Customer Reviews

LadyLuck

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

 

 

I found Maria Taylor through Last FM about a year or two ago. Song Beneath a Song is what drew me in. So I asked for 11:11 this last Christmas. I loved it and went on to her myspace page to find that she worked with Andy LeMaster on her digital album Savannah Drive. When I listened to it I believed it to be the best album I've heard in quite a while. Awhile later I found that she'd be playing at Birmingham's Bottletree. I jumped for the opportunity of course. Her performance was fantastic. I felt that through her band's reverberations through my bones, I'd never be the same...So I picked up Ladyluck and LTF.

Ok, ok... on to the point... Ladyluck. I love it. It played in my car for more than a month... I'd only change the cd for fear that I'd tire of it. It was still the main album I listened to ... and still do.

I was a bit apprehensive that the not so stripped down versions of 'Ladyluck' and 'Time Lapse Lifeline' from SDrive would easily outdo the more "produced" versions on Ladyluck. The Ladyluck versions equal if not grandly outdo Drive's versions.

Songs:
Ladyluck - My least favorite from Savannah, but I somehow know most of the words to this one. Sounds reminiscent and hopeful. I love the lines about "Doesn't always work the way you planned it... I like it better this way."

Time Lapse Lifeline - Most guitar driven track with a nice groove. Possibly my favorite of the album. "Back it up. Back it up. Stop. Fast forward. Rewind."

It's Time - Very driving until a break for the chorus, great for driving through fields. Unique drum patterns. Love it.

My Favorite Love - A darker tone than previously. You might confuse this one for another artist if Maria's voice wasn't so distinguished. Almost as if it came from some of the best parts of another era's music.

100,000 Times - This one is up there on favorites as well. Heightens the album's feeling of 'moving on to better things, but not forgetting the past' vibe. Great to crank the volume on the chorus.

Green Butterflies - Another great one for the fields.

Broad Daylight - Maria takes you back to that other time.

A Chance - Has a slight disco feel... My least favorite of the album.

Orchid - Great guitar parts in the last quarter. This one makes use of one of Maria's greatest musical attributes... Making a song sound joyous and somber at the same time. It has a different effect depending on the listener's mood and circumstance. Masterful.

Cartoons and Forever Plans - Co written with Michael Stipe from R.E.M and Andy LeMaster from Now It's Overhead. Slight island-esque beat. The perfect way to end it: with love and happiness through a repeat of "Did you know..." almost every line. Maria and her crew make each repetition take on its one delicious flavor. Favorite lyric: "Electricity favors us."



Maria Taylor has achieved a near perfect (my favorite) album with Ladyluck. The 'Lady's' combination of hope, excitement, and yearning for the future combined with a somehow happy ache mixes in with its impossible to define genre; making it a treasure for people of varying musical tastes. Many friends have inquired about the artist playing in my car continuously. The `Lady" has even inspired me to pick up my guitar quite often.



Congratulations Ms Taylor! (GGM)

LadyLuck is simply the most aware record I have ever heard. It tells a moving story, mostly about moving, through a complete listening experience. It is comparable to being wholly drawn into the best opera one has ever felt; or movie so real one has gotten lost. There is not a letdown on this entire listen.
The songs flow together with mystical synchronicity. Background vocals, harmonies and instrumentation are present, as well as absent, with great balance. Lyrics are clever and mature. No doubt commitment, intention, and attention were sown into this record. Its bounty is Love.

The production on LadyLuck sounds to me a bit like Pierre Marchand's work with Sarah McLachlan. Interestingly, Maria Taylor is signed with Nettwerk; however as far as I could research, Marchand was not credited on this record co-produced by Andy LeMaster, Mike Mogis and Lukas Burto. It seems clear to me why fellow muse Michael Stipe offered to lend a hand on some of the lyrics and background vocals. I hope more people hear this record and share LadyLuck with a friend.

The first time I heard Maria Taylor was on a Pandora station I created from a Gillian Welch artist station. I listened to Maria's entire record for free in high quality on Imeem. [...]. This is a great way to break real talent. The Internet, used wisely. And just like that it's done.

[...]

Love the music. Nice sort of bluesy, relaxing music. Love the fact that I can understand all the words, nice change from the stuff on the radio. Got a great deal on it, definitely worth what I paid.

I purchased this CD soon after seeing Maria Taylor perform live since I enjoyed that. She has an excellent voice. In comparing her to past artists, I think of Karla Bonoff from the 70s. The presentation of most songs is laid back, but there are a few that could be considered "rockers". From hearing her talk about her music in concert, I believe most of her writing is about personal issues. You might say she wears her heart on her sleeve. If you enjoy singer-songwriters as such, then you might want to hear these tunes.

She's maybe a bit like Blake Hazard or Deb Talon- mellow but happy though she can, and will rock. Very catchy melodies and riffs. My wife brought me to seeMaria Taylor here in Boston only we thought she was the main act. Silly us. We got to see eight minutes. 8. Song Beneath the Song was what she played. That eight minutes was enough though to send me out to the merch table and pick up her solo album of the time and I downloaded this one as soon as Amazon had it available.


Wanna see her? Check out Morning Becomes Eclectic and search for her- it was May 12th if I recall. Good show. Don't pass up the album though and get to see her when she comes back to the US.