Gown has an unsurpassed loveliness unlike anything I've ever heard before. Jo Hamilton seems to be in touch with the beauty of nature and the goodness to be found in this world as you "make your way through the undergrowth." The album's theme strikes a chord that resonates deep within me. I hope is does with you, too.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars overhyped record actually delivers, June 2, 2011

By 

Kirk D. Colton (Ogden, Utah) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Gown (Audio CD)

A lot of British music publications have hyped this record to almost overkill status. But guess what, "Gown" is almost as good as the music critics say it is. Now context is a good thing and this record comes out in the same climate as Dr. Luke's bastardizing pop songs..Keisha, Katy Perry take your pic or Brit pop singers that have followed in the wake of Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen (Adele, Little Boots, Ellie Goulding among others) Thankfully "Gown" sounds like a pretty unique but not altogether original LP. I hear elements of Cowboy Junkies, David Sylvian, Talk Talk, Sig Ros, Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel, Bjork, and Sarah McLachlan amoung others. And the production of the album to my ears on most tracks sounds like the album producer/engineer followed the Daniel Lanois book on how to make a record. It is a lushly produced album. For me this is refreshing and although this record probably has been pro-tooled and auto-tuned to death, at least is doesn't sound like it.

One thing this record does is sneak up on you. Out of the gate first listens will be lukewarm to bland for most. But you will find some songs sticking in your head. And then the whole album has this vibe, creates this headspace that will wash over you with repeated listens. And then when you think this record can't contain anymore surprises, you place on headphones and marvel out how intricate this album was put together. The way it is going this might be the best female debut album I have heard since Tori Amos "Little Earthquakes" or Mary Margaret O'hara's "Miss America" (a criminally ignored album)

As far as live, I hear Jo uses a touch piano or keyboard. What I have seen on Youtube of her playing this prototype instrument makes me excited to see her play live

4 out of 5 but might be five in a couple dozen more listens.
end
kdc

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spine tingling, September 12, 2009

By 

A sailing fanatic (Jamaica) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gown (MP3 Download)

There are two tracks in particular on Gown that each and every time strike an incredible sense of awareness and make the hair on the back of your neck stand up - 'Liathach' and 'Think of Me'. Songs that describe the sense of majesty of the Highlands of Scotland. Detail and production is unsurpassed, all in all the whole album is a phenomenon.