Customer Reviews

Speak for Yourself

5 star:		(172)
4 star:		(39)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

This girl shows again and again that she has enough talent in her PINKY FINGER to support at least two more albums and a side project, and not break a sweat.

I Megaphone was an eclectic mix of soft songs and crunchy scary songs. It was good enough, but she didn't seem to have found her niche. Then, in 2002, Frou Frou's album came out. Yeah, most people missed it. I found out about it before Garden State, thankfully. It was absolutely amazing. She had found the place her vocals worked best, and I still haven't stopped listening to that album.

This brings me to Speak For Yourself, her sophomore solo album. She took more than just a little of the experience she gained from Frou Frou and used it here. While this album can't technically be called "trip hop" like Details could, it's close. The sounds are delicious (her website had a section where you could hear some of the samples she used - and oh how she used them!), the vocals are tantalizing, sexy, and deep, and the lyrics are, as always, interesting and edgy. This album will not let you down.

Key tracks:
Headlock - This song starts calm, with flickers of plinking sounds that tickle the ears and mind (especially with headphones) that delves into a heavy and almost angry beat halfway through. Quite good.

Loose Ends - Quite a poppy song. This definitely deserves some radio play. She even puts the opening "dum dum"s in the lyric book. It's easy, simple, and fun. One of my favorites.

Hide & Seek - This is the stunning and haunting filtered a capella track heard on this last season's finale of The O.C., so...YES! You've heard it! And it IS that song! Talent, I say. Talent!

Daylight Robbery - A very rough, edgy song starting with a heavy guitar/drum sounds that soon envelopes the song. I really like how she paired her voice with this song. I could see her rockin' out bigtime in the future. It still retains it's electronic side while employing these harder sounds.

I Am In Love With You - This song sounds very hip-hop at the beginning. It just has a very...late-night sweaty hip-hop club feel to it. The song is scandalous, as she is saying she is in love with a guy, just long enough to, umm...*cough*. Well, we're all adults here, right? You can figure it out.

Closing In - I didn't like this song at first. It seemed very...sloppy. I really didn't think it was her best. The more I listen to it though, I hear the true beauty. It's constantly on edge, just waiting to go over. The lyrics are beautiful, her vocals definitely suit the music, and it's just an all-around wonderful track.

The Moment I Said It - This is the longest song on the album at 5:56. It has a slow buildup, pleasing us with just Imogen's voice and the gentle plinkings of a piano. Some sort of distorted harp sound soon joins, as she sings "It's not even light out, but you've somewhere to be". It gets much heavier as the song progresses, and it gave me goosebumps upon the first listen. This song ends the album perfectly, while also leaving a distinct...wanting for more. I cannot wait for Frou Frou's next album.

Buy this. It's worth the money.

As other people have noticed, this item is no longer copy protected. I still strongly recommend it.

Not only creative and original but brilliant and beautiful. But maybe being such a huge Imogen fan, I'm a little bias. One thing must be stated. DON'T LISTEN TO LOW GRADE SAMPLES OF THIS ALBUM ONLINE. The songs are very rich and textured that low quality online samples do not flow as well as listening to a crisp clear MP3 or CD.

Musically, this lp sticks to the electronic sound that was also heavily present in Imogen's Frou Fruo project, the difference is the level of intimacy that isn't usually as prevalent in even the most ethereal electronic albums.

Headlock starts the album off with a strong exclamation, while Goodnight and Go give a more whimsical feel with great rhythmic makeup and beautiful lush instrumentation that is a surprise with every listen.

By now most attention has been driven towards Hide And Seek, the vocodor induced a capella-ish track. And that attention has been rightfully deserved. This astonishing track can never be duplicated, it's liquid movements and Imogen's near-flawless vocals leading the way.

But aside once you get past that, the magic doesn't end there! The album tends to get a little electro-funky in Clear the Area and the SUPER fun I Am In Love With You(which is amazing to hear this track after having heard it piano-laden from a live show for her earlier album), as well we get that great rocker-grrl mode from Imogen on Daylight Robbery (what a great single this would make, IMO) and Closing In.

The other great thing about this album is that we get to see Imogen at her most beautiful, with songs like the impenetrable Just For Now, and probably the best LAST song on an Imogen/Frou lp The Moment I Said It.

Now that it is finally out in the US, you have NO excuse NOT to pick up a copy!!!!

