Customer Reviews

Songs For A Sinking Ship

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I heard this group perform "Wow and Flutter" on 'A Prairie Home Companion' (they won the band competition) and decided I had to find more of their music. THANK YOU, AMAZON.
I downloaded this album and I've enjoyed every track.
This young lady has an unbelievably powerful voice with a great vocal range. She's also a very accomplished guitarist.
She and the rest of the band just fit together, and the eclectic selection of songs shows their abilities.
I think they'll go far.

This is the best album I have heard in ages . Not only are the vocals great,but the band takes the whole album to a new level . The lyrics paint pictures in your head and you can't stop singing and tapping your toes. The ballads on this album are so beautiful and really show off the range that this singer has This is a must have album for any one who is sick of listening to the top 20 every day. Buy It now. You won't be sorry!

To simply put it, if you listen to the sample of this album, and like it, then buy it. You get exactly what you hear, and not only are the songs catchy in their musical aspects, but the lyrics are too. Considering that this album was paid for by donations from fans, and I am a new fan, I feel bad that I missed out on the opportunity to help this great piece of music start. 5 stars, and I'll donate for the next one if need be.

As a very musical person who has been listening to a wide range of musical styles for a large number of years, I rarely feel in awe of new musicians, songs, performances, or productions. To be sure, there are and have always been many, many impressive artists, poets, composers, singers, lyricists, and songwriters around. The music world has never had a shortage of talented and accomplished contributors, and all of us have been the beneficiaries of all sorts of greatness, beauty, and splendor that musicians have brought into our lives - be it a short little sonata, a grand and expansive symphony, touching operatic passages, energetic rock and roll, deep blues, or any number of other genres that enrich our life experiences every day.

Regrettably, in our never-ending pursuit of new musical gems, we also stumble on far too many mediocre or downright dismal offerings from individuals that I can (kindly) consider sorry excuses for artists. It's far more common to have letdowns and disappointments than the exhilaration of discovering something truly worthwhile. The latter happens rarely, but it does happen once in a while.

Discovering April Smith's Songs for a Sinking Ship has been one of the rarest of those delightful occasions. This album is, in a word, great. Every single song is a gem. Although some are not as strong as others, the lyrics are insightful, original, and memorable. The instrumentation is clean and balanced - not overly skewed in any one direction, just right. The pace and tempo is perfect for each song. Slower ones are paced perfectly. They are not long and laborious. The faster songs are all catchy, perfectly rhythmic, and beautifully balanced. The performances are all top-notch. Every instrument can be heard cleanly, and the whole thing feels effortless. The bass is clean and tight in every single song. Everything feels deliberate and beautifully coordinated.

April's singing is nuanced and beautiful. Subtle flutters, graceful transitions, effortless highs, and her all-around pleasant style make it very easy to listen to the songs again and again with pleasure. She is equally adept at all of the different styles of music that she sings on this album. Her voice is not processed or enhanced - it's natural and powerful and clean all on its own. She sounds as beautiful and skilled in her live performances as she does in the studio recordings on this album.

The only problem with this album is that it's too short. Then again, I would complain even if it were twice as long for one simple reason: you just can't get enough of it!

Listen to the samples, buy this collection, enjoy it. You will be happy you did.

All the songs on this CD are very good. The lyrics are great- very catchy and interesting. I guess the musical style is similar to Little Voice by Sara Bareilles.

I never thought I could love another band more than I love this band. I've been listening to this album for about three weeks straight and still get excited when I turn on my Ipod. Thanks to April Smith and her awesome band for creating such great music!!!! Definitely pick this up, you won't regret it!

I first heard one track from this CD ("Colors") on a sampler from Paste Magazine. I knew just from that track that I would love the rest of the album. I bought the MP3 album because I didn't want to wait for a disc. The music is somewhat retro, with echoes of vaudeville, but so fresh and catchy. This album has been played non-stop as my driving music for the last few months; I've recommended the band to everyone I know. You won't be disappointed.

I believe this is one of the most exciting and creative music CD's of the year. April Smith and her band put on a wonderful performance of upbeat and interesting music with a great range of complex rhythm, phrasing, and lyrics. April is an extremely fine music talent and should not be missed.

I had heard April Smith on the Garrison Keilor show and got this CD. It has been one of my favorites. All the songs are great!

The music is excellent, the lyrics are fun, the songs are varied, and April's Smith's voice is amazing. I agree with the previous reviewer - if you like the previews at all, buy the record.