Customer Reviews

Left of the Middle

5 star:		(213)
4 star:		(61)
3 star:		(21)
2 star:		(23)
1 star:		(15)

 

 

Who can believe it's been 5 years since this one? I know I can't. In any event, it is still as excellent as it was then, and it is one of the most enduringly listenable discs in this reviewer's lengthy collection. It is a real shame that her sophomore album, released almost a year ago this week, did not sell nearly as many units and was almost completely commercially ignored. That just goes to prove one thing: No one bought this album for the right reason!

The fact is, though "Torn" was a cover song, the rest of the tracks were written by her (except for the catchy but unnotable Don't You Think?) and are all as good or better. The true highlights here are...

ONE MORE ADDICTION "One more addiction floating down the river out of sight forever from my world It's the only thing I know how to do"

WISHING I WAS THERE "Can't leave things well alone understand I'm accident-prone Me? I break free Every night the moon is mine But when the morning comes Don't say you love or so say you need me I really don't think that's fair I'm not so dumb But when you leave me I'll be wishing I was there"

SMOKE "Mum's lookin sad What's up with that?...Bleeding is breathing I saw you hiding beneath the smoke in the room"

INTUITION "Intuition tells me how to live my day Intuition tells me when to walk away Could've turned left Could've turned right But I ended up here Bang in the middle of the real life"

CITY "Doesn't really matter where you wanna take me...away from the city I wanna start again I wanna take it back I wanna start again"

LEFT OF THE MIDDLE "But it's something I can't say Though it seems the other way And it's a game that I can't play...not today I need to tell you Trying to get through Is not always easy left of the middle".

This is truly an awesome debut. Her lyrical and vocal prowess speak for themselves. Natalie somehow slipped between the cracks of the US market, and as a result she may well be on VH1's Top 100 Greatest 1-Hit Wonders List one day (not in the UK, where the hits still come), and for reasons not deserved. "Left In the Middle" is nearly 5 years old now, and has absolutely proven itself to this listener an album that defies age.

This CD is AMAZING , from the words to the musics diversity, this CD is sure to win over many fans. Whatever you do, don't skip the best songs (IMHO), they are as follows (in order of favorite), 1.Smoke 2.Diving in the deep end 3. City (live version) & 4. Leave me alone. Go out and buy this great CD, you WONT be dissapointed.

Ok, so I'm a little behind the times, but I just got Left of the Middle and- I must say- the entire album if VERY impressive. So many female vocalists sound identical in today's pop world- i can't speak for her other album, but this album has a very unique, catchy sound to it. Her voice just has this incredible edge to it. If you like female rock/pop vocals, then don't pass this one by!!!!!

I've had Natalie Imbruglia's left of the middle ever since December 1998! I LOVE this CD! It has powerful lyrics, unique sounds, and Natalie has an awesome voice. Compared to Alanis Morisette, I like Natalie better. Why? Well, Natalie's music seems better pieced together and has a more well-rounded meaning, while Alanis's music is downright ANGRY! Some of Natalie's music has strong angst lyrics but sweet music (like Pigeon and the Crumbs). My favorites are Torn, Wishing I was there, Smoke, don't you think?, intuition, and city! Actually, I LOVE all her songs on this album. IT'S AWESOME AND IT'S A MUST-HAVE!

Natalie Imbruglia became an instant hit in early 1998 with her debut single "Torn". Her style of music is quite similar to Natalie Merchant and Alanis Morissette, but her voice offers its own unique qualities which separates her from the other females in the genre. "Torn" was a massive hit and put her on the map, but "Wishing I was There" is equally as good as "Torn", if not better. The album has a balance between rock, pop, and a bit of electronica. She handles varying degrees of emotion such as anger, regret, but mostly she is honest with her lyrics and delivery. She wrote quite a few songs on here as well. My favorite track is "Intuition", has a very edgy feel to it, very memorable. Songs that come close include "Smoke" which has a sense of yearning in it. The lyrics on the album are for anyone, the romantic, romantically challenged/frustrated. Other highlights include "City", "Big Mistake", "Impressed" and more. Try to find the one with the bonus tracks, well worth the money. Give it a listen.

I'm almost at a loss of words for this CD. Some songs are just absolutely fantastic, and then others are just .. blah. I admire Natalie Imbruglia very much so, but I'm think she could've done better on some of the songs. Yet that's my only gripe, really, about this CD.
Most of the songs I found to be intriguing and refreshing. More upbeat songs like "Torn", "Wishing I Was There" and "Leave Me Alone" are good road tunes. Then slower songs that you search meaning in like "Smoke" and "Pigeons and Crumbs" were very nice. I especially loved "Pigeons and Crumbs", when tired or in a bad mood, I usually listen to it. Yet, however, I think those are the only songs worth listening to on this CD.
Most songs I'd found to have hidden meanings, which I think couldve been developed more. I'm looking to find this Australian debutante singer's new album, "White Lillies Island", but havent had any luck on a find in the UK. I'm almost positive it was released in Australia already, though.
Point being, this CD is almost like a soap opera. It has up's and down's .. you laugh, you cry. Some songs are appropriate for particular occasions over others. I'm sure anyone can find a song styling that they'd like on "Left of The Middle". I'll recommend it to anyone, really, who has any taste what-so-ever in modern music stylings, or differentiating ones, at that.
Cheers!

