Customer Reviews

South

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

South is perhaps a commercial disc, but loses none of the social and political commentary offered by this prolific New Zealand singer-songwriter. What most do not realize is that when "South" was released in 1988, Shona Laing had been performing for nearly two deacdes. She had released four albums, several singles, and recorded and toured with Manfred Mann's Earth Band for the "Somewhere In Afrika" album. Her previous abums are "Whispering Afraid"(1972); "Shooting Stars Are Only Seen At Night"(1974); "Tied To the Tracks"(1981); and "Genre"(1985). The first two have the same lyrical style, but are very folk oriented, where as the latter two are of the same pop music style as "South". In fact, a few songs from "Genre" were carried over to "South". If you like catchy music, but with something intelligent to say, I recommend ANYTHING by Shona Laing.

This is a great CD and although most Shona Laing fans from the States think "South"(88'), "New on Earth"(92') and "Shona Laing"(94') are her only musical collections she has in fact been around since the 70's ...performing, writing and touring all these years. It wasn't until "SOUTH" that Shona was able to work the "world music stage" and get some long overdue recognition. Two "Best of" Cds were put out during the early 90's, one of which I was able to purchase in New Zealand buy just using the power of the internet and contains 18 songs from all over her career titled, "SHONA LAING-1905-1990 A RETROSPECTIVE", well worth checking out and trying to find. "South" just opened the door of a great talent. Her most recent effort "Roadworks" which came out in the latter part of the 90's was nearly impossible to find here in the USA, out of print right after it came out? Hopefully this isn't the last we'll here of this very talented New Zealand singer-writer, performer! many of "South" featured. UPDATE OCT. 2002 Shona
Laing has a brand new 2-cd collection just out in New Zealand
called "The Essential Shona Laing" featuring 30 tracks spaning
the 80's and 90's and a few from her even earlier 70's period.
This is an excellent collection to have, she is so talented and
also includes several from her 1997 release "Roadworks" which
was so hard to fine but is available in New Zealand on the web.

I first heard this cd during the late 80's while listening to wfnx (boston) which played alot of alternative pop-rock music. "Glad im not a Kennedy" and "Soviet Snow" played alot, they were great songs, great music and what a voice, very melancholish but tuff from experience. I would compare her tunes to joni mitchell, bonnie raitt don henley, this cd really has alot of bite and passion.

I too heard this on a Pittsburgh radio station that played alot of good, hard to find music. I eard the b-side song "She's CooCoo" by Siouxsie And The Banshees on that same now defunct station. Anyways, "Glad I'm Not A Kennedy" and "Soviet Snow" on that station and I sought this cd out. It is a very solid cd. The song about Kennedy is a bouncy pop song, but the loops of Kennedy's voice are chilling, especially the loop "of nuclear war, of which even the fruits of victory will be ashes in our mouth" I gave it 4 stars because even though all the songs are very well written and composed, they all don't appeal to me. I highly reccomend this cd though. It still stands solid after all these years, which is rare. You can tell a good cd if you still like it years later. I like this one!

If you haven't picked this one up, I would do so right away before it is unavailable like her other CDs. Shona was one of the most talented songwriters. With her unique voice and style all of her own, she is just as good as Kate Bush, Indigo Girls, and Natalie Merchant; and much better than most of the women who came after her. It would be wonderful to know what she is doing now. Some people who have commentted about "South" were unaware, but she did release more music after "South." There are two excellent CDs that came after "South." Typical of "80's" musicians in the "90's," Shona got rid of the drum machine and had a drummer perform on "New On Earth" (1992) and on "Shona" (1994). "South" has some of her most beautiful melodies and is possibly her best CD. I suggest looking for her two CDs that came later. Good luck!

I've read every else's comments, and just wanted to mention that this woman has had a prodigious output, but, unfortunately, despite all her work and talent, she's never really made it big, and most of her music is out of print. Keep your eyes open on various auction sites and such, and pick up whatever you can.

One of those rare CD's that I can play from beginning to end. It also contains a couple of tracks (like "Dockyard on a River") that I get very intense visual images from, a very emotional response. An all around excellent album.

Front to back a great recording. I have listened to this hundreds of times without it wearing thin. Cannot recommend this highly enough.

Unlike today when we have many strong, successful female singer/songwriters such as Tori Amos, Sarah Mclachlan (sp?), Liz Phair, Shawn Colvin and others 1988 was pretty bleak. I listened to this album all through the fall of 1988 on cassette till it wore out. Her music wasn't quite commercial enough to garner tons of airplay (besides college radio, where I heard it first) but not raw enough to gather a cult of fans to help her keep a major lable contract.

Her strong melodies, sense of melancholy and broad musical palette make this a listenable album even today.

Have listened to this many times - "Soviet Snow" is the best song on it, but they're all good. She was never given the success she deserved. It's kind of synth-rock from the late '80s, with very catchy tunes. She's from New Zealand.