Customer Reviews

Overpowered

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Comparing Overpowered to Roisin's solo début, Ruby Blue, is a bit like comparing Moloko's polished, masterful Statues to the quirkier, more hit-and-miss Things To Make And Do - they are different projects and will appeal to different listeners in different ways.
I don't think this is her two fingers to those who ignored Ruby Blue (how many copies of Statues were sold, after all?), but just the direction she wanted to go in, this time. Interesting that in interviews Roisin describes how Overpowered was "made in a pop way", rather than a "pop album," because they are mostly not pop songs, lyrically anyway. When they are, as on Let Me Know, they score the kind of direct hit they might have done had Curtis Mantronik worked with Moloko.
In fact, at time of writing, it's hard to fathom why this album isn't burning up the charts yet, considering the strength of the two singles that have already come off it. Other, lyrically diverting songs such as Primitive and Dear Miami really benefit from the slick "pop" treatment, but the one to really propel Overpowered into people's brains could be You Know Me Better - with it's tough, staccato vocal and conventional, insistent chorus concealing a quite complex emotional position. Some good mixes could really help here - although it's pretty much club-ready as it is. If only the clubs could still "break" an artist through. Oh well.
On repeated listening, some of the other songs stand out too. Scarlet Ribbons, an observation on paternal love set in a lovers' rock arrangement, and the album's closer, Parallel Lives, sound more essential with each play.
For those interested in such details, the whole CD is also expertly engineered to bring the very best out of the vocal. It's just a shame the two tracks reminiscent of Goldfrapp - Movie Star and Cry Baby - don't pursue a sound that's less over-marketed, here in the UK. But these are small quibbles - it still stuffs the (currently) creatively-constipated likes of Gwen Stefani. I reckon this is a contender for album of the year, but I really can't choose between this and Ultra Naté's Grime, Silk, Thunder.

I guess it's a bit unfair to compare this one to her first solo album, RUBY BLUE. They are completely different in sound and feeling. RUBY BLUE was very experimental. OVERPOWERED is straight up dance/pop with a very late 80's dance feel to it. Both are seasoned with the familiar Moloko sound, which was Roisin's band before she went solo.
I love every track on OVERPOWERED. If you like Goldfrapp, you'll also like Moloko/Roisin Murphy. You should also purchase THINGS TO MAKE AND DO and STATUES by Moloko.

My favorites tracks are:
Overpowered
You Know Me Better
Let Me Know
Movie Star
Primitive (one of the best)
Tell Everybody
Scarlet Ribbon
I highly recommend Roisin Murphy albums to everyone! I'm not sure when this one will be released in the States, but I suggest getting it now. You won't regret it.
I also suggest that you find the B-Sides and unreleased tracks from this CD. Some of these are even better than some of what's been released on OVERPOWERED.
Pandora (love this one!)
Modern Timing
Sunshine
Off and On
Parallel Lives
Find these songs if you can!

Track listing for Róisín Murphy's sophomore disc is as follows:

1. "Overpowered" (Róisín Murphy/Paul Dolby/Mike Patto) - 5:07
2. "You Know Me Better" (Róisín Murphy/Andy Cato) - 4:17
3. "Checkin' on Me" (Murphy/Ivan Coralliza/Jimmy Douglas/Iajuana Pigram) - 4:39
4. "Let Me Know" (Murphy/Cato) - 5:09
5. "Movie Star" (Murphy) - 4:01
6. "Primitive" (Murphy/Coralliza) - 4:50
7. "Footprints" (Murphy/Mark de Clive-Lowe/Dolby) - 3:37
8. "Dear Miami" (Murphy/Dolby/Patto) - 3:40
9. "Cry Baby" (Murphy/Michael Ward/Dean Honer/Richard Barnett) - 5:54
10. "Tell Everybody" (Murphy/Coralliza/Douglas/Pigram) - 3:51
11. "Scarlet Ribbons" (Murphy/Ward/Honer/Barnett) - 5:35
12. "Body Language" (Murphy/Cato) - 4:39
13. "Parallel Lives" (Murphy/Richard Phillips) - 4:22
14. "Pandora" (Murphy/Richard Phillips) (iTunes bonus track) - 3:56

Róisín Murphy was the lead vocalist with UK trip hop/electronica duo Moloko, and "Overpowered" is her second solo release, following 2005's Ruby Blue. Think Goldfrapp, or "Confessions on a dancefloor" era Madonna and you get the picture.

It is one of the best dance/pop albums of the year, comprising bubbling, synth heavy dance tracks like the title track "Overpowered", "You know me better", and (official) lead off single, the eighties sounding "Let me know", the quirky pop of "Checkin' on me", "Primitive", and "Footprints", and slowing things down, the eerie dub-sounding "Scarlet ribbons".

Look out for the excellent bonus track "Off and on". Pop music the way it should be; fun!!

I stumbled upon Roisin Muphy almost by mistake, having seen the "Overpowered video". I was immediately sold on her seductive voice, oh what a character it has.

The collection of songs in Overpowered represent in my opinion, among the greatest songs i've heard in the last decade. It's simply pop perfection, retro by design yet progressive and timeless. If there's anyone who's doing dance music right, it's Roisin. Her vocal talent over every lyric is evident in every track, she sings it like she means it and I love it.

The gem opens with the title track, "Overpoered". A perfect ode to melonchalic memories, anyone who wonders alone in a big city late at night would find this the perfect song to listen to.

"You know me better" is an uptempo dimension onto pure enchanted bliss. This is a very happy, upbeat song.

