Customer Reviews

Parlour

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After Bath Water Flowers I was hooked. The Kill You EP then grabbed those hooks and twisted on my heart strings. I thought Parlour was going to do this to me as well. I was wrong. Instead of just leaving me drooling in awe, Parlour got into my head and refuses to let go. I have only praise for the uberdivine Darling Violetta. I don't think I could live without this cd.

A Smaller God is first on my rave list, and here's why: I heard a live recording of it, and thought, my God, we have a winner. I thought it could not be mixed any better, but the album recording exceeded all of my expectations. Absolutely fabulous!

Pauline is next on my itinerary, and I dearly love this song. It moves me, and I cannot put a finger on exactly why, but it does. Lyrics are awesome, and I don't want to get the refrain unstuck from where it's currently on constant reply in my brain. It's that good.

Onward through Over You and Jessamine, which are wonderful as well. Really liking how they follow each other in order on the album. Bardot Barbiturate catches and refuses to let go, and I love to sing along.

Can't say much about Say You Love Me, because it speaks for itself. Listen to it. Candy Jones is to die for. I'm reminded of classic Bond movies when I listen to this. I am tempted to mix a music video or something.

Second Skin is amazing to listen to... I love it ! Everybody remember the background music for the Parlour pop-up on DV's site? That was from this song. Pure genius. And speaking of genius, Benediction and Beautiful back to back.

Benediction is a break-up song, pure and simple. I love it, and next time my friend breaks up with her boyfriend, AGAIN, I'm making her listen to this, because it's so empowering.

Beautiful is aptly named, because it really is beautiful. It's a post-breakup song, full of pain and anger, and altogether powerful. Cami Elen really shows off her range here. By the end of the song, I'm convinced she could do opera. Not lame opera, good opera.

Star Shoes is another awesome (can't stop using this word!) song. It incorporates some of the interludes and ends the album with a perfect flourish.

I cannot say enough about this album, so I'll stop with this: Buy it! Buy it now! You'll never regret it!

Ok I admit it, I bought this 'cos they are the band that do the theme to Angel. Right now that's out of the way let's just say a few things.
Darling Violetta are not doing anything bold or new or genre defining. What they have done is go into a studio and had a great time, and it shows in the music. You can catch it on every track, they are really enjoying themselves and that feeling is infectious. In an age when music is either too studious or simply made for the cash, it's refreshing to hear music that is done for the thrill of doing it. From the opening Smaller God to the final Star Shoes, I've been hooked. I haven't enjoy music like this since the days of Sarah records.
I hope we'll hear more from them soon.

Parlour is one of those albums that only come along once in a blue moon. It's the type of album that any band would love to call their own. In this case, Darling Violetta has that distinction. 'Parlour' is their first full-length album, but you wouldn't know it by the sounds that come from your speakers with this playing. It's full, robust, playful, and most of all professional.

Cami's voice is that of an angel on earth. Her range is amazing that it can't come from anything but an angel. Steve must have sold his soul to the devil for the ability to play the drums like he does on this album - I start sweating just thinking about it. Jymm takes the guitar to a completely new level...I've heard that his guitars are his lover...it must be true because he makes beautiful music with it!

The lineup of songs on this album shows purpose, you can tell this album has been thought out. A Smaller God opens the disc after a small interlude and it's the perfect song to open with....it's deep and painful but it's so powerful. This album seems to be almost a tribute to independent women with songs like Pauline, Jessamine, and Candy Jones. Then comes Benediction and it's hard to 'get you out of my mind' it screams "PLAY ME AGAIN!" and just when you think you can't take anymore, Beautiful begins to close down the disc and it's just that, beautiful. Star Shoes is the last song on the disc and leaves you feeling upbeat...that is unless of course, you set this disc on repeat as you should.

I'm writing this while listening to Parlour for the second time. If I wrote it during the first time, this post would be unreadable because of the orgasm my ears have been having.

Each review is written as I listen to the songs, so if they seem disjointed, read them while listening and all will come together. It also means I have less than 5 minutes to review each song...

So here goes:

A Smaller God

The song that used to be my second favorite DV tune has lost that title. Not because of the weakness of this song, but because of the strength of those that follow.

The verse is subtle and fragile. Scared, afraid, needy.

The chorus is the opposite. Strong and brash. Like a prizefighter in the ring.

The two mesh in a explosion of music that lets you know that this ain't your momma's CD.

If this is the first track, they must have put the strongest one first, right? Lesser bands might. DV... well...

Pauline

Love the opening drum/guitar piece. Cami's vocals are warm and soothing. She never lets on the power that will explode in the chorus.

The backing vocals are spot on.

Steve's drum work should be commented on and I'm doin it here. Precise. Flawless. Few people can transform the traps from 'just drums' to a truly musical instrument. Steve is one of those few.

