Customer Reviews

Scissors in My Pocket

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

 

 

I don't "review", but I felt compelled to say something about this so far, unheralded, arrival. "Scissors in My Pocket," in my opinion, is the the most engaging album of original material since Patty Griffin appeared on the singer/songwriter scene. But Polly Paulusma, who I understand, hails from the UK, is completely her own woman. This, unlike so many other singer/songwriter debuts boasts its own special identity. The music and lyrics are are fresh and arresting, delivered with a distinctive rhythm and diction. Ms. Paulusma's delicate, but insistent voice is the perfect vehicle for her quietly arresting material. Given the smoothly understated style, you might first look to the success of Norah Jones as the ignition for Ms. Paulusma's discovery, but the light she sheds is truly her own. Try as I might, I couldn't find "filler" on this album. Will she join the ranks of Joni Mitchell and Laura Nyro one day? Who knows, but "Scissors" is a delight all the way through, with outstanding high points.

This is without doubt one of the best debut albums I have ever heard. Apparently Paula Paulusma is British. I live in London and yet have seen no coverage of her on television or in the newspapers; nobody I know has heard of her. i cant quite understand how this has come about, as the album was released a few months ago. But mark my words, this album will explode in the same way that Damien Rice's "O" ran and ran. It is only a matter of time. Get in quick, buy 5 copies right now, one for yourself and one for each of your four closest friends. This CD begs to be heard - the lyrics are strong and vividly original, the melodies are catchy enough to stay with you for hours after hearing them. And best of all, seis nothing like I have heard before. Polly Paulusma really is something special, every track is a gem.

First, I'd like to have all comparisons put away -as odious as they can be. To compare her with Joni Mitchell is not right or wrong, it's simply absurd and unfair. It is absurd to compare a first album to an artist who's a standard for Folk music and who has produced stunning work, both musically and lyrically for over thirty years -sure, there's the 80's ... but even those years could cause the envy of many singers-songwriters- and who has given us not just great songs but anthems for more than one generation. That is why it 's also unfair ... what service could it provide a young, talented artist to be compared to a legend of popular music?
Actually, if you're looking for a "frame of reference," someone you may be familiar with, to figure out what she sounds like, I'd think of Norah Jones -second and last comparison- since her voice, her tone more than her phrasing, does remind you of the young American singer. Now, where Jones is "jazzier," Polly Paulusma is "folkier". OK ... end of comparisons. Polly is indeed a great a new arrival, someone I ventured to expect only greater things from, although if this were to be her only album, she should be proud of it, and you should be happy to own it. Paulusma is a great singer and an extremely accomplished composer, in other words, a great, new voice.
Wow ... what a tender sensibility, what a capacity to evoke the intimacy of her thoughts and feelings in song after song! If she's as young as I understand she is, Polly must have the benefit of past lives to bestow upon her such maturity. From "Dark Side" on -the very first song- her lyrics announce her poetic craft ("it gets cold on my dark side of the moon / the air is thin and chill / come and show me what the gray world looks like when it's blue") or, in "I Was Made To Love You" when she sings "if I send you my angel, would you send your to me?."
See, most people associate tenderness with youth, I'd say it's a sign of early, yet serious, wisdom. "She Moves n Secret Ways" -perhaps, where my thoughts of Norah Jones arose from- is another stunning example of her singing and songwriting's talent, listen to her beautiful singing over a gorgeous melody, where she says "on a river of sighs, a boat came toward me / a flimsy disguise covered the devil / who sang from a song sheet of how modern life's a bore / in his choirboys' attire, he sang me the life / to which good girls aspire, where men in white coats / give us pills to tame the horses that stamp on our floors / and pills for when the horses have bolted out the door." I don't know about you but I'm impressed, this is not clever technique, this is a woman, sweetly, waving the fierce flag of her right to express her power. And there's "Carry Home" and "Mea Culpa" which are simply pretty, as long as "pretty" is a word you've learned to respect. "Anywhere From Here" is another felicitous marriage of words and melody, in a serious way. So is "Something To Remember Me By." Yes ... I'm already looking forward to a long and enriching contribution from her. Call it what she's inspired me to expect but, make sure, to spare her any pressure. Thank you, Polly.

This is classy stuff, and it is Polly's own style. Shades of Mindy Smith, Norah Jones and the late Janis Joplin, and throw a little Carol King in there. She has the lyrical and melodic feel of a young Elton John, fresh, sometimes bluesy and intellectually honest.

Picture a cross between Norah Jones and Edie Brickell singing over 1970's folk pop and you have Polly Paulusma's album. It's light, airy, sweet, emotional and all around a good album.

This album is incredible, especially the trumpet playing of Gareth Batterbee. legend.

CD Review

Polly Paulusma - Scissors In My Pocket

Polly Paulusma is an exceptional songwriter.
Her debut CD Scissors In My Pocket highlights her distinctive voice and beautiful melodies.
Polly's songs are not your typical English folk music, there's nothing traditional here but the songs have a feel that can easily fall into that category.
Mainly an acoustic album this is the type of CD that can be enjoyed on a cold Sunday afternoon at home.
It contains a wealth of great songs that are rewarding and new things are heard upon each listen.
Polly has gone a long way very fast, from South London she was playing folk festivals in Europe until discovered by Indie label One Little Indian.
She recently did a support for the recent Bob Dylan tour of Europe.
Scissors In My Pocket has had great reviews in her native country describing her music as "Intelligent and thoughtful".
This is a seriously well-produced CD that captures your imagination and thoughts.

Absolutely one of the most incredible CD's I have bought in the past ten years, and I buy about 100 a year. Is it really impossible to wear out a CD? I'm not sure, but "Scissors" has found a home in my CD player!

As a strict principle I do not write reviews. However, this album has lead me to make an exception. This album is perfectly written, performed, produced, and ordered in terms of track flow. There are no "filler" tracks on this album, each track stands well either on it's own, or as a part of the whole album. Polly's voice wafts throughout the album in much the same fashion as Norah Jones, or Patty Griffen. However, "Scissors in My Pocket" does not sound the same as a majority of the other albums associated with the "Singer/Songwriter" genre. This album is completely unique with the lyrical content and delivery of said verses. A few standout tracks include "Carry Me Home" "I Was Made To Love You" and "She Moves In Secret Ways". However, as I previously stated, there are no "filler" tracks on this album. In conclusion, I wholeheartedly recommend this album to any person looking for a fresh sound. This album will not disappoint, (and if it does, you can give your copy to me) ;)

Polly Paulusma has a voice that is distinctive, its breathiness is very evocative. Her voice doesn't blow you away at first, but it gradually grows on you. Her lyrics are wonderful and quirky, although sometimes she crams too many words into a line at times. The lyrics aren't just about love lost or anything in that vein and it makes her music refreshing and stand out. The guitar sounds warm and intimate, perhaps since most of the songs were recorded in a garden shed with just Polly and her guitar. A great debut from a promising artist.