Customer Reviews

Sarah Shannon

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As most of you know, Sarah Shannon was the former lead singer of Velocity Girl and Starry Eyes. She also released a 5 song EP in 1999 called "Estheraho" in 1999 which is kind of hard to find. Her new album is quite a departure from what many of you may be used to. Instrumentation has gone from fuzzy, distorted guitars to strings, trumpets, violins and piano (though are a couple songs that have the old VG feel like like "Are you far enough"). I really liked this album mostly because Sarah's familiar and wonderful voice is still with us but in a different context that works very well (the Seattle Times described one of her songs as if "coming from a Broadway Musical" and anothers as having a "Burt Bacharach-y" feel). Like the reviewer before me from D.C, I was fortunate enough to see Sarah in concert (in Seattle). Her voice translated very well and was quite strong in a live setting (though much of the lush instrumentation was replaced by a keyboardist, drummer, bassist and guitarist) and I enjoyed myself thoroughly. So, if you love Sarah's voice and are ready for her slightly different musical direction, you will have to get this album.

I heard about this album on NPR's "Weekend Edition Saturday" and totally fell for it. This is a deliciously terrific pure pop album, something no one seems keen to make anymore, and for my money the best release of the year. There's nary a clunker on the record (hard to pick a fave) and a few solid rockers that might -- MIGHT -- appease Velocity Girl fans. I've been recommending this to my friends who care about good pop. If I had Brian Wilson's address, I'd send him a copy. I think he'd approve. Burt Bacharach, too.

I heard about thirty seconds of Sarah on NPR's Weekend Edition and that was enough for me. I love this CD, and the only reason I can think of that it has not received more national acclaim, is that Norah Jones' debut was released one month later on a major label. This is a great performance by Sarah, who has one of the freshest voices to grace the airways in years. She holds the notes, her songs are well crafted, and musically there's something for everyone. Down, Call You on the Telephone, Heaven got Wider, and Can't You See are all great pop-type songs, in that they are easy to listen to, but not cookie-cutter pop. I'll Run Away, When You Live Life Alone are great ballads that are readily identifiable. This CD is on my top-ten deserted island list. Enjoy!

The first solo effort from the former Velocity Girl front-woman, this self-titled release is an absolutely stunning combination of a pop sensibility like that of Carole King, horns that sound lifted straight from a Chicago album, and vocal treatment that PJ Harvey might deliver if she wasn't a sheer force of nature. With all of this packed into an impeccably tracked ten songs ranging from soft to surging rock and roll, Sarah Shannon has made the most memorable debut so far in a year ripe with new releases from young artists.

Anyone who knows Shannon from her days as lead singer in DC's Velocity Girl, a crunchy, mid-tempo, bouncy indie-pop band from the mid-late 90's, will find this album's bold departure from her past to be a resounding success or a miserable failure. I subscribe to the former, and do so emphatically! This album is simply gorgeous, a sheer pleasure to listen to, repeatedly. Shannon's voice is much more front-and-center now that she's stepped out from behind the fuzz of Velocity Girl (not to suggest that band was anything but marvellous as well!), and WOW, it's amazing what we've been missing.

The style here is very jazzy, with easily discernable overtones/influences of people like Burt Bacharach, making for a very cheery vibe. You're struck instantly by the brassy intro on opener 'Down', yet easily lost in the soft beauty of tracks like 'When You Live Life Alone'. The experience here is one to be enjoyed with Shannon herself, as there is a real opportunity to invest yourself in this album both musically and lyrically. And I wholeheartedly recommend that you do just that! You WILL NOT be disappointed!

VERY HAPPY FOR SARAH, THIS IS A GREAT A RELEASE. I HOPE THAT MANY VG FANS STILL REMEMBER THAT GREAT VOICE AND PICK THIS UP!!

I stumbled onto a Sarah Shannon show at the Black Cat in DC. Liked it so much I bought her CD there. Good music. Kind of jazzy. She has a real pretty voice. After the show I spotted her talking to some people, and she was nice enough to sign my CD for me. Anyway, I highly recommend this CD for an easy Sunday afternoon. No. 5 (Whats Mine) is my favorite tune.

I liked Velocity Girl, but I've lost interest over the years, so when heard about this solo I effort I wasn't interested. Then I heard a snippet on NPR and was intrigued, especially by the smooth vocals. Five or so listens later, I remain impressed with the vocals, but also by the quality of the material and arrangements. All in all, a slighlty uneven but mostly very strong debut. "Call you on the Telephone" is an early favorite.

This CD has so many memorable tunes..ones that you sing over and over while going about your day...especially if you want to feel GOOD!

It takes me back to the sixties when I would sit around with my friends and sing songs together...like the Beatles, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Motown, Carole King, etc.

Great stuff..can't wait to here more!

I loved Velocity Girl- Forgotten Favorite and Crazy Town are my favorite tracks. So when I found out Sarah went out on her own and tried a different style that was compared to Burt Bacharach with Dionne Warwick, I picked up the disk. The voice was still great but the song construction and melodies are lacking. I listened to the disk twice and have put it on the shelf.