The bridge was unexpected the first time I heard it and it still sneaks up on you.

Cami, your voice has matured since TKYEP and it shows. Stronger, more confident and willing to attack those nearly out of reach sounds most of us will never make.

Paper Sky is so much a part of this song that I'm surprised you made it a separate track.

Over You

Cello. A DV staple. Used differently than before. In a good way.

Cami opens up with something in her voice. A superiority to the target of the song?

Again, the backings are perfect in every way.

This tune really is a showcase for the 'New Cami'. Wall to wall vocals. A great tune to play air drums to while jamming out. A classic rock and roll ending courtesy of Jymm.

Jessamine

Horns? In a DV tune? Sounds like Chicago. "Saturday in the Park"

I think Cami is describing my ex-gf...

Greatest chorus yet.

Strings are subtle but strong. Gotta love that.

As a trumpet player I have to love this song. As a DV fan I have to love this song. I think of Sunday afternoons in the summer on the cobblestone streets of Boston.

Bardot Barbiturate

Great snare work. Vocals are etherial. Almost wispy and untouchable.

Then, a minute and a half into the song all hell breaks loose. Jymm and Steve had fun with this one. Jymm's solo is, I want to say 'different', but that's not the word. It's just right. Steve's tom is hardcore.

And it ends as it began. Nice touch.

Say You Love Me

Classic torch song brought kicking and screaming into the 21st century. Steve's all about the flourish.

The chorus is reaching back into my memory for something. Something with Olivia Newton-John. Xanadu, perhaps? Whatever it is, I like it.

Candy Jones

Well, this is where the DV rubber hits the road, now isn't it? Strong from front to back. RAWK RAWK RAWK! That's what this song is all about. It's got radio written all over it. Honestly, for that reason, I think I like this song least of all the tracks on Parlour. I didn't say I didn't love the song. Just not as much as the others. Maybe because it's not as 'new' as the others to my ear.

Second Skin

Used ta be called 'Brilliance' to all of you OLD fans out there.

The opening drums are almost stolen directly from Siouxsie and the Banshees "O Baby" and I bet that, until reading this right now, they didn't even realize it. But the haunting guitar that follows defines this as a song all DV's own.

This song wasn't written. It was built. And it's no hut. This is a fortress. A big, strong, brick fortress.

Cami's sound is unique here. Maybe Cami is the new Siouxsie...

Then the chorus. I don't care what you say, that's Bowie doing backup.

Interesting drumwork right after the chorus worth listening to a few times. Then maybe you'll understand how good this guy is.

My first criticism of the whole album. Coulda done with less tambourine. Just my opinion.

Benediction

Benediction was the 'also ran' on TKYEP and it's good to see that it survived the Parlour cut. This was always my favorite DV tune, so I may be very hard on this version seeing how much I like the original.

First off, at :14 sec into the song it sounds like someone is pressing record on an old tape recorder. I don't know what that's about.

The song sounds rushed to me in comparison with the original. The chorus is stronger than the original, and that's a good thing.

Cami's vocals sound rough. Not her singing, but the quality of the recording. If I had to pick a song that was weak on the album it's this one and it breaks my heart.

Beautiful

Heavy techno-house sound. If you like the band Orbital, you love this song. Smart DJs are gonna work this one into a mix.

This song has a secret, though. It goes from sweet to sour. It needs to be in a video game soundtrack. Beautiful is the "I Want to Kill You" of Parlour.

And now I finally know where 'have you ever seen a lullaby on fire' comes from after 2 1/2 years...

This one may be my favorite, but that will change 75 times before tomorrow.

Enough Rope to Hang Yourself

I mention this :26 sec piece only because it's 26 seconds of genius.

Star Shoes

DV channels the Beatles 21st century style. What's not to love about this song? I think this is an easy radio winner. It pulls all the right strings. It's sweet without being sappy. It's a fun tune for the springtime.

This was the only song you could have ended this album with.

And I want to talk about that for a moment. Alot of bands can record great music and slap it on an album. DV spent alot of time working out the order of songs so there is a comfortable progression from one to the next. And if they didn't, well, it sure sounds like they did. I figure Steve spent a few anally retentive sleepless nights working out the order.

So there you go. My review in a nutshell. One big...nutshell.

All in all, it was well worth the wait. Two long years from Cami and my conversations about the Candy Jones video shoot to now. It's been worth every agonizing second. I want to thank the band, Chris and Atto. I love you guys.

This album is a fantastic buy to showcase Darling Violetta's range of song styles and vocal ability. The first few songs are pop-friendly tunes then the next few are nice mellow tracks, then the album rounds out with some really great complex songs. There is no obvious repetition of any song style and just listening to the short sound bites doesn't show how complex many of their songs are. This is definately an album i will listen to regularly.