"Checking on me" is one of the best in an album full of stunners. It's percussive rhythmn is perfectly married to the song's lyrics: A medidation on jelousy. She cuts close to the bone here. "Lemme know" is similar to you know me better, a catchy hook drives the danceable beats. Being lonely has never sounded so happy. "Movie star" is a departure in conception, something closer to early 90's euro dance crossed with industrial. Good song to split the album with. "Primitive" is a down tempo semi ballad for hip lovers. Make sure you're dressing your best that day. "Footprints" is arguably one of the weakest songs in an album where every song is good. Its a throwback to the 90's, and it's sugary. Again, good.

"Dear Miami" is an unqualified triumph. Catchy, simple, yet layered with meaning, a love letter to Miami's decadence. If you've ever been there you'll know what her message is.

"Cry baby" is arguably the album's monster club jam. It's got one of the catching synthlines i've ever heard, a complete stunner from beginning to end. Donna Summer and Giorgio Moroder would be proud.

"Tell everybody" is arguably the weakest song in the album, in terms of what preceeded it. Still, it's 99% more inspired than the stuff that's out there now.

The album rebounds with the heartfelt, deeply personal ballad "Scarlet Ribbons". I'm a grown man and i'll tell you this song almost brought me to tears. It's a beautiful song, and a great song to dedicate to your dad if you're a chick. It picks up the pace with the Kylie Minogue influenced "Body Language". This one's a keeper, you gotta feel how silky smooth it and catchy it is. Great song.

"Parallel lives" gets my vote for the album's best song. It will open up sentiments and make you think. "Foolish" and "Sweet nothings" keeps the momentum going, more winners in an album full of gems.

The album climaxes with a pair of killer dance tracks, the best of these two being the flirtatious "Modern timing".

Conclusion:

"Overpowered" gets my vote as the most well rounded and satisfying release in ages. Essential listening for any fan of danceable music with emotion at it's center. A+ Roisin Murphy.

Prior to this I had never heard of Roisin Murphy's work with Moloko. I was just craving something new, so when her sophmore album OVERPOWERED came up in my music recommendations I immediately pounced on it, and needless to say I was not expecting to like it as much as I do. Her subtle yet soultry voice is set to fresh electro-pop/dance grooves similar to the music of Kylie Minogue and Kosheen, only with funky beats/lyrics like that of Goldfrapp. Songs such as "You Know Me Better", "Primitive", "Dear Miami" and "Body Language" are downright addictive, and you'll find yourself playing them over and over again. Not every song has that kind of staying power but OVERPOWERED is one of the better more intelligent electronica albums to come out in recent years, and it has certainly made a new fan out of me.

This LP/CD/MP3 blows it out of the water. This is probably as good as the first Madonna LP. Roisin has hit her stride and the tunes are top notch. The production is very tight and if anyone could gripe it's a little in that Timbaland vein but on a record of 13 songs almost none are duds. For a dance/soul/street record this is major. Roisin is a really amazing live performer and seems almost shamanistic in her relationship to singing. As the lead singer/co-writer with Moloko she has been a staple in the underground for 13 years. Her videos are pretty far out, she's hot and she seems ripe for stardom but is she too good for stardom? Let's hope EMI doesn't blow this one. She should be getting American airplay. She should be played on KIIS FM Los Angeles. She should be a star. But is the world ready for a star with this much intelligence and sexuality? They better bloody well be!

This is most definitely the best album produced in 2007. Roisin Murphy RULES! If she stops anywhere near you on her tour - GO SEE HER!! Seh's an amazing perfomer!

This is one of the best electro / pop albums in years. The entire Roisin package is perfect -- brilliant sounds, edgy lyrics, amazing style, fascinating videos. It's refreshing to see a pop star looking like she's having fun and has something to say rather than just churning out more of the same (I'm looking your way, Madonna!).

I began by loving 'Overpowered' and 'Let Me Know' and now find myself loving 'Primitive', 'Dear Miami', and 'Cry Baby'. There are no filler tracks. I hope this album is released in the US (I'm looking your way, EMI!) and that Roisin becomes a huge star in America.

Roisin and this album are strictly rolling V.I.P...

Roisin Murphy is the most underrated singer of this generation. She is one of the most talented people I've ever had the pleasure of hearing, and she deserves so much more success than these other "fakers" who just sing what the producers want them to. Roisin produces, writes, creates the concepts, videos, etc. to everything. She doesn't allow people to mold her, she is herself. And that is why all of her material (including her time with Moloko) is some of the best pop material out there.

This album is no exception. It's so fresh, so new, so different.. but it is still familiar, nostalgic, and just plain FUN! Isn't that what music should be about? Also, check out the B-Side to "Let Me Know" called 'SUNSHINE', it is so quirky and bubbly and cute. I wish that would have been on the album, along with the iTunes bonus track 'PANDORA', but it is still an amazing album.

BEST POP ALBUM SINCE DANNII MINOGUE'S NEON NIGHTS AND KYLIE'S FEVER!

This latest is a cut above her last album, Ruby Blue, which seems to be of different genres when compared. This one's seems edgier. Absolutely the best track on the cd is Parallel Lives with its awesome production, and ear delicious beats. Something about it even seems to be chilling. Next, there's Body Language, a playful but an extremely sexy song, where you can just hear the soul oozing from her voice. She has other great worthy tracks on there, but these two are just worth buying the whole cd. And there is a similarity to Goldfrapp too.

When it comes to music, the US is sleepin' on the UK.

Go Róisín! And I love her name! Great album! :)