Customer Reviews

Simple Soul

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

 

 

I've debated with myself about writing this review for a while. I'm a big fan of Eddi - I own all her solo albums and I've seen her in concert 3 times. I even wrote a laudatory review for Angels & Electricity.

But I find this album to be disappointing. There is nothing new and I don't feel she is progressing much as an artist. I thought the writing combination of her and Boo Hewerdine was extremely gifted. Now I think maybe she needs to broaden her horizons and seek out new writing partners and material. Otherwise this will be my last Eddi Reader cd.

If you are new to Eddi I would suggest one of her stronger cd's - any of the first three will do. My personal favourite is the second one - Eddi Reader.

Her voice is magical, her sensitivity and emotion remains. But the songs just aren't very memorable.

What do you think?

I'll admit I like to have my own personal Women's Music Festival at my desk in the office every once in a while, but the recent glut of female singer/songwriters has made them a dime a dozen and I was a bit disappointed. I won't say I'm shutting the door in Eddi Reader, 'cause I'd heard good things about her, but I heard very little in the CD to distinguish her from a million other acoustic folksingers.

She has a few great lyrics, but none of the sophisitication of early Suzanne Vega; she can't match with the quirkiness of Dar Williams or the Nields; doesn't have the sharp wit of softer Ani Difranco (can't really compare harder Ani to this); obviously can't harmonize like the Indigo Girls; doesn't have a really distinctive voice like Kristin Hersh or Mary Fahl; no jazzy savoir faire like Erin McKeown or Amy Correia. It's not a BAD album, and I respect the effort, it's just not exciting and therefore there's no real reason to keep it from sitting in the back of my cd rack, while I play others I can't get enough of.

A lot of singers show buckets of technical or artistic vocal talent but come up short on interesting material. Eddi Reader though a sorceress with all 3 powers, continues with expectation, and does not try and prove what she's proven before.

This recording may not fit your mood, but it is still worth listening to for the amount of heart in the singing as well as the words.

Every review so far is right. Those wanting to hear a more energetic Eddi will be disappointed. The concept here, as indicated by the album title, is a pared down approach to musicianship and arrangements. This won't be my favourite Eddi album. I could use a big epic number like "Dolphins" or "Kiteflyer's Hill", and others may long for the more standard stylings of Fairground Attraction.

On the other hand, if you are prepared to listen, this album will reward in its own unrushed way. In mood and thought it achieves what it sets out to do. The singer sincerely shares her thoughts, and her quiet art here is as masterly and uncopied and beautiful as ever. Also significant to note, unlike other recordings of popular solo artists, the musicians here sparkle and do not take a back seat to the star. You'll be mesmerised with the opening to the song "Adam", and warm to the acoustic jangle and very human foibles contained within "Wanting Kind".

Having always been a huge fan of Ms Readers work, this album came as no surprise to me. Whilst there is nothing new on this album, anyone who is familiar with Eddi's songwriting and musical efforts won't be disappointed. A little bit more emotive than the last album, Angels and Electricity, songs like Adam and the Wanting Kind hit home. Eddi's lilting vocals trip lightly, giving us more of what we've come to expect from her, truly insightful heartfelt lyrics. With so many "folk / pop" performers out there at the moment, it's good to know that there are some artists you can rely on to come up with the goods everytime. An excellent effort.

From the moment I popped this into my CD player I was hooked. The opening track "Wolves" is amazing, as is "I Felt a Soul Move Through Me". The CD even got me through a tumultous time period in my life, asking "is this all I'm here for?" This is a welcome return, after "Angels & Electricity" let me down just a bit to 4.5 stars instead of 5. This deserves 5 stars as you can take any track on this album and see something different in it. Boo and Eddi team up for another awesome mix of haunting lyrics and Eddi's honey tinged voice. Eddi continues to amaze me, I just wish she'd make it to Texas or anywhere in the south so I could experience this in person. This CD hasn't left my car since I bought it the day it came out!

I really like this album and it really likes me too! When I first put this cd on, I knew I was in for a treat. Eddi has always had something about her that puts her above people like Jewel or or any other "folkie". Where others music seems pushed and hard, Eddi just flows. She is just herself. If people tend to think that she has not grown or her music is too stagnant, think of the greats that we adore and how when they stray it is as if they have taken away something special they gave you. Eddi has stayed true to her heart since the days of Fairground Attraction. IF you don't believe me, SEE HER LIVE!