Finally! I am so excited for this albums US release. Imogen is a master musician, who is extremely talented in her production. Seeing her at the Canal Room in NYC proved the extent of her talent. Her voice has a rare quality, almost a whisper at times and at the change of a beat she shakes the song in a new pitch. In each song Imogen expresses herself in a passionate and beautiful mini symphony that requires full attention. From the lyrics to the perfect orchestration of every song, this album cannot be played as background music.

This delectable album is one of the musical highlights of the year. From the opening bars of "Headlock" it brings the listener into its own world. The bouncy "Goodnight and Go" has been featured on The OC, as has "Hide and Seek," a song as concentrated and enchanting as grapes left in an autumn freeze to make ice wine. Other highlights include "The Walk," "Just for Now," and "Closing In," but there is hardly a misstep in the album, in Imogen's blend of techno beats and pop savvy. Echoes of Kate Bush (who returns next week after twelve years of silence), Tori Amos, and Imogen's own group-with Guy Sigsworth-Frou Frou, swirl around the mix, but your ears will tell you clearly that Immi speaks for herself.

Speak For Yourself is the first solo record released in the US by Frou Frou vocalist Imogen Heap. The album is a sonically rich outing with electronic buzzes and pulsating bass lines. "Goodnight & Go" is a pretty song with an immensely catchy chorus and "Hide & Seek" has a strong synth-pop sound that is equally as catchy. Ms. Heap gets a little experimental on the ethereal "Have You Got It in You?" and "The Walk" shows some muscle. Speak For Yourself is an entertaining and well-crafted album that deserves to have commercial success.

I am cringing just writing this. This is an excellent album all the way around. I don;t have anything really bad to say about it. BUT, I for one will not be purchasing or downloading from itunes. And that hurts more than anything else. I hate to punish the artist, but until we, as consumers, start refusing to buy these CD's that are made so we cannot listen to them in the way that we choose, the record companies are not going to get the message. Nothing has worked so far, so I guess actually hurting the artist is what it's going to take. Maybe if THEY speak up, the labels will listen.

Sad, cuz this is a great album, but until I am allowed to listen to it as I choose, I will just live without or find somewhere online that has it.

It's a shame that the recording industry is so insecure and out of touch with the current music buying public that they have resorted to deceit and disinformation with the use of "copy protection" software that installs itself, contains outrageous and absurd conditions (may not use music if you file bankruptcy!), and most importantly, makes the average home user vulvernable to all kinds of viruses, malware, and spyware that can potentially seriously damage or destroy the user's computer. Sony is the most egregious offender and its music products should be boycotted---regardless of whatever apologies or "fixes" they claim to offer. If you're comfortable risking the performance and functionality of your $3000 computer by "doing the right thing" by purchasing overpriced copy protected CDs, then go for it. Otherwise, stick to iTunes (or even file sharing programs), and labels that do not use these devious and harmful tactics.

Be advised that this disc has Sony's ill-designed copy protection program on it. Once the program is installed on your computer (which it does automatically, without even giving you notice or the option to decline), your ability to make legal personal copies of the music will be compromised, and the program itself will open up your computer to potential virus threats and CPU drain. It's ridiculous that Sony has chosen to punish those who support their favorite artists by legally purchasing their music.

I feel very bad for Imogen Heap, who self-financed this excellent record and now must suffer from Sony's poor decisions. If at all possible, purchase the UK or iTunes version of this record. The music is worth it. From the strange, haunting "Hide and Seek" to the dense, ecstatic "Daylight Robbery," this record shows that pop - particularly of the electronic/synth/digital variety - need not be cold, poorly sung, or lyrically vacuous (see: the Britney/Simpson-types of the current pop scene). Imogen's production, voice, and lyrics are fascinating. I highly recommend the record - just not the dangerous and dishonest software that is unfortunately bundled with it.

Please do research on the Windows virus that this CD will install on your computer before purchasing it.

Reports are that the malicious code is installed even if you explicitly instruct the software not to. The software leaves your computer even more vulnerable to remote installation of software that can turn your computer into a SPAM relay. The best part are reports that attempting to REMOVE the software can render your computer unbootable!

In my humble opinion, such tactics are inexcusable. Shame on you, Sony! It is your music, but it is NOT your computer!

There are two other options for obtaining this album. One is ordering the import release, which costs three times as much, and takes a month to be delivered. The other option is to find the music online, either on iTunes, or somewhere else.

Kudos to Sony for forcing honest consumers into a situation where they must consider stealing the music as a valid option.