That must have been a gloomy day when I first heard this unfamiliar yet appealing tune in the radio, and there was just something as fresh as summer rain in the poignant lyric-- " lying naked on the floor". The very essense of vulnerability is woven into the words that come as a gripping force. So instead of seeing another mad Alanis, there it was, a totally different face of anguish.

Music is not something to be analyzed. The very act to disect its beauty is an attempt to desecrate its evanescence and eternality fused together. Natalie Imbruglia came as an "unbearable light"--fierce yet tender. Even 2 years after my ears were first mesmerized with the torning echo, I am still inspired by her very name. And this album, the very evidence of her maturity as a singer, showcased her broad range as a performer whose soulful voice dances across an array of styles. She does experiment different things: from bitter-toned One MOre Addiction to sweet Pigeons and Crumbs, Imbruglia proves her ability beyond Torn, the international sensation of 96'. Due to management reasons, many of her brilliant singles on this CD were not released in the US--more reason why Imbruglia should be judged by what you haven't heard. The lyrics, most of which written by her (w/ other writers), manifest a resilient spirit that hovers above the playground of life in search of a name for herself. And she does find her share of fame as she transmits her sorrows and joys to the audience, without a trace of pretension and decoration--just as they are, raw as anything. And this + her gorgeous voice, crispy at times and melodious at others, present to the world an universe drained with emotions.

I absolutly love this album. I will give you an perscription of every song, the best way I can:

1. Torn: The song everybody knows as the perfect pop song. Does not matter if you like the other material on the album: Torn is enough to satisfy you even if you don't like left of the middle.

2. One more addiction: Good lyrics, but some power is missing in this song. It dissapointed me, because I expacted something like torn, and One more addiction was very differend.

3. Big mistake: This is one of the best songs ever. Probably the best song after torn. It is very rocky, and somewhat Alanis-a-like, but it remains extremly good. The video is awesome aswell.

4. Leave me alone: It is suprisingly differend from the first 3 songs. A very paranoid song, but it has good lyrics and a powerfull, catchy tune at the chorus.

5. Wishing I was there: It is a crossfade between torn and big mistake. It was a top 40 song, just like torn. The opening sound always scares me, because it is so loud. The rest of the song is okay.

6. Smoke: This is one of the best songs you can ever hear. The piano is wonderfull, and the opening sound is calm. However, it is a song you really need to ''listen'' to. It is not a song you should put on when cleaning the house. The lyrics are about a childhood abuse, but not Natalie's own.

7. Pigeons and crumbs: This is the perfect song to put up when you can't sleep, and not because it is boring, no, because it is very dreamy and gives you a calm feeling. Reminds me of a christmas song though. Lyrics are fun.

8. Don't you think?: One of the most rockiest songs of the album. Not one of my favorites, but the lyrics really get to you. It wakes you up after Pigeons and the Crumbs though. I normally skip ''don't you think''.

9. Impressed: Love this one! The opening tune is very addicting, and continues the whole song, except for the end. I don't like the end, because the rhythem is gone. She sings somewhat acoustic then. I think they should have left that out of the song, but the song remains good. It is very differend from the other songs. Some lyrics may seem strange at first, but they are about a place where she use to go out. Like: ice cream beauty means a beautifull girl witch al boys like.

10.Intuition: Very Alanis-a-like. Does not sound like Natalie at all in the chorus. Lyrics are really good though and they are very personal. They are about Natalie's choices in life.

11.City: She wrote this one when she was very depressed. This reflects in the tune and the lyrics of the song very much. It makes you feel like you want to be there with her when she says: ''Step inside'', you would want to go straight with her. However, it gets boring afer listening to it to much, and it lasts like 9 minutes. 5 minutes are empty at the end.

12.Left of the middle: Starts of with Natalie's voice straight away. A good acoustic song, but the lyrics don't make sense to me. It's kind of a sad song.

She has released White Lilies Island what I think is not as good as Left of the middle. If you don't have Left of the middle, go buy it. You will not regret it, promise. Soon she will release a third record, named Counting down the days. Lead single will be called Shiver. It will be released in march, 2005. Some tracks could already be previewed. I hope her third album will be very left of the middle-a-like.

I just purchased this CD about a week ago.. (I know - VERY LATE, eh?).. Well, I was truly shocked at how many great songs were found on the CD. Besides "Torn," "Smoke," & "Wishing I Was There"... this debut album, "LEFT OF THE MIDDLE" proves that the middle isn't so great. Listening to this disc, left is where I would rather be. Imbruglia displays so many emotions in just a few minutes of play that it is hard to ever press the "STOP" button the CD-Player.. Imbruglia has definitely been burnt, but she doesn't show it lyrically in an annoying way Morissette VERY often uses. She eloquently shows hate, love, impatience, along with many other feelings - all at once. Each song is poetry perched up by intriguing vocals and background beauty.

I must say, I am NOT a huge fan of female vox.. but Natalie Imbruglia sure proved herself with this debut album. Being in the middle seems so mediocre.. the left is elite, the left is infinitely enjoyable, the left is anything you want it to be.. and Imbruglia shows this throughout twelve tracks of diverse blunt truth for everyone to take in all at once.

I have the CD and i would like to say that all her songs are realistic. As if based on life itself.