Customer Reviews

Other Side of Daybreak

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

For a while I was worried that I was the only one disappointed by 2002's "daybreaker", thinking that maybe I just didn't understand the record, that something was going over my head. In actuality, I think it's the record itself that was over the top. Only a handful of tracks seemed like real Beth Orton songs and the rest were lost in orchestration or aimless lyricism. "The other side of daybreak" is a much more steadfast collection, starting with a solid rendition of "ooh child" and ending with the excellent two lone swordsmen remix of "anywhere". So far, anything that Ryan Adam's has contributed to has ended up compromising the artist's work, save for Lucinda Williams' stunning song "Essence" and Beth's single "Concrete Sky". The acoustic version here, however, is just as strong without Adams' backing vocals. While "Carmella" seemed a bit too smug on "daybreaker", the four tet remix changes it into eleven minutes of bliss rivalling the electronic compositions from Beth's "Trailer Park". I think what really makes "The Other Side..." such a triumph is that it manages to please consistantly throughout without compromising Beth Orton's style and songwriting. All of the remixes make improvements on the originals and make them fit in with Beth's pre-daybreaker catalogue. "Ali's Waltz", "Bobby Gentry" and "Beautiful World" are at least twice as satisfying as "Ted's Waltz", "Paris Train" and the maudlin "This One's Gonna Bruise".

I don't think "Daybreaker" itself was total rubbish, I just find much more to sing about and sing along to on "the other side..."

If Beth Orton put out a rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" on CD, I would buy it. Fans like me will want to buy "Other Side Of Daybreak" because, hey, it's something else by Beth Orton. But this is nothing other than what should have been packaged with the "Daybreak" CD as a "free" bonus disk. At the very least, it is nothing more than a CD Single with bonus tracks and should be priced as such. Either way, I would recommend not paying full retail... wait awhile and buy it used.

Simply put, I don't think the alt takes and remixes offer anything particularly new or interesting. The sound is flat. I don't think the tracks work well together in an album format, and all around it seems a bit lost. For some reason, Orton's singing doesn't seem to fit with the instrumentals. Her voice on that first track sounds as though she's dying, and I don't mean that in a good way.

There are a few promising tracks, esp "Bobby Gentry" and the Roots Manuva remix, but I think that's the case in spite of, rather than due to, Beth Orton's efforts.

Anyway, those of you who really like Orton (as I do) will probably go buy this disc despite this review. I suppose I'm writing this for those of you who are newly discovering her. For those of you who are interested in checking Orton's music out, I have to strongly recommend "Central Reservation" and "Trailer Park" as better places to start. She has a lot of great material out there that's worth hearing.

I appreciate Beth Orton's folky side but I am a fan of hers because of her "trip hop" touches. "Trailer Park" is (maybe now, was) my favorite Beth Orton album and I was beginning to lose interest after being disappointed by "Daybreaker."

Yet here is a reworking of some of the songs on Daybreaker (including a beautiful live version of "Concrete Sky") that represents everything a fan loves about Beth Orton. Her vocals are soulful, as always. But no less than three of the tracks could be played in a dance club, especially the new mix of "Daybreaker." "Beautiful World" gives me goosebumps, which is a standard my central nervous system reserves for music that truly moves me.

Disregard negativity! Shout down the dissenters!

I've never been into Eth Borton - too twee - but this changed my mind. At turns haunting and at turns dirty and deep, its one of the only albums that me and my wife love in equal turns.

I can't get enough - folky dub and electronica, yummo. Oh and btw, the Roots Manuva song rocks hard, although if you are not quite up on the artical uk roots vibe then it may be a little over your head. Don't worry, you'll catch up one day.

Four Tet and Andy Weatherall are pretty amazing also. Of course none of this would be possible without Beth herself. I may even consider buying other albums now.

Rock on Tommy.

F*cking great album! She's so natural and beautiful and so at home with all the coolest beats around her provided by Four Tet, Roots Manuva and Two Lone Swordsmen... Extreme feel-good album which goes nice with a latest from Nitin Sawhney "Philtre", also an amazing piece of modern conscious kickass street credited singer-songwriter stuff like this one! Thanx for the great artist Four Tet for leading me to her, because I got interested of this mostly after I saw he's remixed two tracks here.

Being a big Beth Orton fan I waited with much anticipation for the release of this record. I've got all of Beth's other stuff so I've already heard much of the cuts on the album. The release of Ooh Child, formerly by The Five Stairsteps, was a real treat for me. Two different cuts of Daybreaker are also great, the one by four tet being my favorite. One thing I haven't noticed in any of these reviews is a reaction to Beth's Concrete Sky video. It plays on the CD drive of your personal computer and features a leggy Beth cavorting in her underwear while plugging her single. After watching that I needed a shower! Wheeeew!

this disc is disappointing and a bit uneccessary - if you're going to do the b-sides collection, you might as well go all the way and release ALL the b-sides from the album. Daybreaker is not a good album at all. it's hideously overproduced, some songs are little more than an ugly tuneless smear of techno bleeps and burbles. so this collection could have been much better

Ooh Child is nice but could have been more fleshed out musically as it is very repetitive the way it is. Ali's Waltz, Bobby Gentry and Beautiful World are major highlights of this disc and are so much better than anything on Daybreaker. Bobby Gentry just ROCKS.

i love Four Tet's music, and i like their remixes here, especially Carmella with its big drums and handclaps. the Roots Manuva mix is a waste of disc space and is just awful. AWFUL.

the clear winner of all these songs however is the Anywhere remix. Anywhere, the album version, is one of the few Beth tracks that i downright DESPISE. this version is worlds better - incredibly infectious, and dark and brooding - snakey bass, bangin' boom-tat-tat drums, minimal melodic arrangements, and her voice is crystal clear. i'll never get sick of listening to it.

This is a great rehash of Beth's works. My favourite from it is the Two Lone Swordsmen's remix of "Anywhere"-it brings about a sense of inspiration.

Anyone who pans this album is daft. This is vintage Beth, and that means it is pure unmitigated pleasure. True, it is a remix album. But this is Beth we're talking about here: her songs can be cut a dozen different ways like precious stones, and always reveal new complex subtleties and pure folky pop goodness. This album has everything you would expect from her: tripped out electronic vibes overlaid with lush orchestral & idiosyncratic acoustic instrumentation, all nicely jibing with Beth's quirky honest lyrics.

There are several great little songs remixed here: Carmella (trk 6) is one of her best, in my book. It opens with a catchy hook, and when the usual sensual bass riff kicks Beth has me spooging yet again. Bobby Gentry is great, too. It has a relentless bass line and Beth's vocal is ferocious.

Other highlights: an exquisite live version of Concrete Sky. That 70's soul song "Ooh Child Things are Going to Get Easier" is superbly covered. Then- speaking of spooge- there is a video of Concrete Sky included. Beth not only rocks, she is an utter minx. Great music - some of the very best - and Beth making love to the camera in short shorts. What's not to love?