This Glasgow, Scotland native (born named Sadenia) possesses not only staggering vocal technique, but also the rare talent of being able to transmute the emotion she feels in a song to her audience.

On this, her 5th solo effort, she offers her most stripped down & spare recording to date, with the overall sound dominated by acoustic guitars. The album is a beautiful acoustic work of 11 captivating, personal, light-hearted & heart-breaking songs.

Many of the tracks were written or co-written by Eddi, confirming her true coming of age as a songwriter of considerable skill.

An underlying serenity is one of the most potently alluring qualities, paradoxically enabling her to transport the listener to the extremes of love and longing, desolation and dreamy rapture.

# 1 is specifically about the pressures of the daily grind, the fear that this is all there is. # 2 is about those who just seem to keep desiring more no matter what they have. #4 is about returning to that simple, peaceful place. # 5 is about the pains of modern masculinity, using the story of the Garden of Eden as imagined from Eve's perspective. # 6 is about isolation & loneliness, & # 8 is about the impact of her father's death. The wider urge to escape life's mundanities and complexities, be it on an actual or a spiritual level, is a sentiment she explores in 2 more songs, 9 & 10. According to Eddi herself, however, perhaps the most directly personal track is "The Girl Who Fell In Love With the Moon" (11).

Featuring appearances by Adam Kirk (Joan Baez) on Dobro & electric guitar; Tim Harries (Steeleye Span) on bass guitar; Johnny Scott (music director for Van Morrison) on pedal steel & guitars; Teddy Borowiecki (music director for k.d. lang) on keyboard & accordion; Roy Dodd on drums/percussion; & longtime collaborator Boo Hewerdine.

Yet another great work by Eddi. Her voice is angelic as usual and her continued work with boo hewerdine proves that this is a match made in heaven. My wife and I fell in love to the sweet sounds of Eddi's voice and look foward to many more offerings by her. If your a rabid eddi fan like I am, this cd is a must add to your collection. Thank you Eddi for you wonderful voice, and sharing it with the rest of the world.

Think of the first quiet moment you ever had with a new love. That feeling of naked intimacy, simple and perfect, follows Eddi Reader from album to album. Press play, close your eyes, and she's there, singing for you.

This first CD of two (a forthcoming release tentatively entitled 'Driftwood' will contain 12 songs that didn't fit on 'Sister Soul'), Eddi spends much of her time dancing about the 'immortal intangibles' -- dreams, luck, imagination, spirits, emotion, religion, magic, and, of course, the soul -- intermixed with the unshakeable feeling that something is missing.

On the upbeat and highly-catchy "The Wanting Kind," Eddi asks her never-satisfied, never-content subject, "What does it take to make you happy?" The plaintive "Footsteps Fall" laments the pain of enduring loneliness while being able to hear the happy couple next door: "And the loneliest sound of all/Is the sound of love/Through a stranger's wall." She finds herself in the role of Eve in the earlier of two Eden-oriented songs, "Adam," cooing, "Adam baby don't you look so sad/How we gonna miss what we never really had?" And on the title track she wistfully dreams of a simpler life, where she'd be "Not too complicated to shiver when I'm cold/I'd make my home where I am bound/If I had a simple soul."

Unlike her last effort, 'Angels and Electricity,' there is no leap-out-at-you radio track (i.e. "Prayer Wheel") disrupting the album's flow. Indeed, 'Sister Soul' moves elegantly from one track to the next, letting the listener drift along at a relaxing pace. While that doesn't keep the most radio-ready song, the secular-yet-spiritual "I Felt A Soul Move Through Me," from shining just a little brighter than the rest on the first listen, it's pretty clear that Eddi's learned to be a shade less conspicuous about potential singles.

"Simple Soul" won't disappoint longtime fans; she's been making near-perfect music for years, and the trend continues here. On the other hand, there isn't anything different here designed to increase her fanbase, not that coming up with quality material has never been Eddi's problem. Giving the masses an opportunity to hear what she has to offer -- that's the real problem.

A humble suggestion -- seeing how the careers of Aimee Mann and Elliott Smith have taken off, perhaps Eddi should put together a movie soundtrack. She would clearly be up to the task, and -- Hollywood, are you listening? -- lately Oscar loves seemingly new musical discoveries.

Many people havn't heard of Eddie Reader. This album is a great introduction to her great body of work.Her voice is pure bliss, On each track she gently guides you through the lyrics with a voice that is very similar to a cross between K.D.Lang and Joni Mitchell. This album is just wonderful and a great late night listen.