Darling Violetta have released the first great album of 2003, and perhaps the best since Y2K. Rarely do a group of artists display such growth, maturity and originality in such a cohesive package. From start to finish, Parlour is a collection of high points. Woven together by musical interludes, the album reads like one continuous piece of music, exploring themes of darkness and light without losing its focus. As they say - All Killer, no Filler.

In addition to their trademark cello, the band has also added horns, lap steel, and a variety of other instruments to their sound, again illustrating their maturity and originality as songwriters. Steve McManus' drumming is typically stunning. Jymm Thomas (the second coming of the Edge and Alex Lifeson) creates walls of sound with his unique approach to guitar playing. And Cami Elen's voice is simply outstanding - an instrument as versatile and magical as it's owner.

The band is in fine form from the beginning. A Smaller God opens the set, with Jymm Thomas' mammoth guitar tone and Cami Elen's vocal putting virtually every other band's attempt at anthemic rawk to shame.

Love is celebrated on Second Skin, lamented on Benediction, and downright despised on Beautiful; the latter a dark and haunting ode to a former lover. When Cami Elen unleashes "Have you ever seen a lullaby on fire...", transforming her dreamlike delivery into a growl with so much angst...well, Hell hath no fury indeed....

Jessamine and Star Shoes (Love is Everything) will bring to mind the Beatles and warm summer days. Bardot Barbiturate is a lilting lullaby to Hollywood's glamour days. Over You and Pauline (featuring some great drumming from Steve McManus) are just screaming for rock radio.

And who can resist Candy Jones, with it's psychedelic slide guitar and infectious bass line? Subterfuge never sounded so good....

Darling Violetta is one of the finest bands you've never heard. The group gained much of their following after performing songs on BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER and composing the popular theme tune for ANGEL. Their third album, PARLOUR, promises to please those fans and garner even more. From the album's strong opening, "A Smaller God", to its cheery close, "Star Shoes (Love Is Everything)", it's one fun ride filled with delectable treats like "Pauline", "Over You", and "Bardot Barbiturate". Each song is a like a piece of sweet candy, tasting a bit like 60's classic rock and covered in a gothic wrapper. Singer Cami Elen has a heavenly voice and an impressive vocal range to go with it. Steve McManus' drums are neither too loud nor too quiet; they're just right. The same could be said for Jymm Thomas' guitars, which perfectly complement Elen's vocals. This is indie rock at its finest. It's a pity more people haven't heard about this wonderful little band; but in purchasing this, YOU can change that. Highly recommended.

I must admit, I have been listening to more and more indie and underground groups lately. I first heard their song "A Smaller God" while playing the videogame Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines. After wishing I could hear more from this group, I tracked down this CD on Amazon. This is definitely a rarity, but I listened to every song on this CD several times during a roadtrip and commutes to work. As another reviewer stated, this group definitely seemed like they had fun making some of the songs on this disc. The instrument work on this CD is amazing! The guitar and drum playing are exceptional and the vocals from the lead singer really stand out on tracks, such as "Say You Love Me". As a genre, I really can't classify this group given the variety of the tracks on this disc. It's just great music by musicians using real instruments!

This album is SO incredibly well-done, imaginative, professional, original, beautiful, tight, etc., etc. that I couldn't help but like it. There are VERY few bands around these days that exhibit this high a level of musicianship. I generally like classic rock, jazz and classical music. DV hits on all those areas, and then some. It's a strange blend of styles, but it's accomplished so magnificently that it works. Buy it - you won't be disappointed.

Parlour is one of those albums that only come along once in a blue moon. It's the type of album that any band would love to call their own. In this case, Darling Violetta has that distinction. 'Parlour' is their first full-length album, but you wouldn't know it by the sounds that come from your speakers with this playing. It's full, robust, playful, and most of all professional.

Cami's voice is that of an angel on earth. Her range is amazing that it can't come from anything but an angel. Steve must have sold his soul to the devil for the ability to play the drums like he does on this album - I start sweating just thinking about it. Jymm takes the guitar to a completely new level...I've heard that his guitars are his lover...it must be true because he makes beautiful music with it!

The lineup of songs on this album shows purpose, you can tell this album has been thought out. A Smaller God opens the disc after a small interlude and it's the perfect song to open with....it's deep and painful but it's so powerful. This album seems to be almost a tribute to independent women with songs like Pauline, Jessamine, and Candy Jones. Then comes Benediction and it's hard to 'get you out of my mind' it screams "PLAY ME AGAIN!" and just when you think you can't take anymore, Beautiful begins to close down the disc and it's just that, beautiful. Star Shoes is the last song on the disc and leaves you feeling upbeat...that is unless of course, you set this disc on repeat as you should.