Customer Reviews

Shine

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

 

 

for fans of her first studio release, Sarah provides a more rock-oriented set, with some interesting and much appreciated song-writing changes from the standard alt-rock script. a bit heavy on the quiet intro, then distorted guitars, but still some fine songwriting. as always, her voice is an edgy joy to listen to. personal highlights include "Coasting Speed", "I Can't Get Out", and "Put It Out For Good".

Part rock ..part folk ballads with clever and meaningful lyrics. Shine is a fine collection of alternative folk rock tunes sung with soft but edgy vocals and artful guitar playing. I especially like 'put it out for good' and 'pave the way' which are heart-felt coming-of-age tunes that both teens and adults can relate to.

I had trouble getting Sarah Betten's first CD out of my player in order to listen to this one, but I'm so glad I finally did. This woman, and her voice, are amazing.....Can't wait for more!

While this CD doesn't have the rock-n-roll drive Scream did, it still holds true to Sarah's unique style. I have fallen in love with most of the songs, but to me "Rescue Me" is the best produced and most meaningful song. Keep it up Sarah!!!

'Scream' was a much better album. Aside from 'Daddy's Gun' there are no memorable 'hooks' like the selections from 'Scream'. The entire album seemed flat, lacking the passion of her previous work. Hopefully, her next venture will rekindle the promise of 'Scream".

In 2003 one of Belgium's best rock bands ever, K's Choice, called it a day after a remarkable 10 year run that included 4 studio albums, 1 live album and the obligatory "best of" compilation, while along bringing one of the best 90's "alternative" albums "Paradise In Me" with its signature song (and the band's biggest hit) "Not An Addict". Lead singer Sarah Bettens (who moved to the US sometime in those years) then embarked on a solo career, and after the 2005 "Scream" album, this is here second solo outing.

"Shine" (12 tracks, 45 min.) starts off with a classic K's Choice moment on the opener "I Can't Get Out": an electric guitar with Sarah's vocals before the song crashes into the chorus, it is the best track on the album. Sarah Bettens has one of the more recognizable voices in the alternative rock scene, and she carries many a tune on here, such as the beautiful title track. Regretfully the middle of the album is saddled with too many mid-tempo songs that don't seem to go anywhere. But there are several great tracks besides the earlier mentioned "I Can't Get Out" and "Shine", such as the hard charging "Put It Out For Good", "Driving Alone", "Coasting Speed" and the beautiful melancholic closer "The Soldier Song".

In all, this is a nice album, nothing spectecular, but when you listen to it, it makes you ache back for the glory days of K's Choice some 10 years ago, as "Shine" simply cannot compare to it. Will there ever be a reunion of Sarah with her brother Gert Bettens and bring K's Choice back? Only time will tell. In the meantime we are left with "Shine", an appetizer-like album of what could-should be...