Only With Laughter Can You Win

Rosie Thomas | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 23, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sub Pop
• ASIN: B0000C0FJX
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #145,692 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BEAUTIFUL CD!!!, January 30, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Only With Laughter Can You Win (Audio CD)

I was flipping through books in a bookstore when the song "You and Me" started to play -- it made me stop what I was reading and walk directly to the music section to find out what was playing. Her voice and lyrics were so raw and tender - I was totally blown away. I bought the CD and found it to be one of those rare CD's you can play from start to finish and every song is consistent in mood -- and it just flows...

I read a few of the reviews on this CD which totally surprised me - and actually compelled me to write a good review for this artist. I found it bizarre that people would be so incredibly offended by a woman singing about her faith. What a pity these people can't respect a woman who writes her own lyrics and stays true to who she is and what she believes in -- and doesn't sell out and sing songs that are 100% commercial crap. Bottom line: This is GORGEOUS CD and I'm thrilled to have found it!

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hey Daniel!, September 25, 2003

By 

Chris J. (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Only With Laughter Can You Win (Audio CD)

I think you misinterpreted the meaning of that lyric in "Tell Me How." The actual lyric is - "How am I to define what faith is to a child/when the only explanation lies within/how am I to tell them if they never follow Christ/that heaven doesn't hold a place for them?" And, given it's context in the rest of the song (which seems to be all about grappling with various weighty, personal questions) and the final line of the song ("Oh how? Oh how? Tell me how when I'm no better than them"), the sentiment here seems to be exactly the opposite of what you've walked away with. In other words, Rosie is questioning how she could be expected to hold such an untenable opinion when each individual's interpretation of "faith" isn't hers to define. It seems to me that she's actually going a bit out on a limb here, bravely questioning the beliefs held by the religion she herself subscribes to. The lyrics are included in the album art - take a second to read them and see if this interpretation doesn't fit a little better than anything else.

And, that's indicative of the subjects she addresses on Only with Laughter Can You Win. Whereas her first record, When We Were Small took a look at the people and memories of her childhood, the new record takes a fairly unflinching look at her present. None of the soul-searching on the record seems to be an effort to shove anything down anyone's throat, but rather an attempt to try to examine/make sense of her feelings, experiences, and yeah, her faith.

It's a sweetly affecting and reflective record, hopefully you'll give it (and her) another chance.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful record, September 26, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Only With Laughter Can You Win (Audio CD)

Rosie's new record, like her last, is a collage of thoughts from her personal life. This one seems to take it a step further, though. She sings about everything from her family and friends to her beliefs and her fears. Sometimes music that is so intensly personal to the songwriter can alienate most other listeners. This record feels exactly the opposite. It is so warm and inviting that you feel like you are Rosie's best friend after listening to it. The songs are written in such a humble way that the personal content in the lyrics only accentuates the mood of the record. If you've listened to Rosie's last record 'When We Were Small,' you know what I'm talking about. This record has the same affect, but it goes further by asking some tough questions about being a musician, and just being human. Some of the subject matter is weighty, but never in a way that compromises that beauty or integrity of the record. I would go as far as to say that the new record is better than the last BECAUSE it is more personal.