I Megaphone

Imogen Heap | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: February 14, 2006
• Release Date: February 14, 2006
• Label: Almo
• Copyright: (C) 1998 Almo Sounds
• Record Company Required Metadata: Music file contains unique purchase identifier. Learn more.
• Total Length: 48:37
• Genres:
• ASIN: B000V6747K
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (69 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #27,738 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Megaphone" is loud and clear, October 17, 2004

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: I Megaphone (Reis) (Audio CD)

This is not the Imogen Heap of Frou Frou. This is Imogen Heap solo, in her enchanting debut "I Megaphone." So don't expect silky, slinky trip-hop -- Heap opts for a darker, more raw kind of music that reflects the pain in the songwriting. Sort of a Tori-Amos-meets-Fiona-Apple sound, but with a spirit all its own.

Trip-hop/piano opens the album in "Getting Scared," starting off soft and transforming into a rocker. There's a dark, intense edge to the music -- the sensuality and fire of "Come Here Boy," the rage in "Rake It In," and the snarl of "Angry Angel." While there are some softer-edged ballads, the sound is of a young woman with some emotional scars.

When you hear how polished "I Megaphone" sounds, it's surprising that Heap was only nineteen when it was made. The English musician (the title is an anagram of her name) takes a different musical road from 95% of the pop singers out there, opting for passion and enigma, mixed in with some strong vocals and a unique blend of pop, rock and electronica.

The music is a pleasant blend of the organic piano, and the gentle trip-hop beats. Several songs are piano-based, with classically trained Heap playing her own piano melodies in songs like "Candlelight," or the percussion-piano blend of "Shine." Other songs are more based in electronic beats, but don't lose that grounded edge.

Heap's voice was a bit "young" here, though very close to maturity. It's an unusual voice for pop music, husky and quite sultry in the sexier tracks, but capable of lashing out in songs like "Getting Scared." That fire also keeps her from seeming too woe-is-poor-li'l-me. "Shine - I will not cry and I will be mine/I'll shine - shine," she tells us, right before talking about how "madness moved into my shadow." And let's not forget the angrier bits: "Who's getting scared now/Tell me, tell me how does it feel/It feels so good from where I'm standing!" she lets rip.

Imogen Heap's debut album has hints of Fiona Apple and Tori Amos, but "I Megaphone" is its own kind of music. Raw, sensual and thoroughly beautiful, this is a lost gem.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fiona Apple + Tori Amos + Alanis Morissette = Imogen Heap, April 26, 2001

By 

Cabir Marc Davis (Amazon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Megaphone (Reis) (Audio CD)

I found this at a used record store in New Orleans and picked it up solely due to the reviews I had read here earlier. Considering how difficult it is to obtain a copy of this CD these days (its now officially out-of-print), I was truly thrilled and couldn't wait to hear Imogen's music. Usually, when I listen to a musician's music based on their reviews at Amazon, I tend to be disappointed - both Fisher and Julia Darling have disappointed me as they seem like Lilith Fair rejects, yet they were given undue praise.

Imogen, on the other hand, deserves all the praise she can get. This girl has now formed a band called Frou Frou, but her one and only solo album stands out as one of the forgotten gems of the last decade - a combination of Fiona Apple's 'When the Pawn' and Tori Amos's 'From the Choirgirl Hotel' is what it most closely resembles. Also, I was glad to note that for ONCE there was a performer who could deservedly be compared to Tori and Fiona, and most remarkably, even sound like them on different tracks.

The first song that I listened to was Track 2 - 'Sweet Religion'. The opening vocals are very Apple-esque, and the production is very reminiscent of Fiona's first producer Andrew Slater's style. This track deals with one of my favorite themes - organized religion and its futility, and if you're even mildly religiously inclined you may be put off by Imogen's lyrics. While Fiona and Tori play to the woe-is-me crowd, Imogen strikes out at society and the establishment, and is a more pertinent role model for wannabe rebels, in my opinion.

The best track here is undoubtedly the first one - 'Getting Scared'. This multi-layered eclectic combination of electronica and rock works wonderfully, and is bettered only by Imogen's thoughtful lyrics and quaint British accent. 'Getting Scared' is also my favorite because it starts out relatively sombre and plink-plonks its way through the first few minutes, and then launches into a semi-death metal groove that is really frightening. This is an amazing track.

The other stand-outs are of course 'Sweet Religion', 'Oh me Oh my', and the stunning 'Come Here Boy', which is so rich in its' lush production and vocal delivery that its quite overwhelming to sit through it. The first time I heard it in the car I was blown away - the chorus comes with a sound effect that is so subtle, but one that envelops you and makes you shiver in your car. 'Come here Boy' is THE song to play when driving in the rain. Get this album if only for that pleasure.

This is one of my all-time favorite albums - right up there with Fiona Apple's 'When the Pawn' and Bjork's 'Post. Stunning, creatively dazzling. Heres hoping Imogen someday comes back to make a second album.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful stuff, May 21, 2003

By 

Alicia "bluesweater" (Valrico, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Megaphone (Reis) (Audio CD)

This album really took me by surprise. I had just come off a Frou Frou marathon -- had been listening to "Details" exclusively for about a week -- when I found out Imogene Heap had a solo album, so I went ahead and found a copy and bought it. This is totally different from Frou Frou, but really good in a completely different way. It's very raw and dark and angry. This lady has a powerful voice and is using it to its full advantage on this CD. Personal favorites are Sweet Religion, Angry Angel, and Come Here Boy. There's lots of just really primal noises and general emoting in almost all of these songs, just kind of nonverbal stuff, but very powerful. I was very impressed and recommend this to Alanis, Tori Amos, and Fiona Apple fans. Imogene Heap isn't really like any of those artits, but if you're into dark, angry chicks with something to say, this CD is definitely for you. Give it a couple listens to grow on you, and you won't be disappointed.