Customer Reviews

Stars

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

 

 

I think I'd like 5 minutes alone with "Our Good Friend from New England" (See below)...How dare you! You are no friend of mine! If it were just that, and the only 'artists' awarded labels were those willing to dollup large amounts of...what...I cannot even imagine what exactly you are looking for! Have you listened to the amount of garbage that continually graces our radio waves? Surely to you, that filth is deserved of being distrubuted? You must be kidding me!

Lori Carson's work may not ever be featured on a party hits collection, but thank God for that! Her work is quaint, contrite, and holds a special place in my music collection, for special moods and distinct times. And talent, she has plenty! Thanks so much, Lori, you deserve it!

I am a huge fan of Lori Carson's music. She creates music of stunning purity while conveying experiences and sentiments with which we all can identify. Stars sounds like a bit of a departure from her earlier albums -- less acoustic and more groove oriented at times, but still peaceful, gorgeous, and definitely Lori. She is one of those artists who has not fallen into the trap that so many have - she sticks to music that feels intimate, close to her own heart, and avoids molding her sound according to what will be accessible to the masses. Lori's music is for those who appreciate sitting at home with a cup of tea by the fire. It warms the heart.

I think there's two reasons why I'm cool to Stars, but love much of her other works: (1) the production is overblown, and (2) the songwriting just isn't up to par.

These two problems work in concert on Stars. Face it, despite anything David Gray might tell you, some music isn't cut out for sampling. Sometimes I feel Lori is a folk musician in denial.

For a better taste of Lori's incrediable talents check out Everything I Touch Runs Wild, Where It Goes, or, if you can find it, Shelter.

On first listen to Lori's new CD, but it didn't make much of an impression - all I heard was soft vocals, very mild. But it's like eating all garlic and then trying to appreciate the mildness of tapioca pudding. So I left it in my CD player at work all week, and most of the songs have dug little trenches in my brain. Songs are split between poppy sounding jingles, and more swirling darker songs (I prefer the latter). Contrast the bouncy loops of of "Take Your Time" to the violins of "Head in a Box." My favorites so far are the almost spoken in a whisper "Caroline" with "Fourth of July" coming in second. I only gave it four stars because a few of the songs dont' hold up well to repeated listenings..."Rainy Day" sounds like a whiny reprise of "Whole Heart" from her previous album, and "Breathe" just doesn't go anywhere.

For those of you like me suffering for the Lillith Blues (way to much recycled McLaughlin, Crow and Jewel) Lori Carson is here to save the day! Some artists are too good for mass consumption as they probably focus more on creating their music than marketing it. Building on her minimalist "soft core" approach she so richly used two years ago with "Everthing I Touch Runs Wild," her new CD "Stars" seems to be the optimistic hopeful sequel to "Everythings" dark themes. Both startling simple and complex at the same time "Stars" will require repeated listens to unearth the layers of emotion and absolutely stunning production of its ten new songs. The songs are all instant Carson classics but for the uninitiated listen to "Take Your Time," "Head in a Box" and the breathtaking life affirming "Treasure" for a taste of what you've been missing. Carson has been pushed out of the lime light by media whores Jewel et al but is so much more deserving of mass attention. Lets hope "Stars" rockets her into the stratosphere. P>S> Don't miss Carson in concert if your lucky enough to live in a city that is on her tour schedule. She is as stunning live as she is on record.

This album is wonderful. It has the power to move you with both the nature and the musicianship of the tracks. The bass playing is spare and yet massive, the arpeggios are tremendous and Lori's voice soars over some tracks whilst cracking and whispering on others. I saw her live supporting the eels and it is one of the gigs of my life, I think only three people in the audience had heard of her before, but we loved it. Buy this and all her albums and be depressed yet wonderfully fulfilled by the quality of the music.

I was appalled reading the negative review here from June 12th by someone from Boston. I am SO privileged to have seen two of Lori Carson's performances in Boston and I must say she is amazing! People had travelled many hours from sourrounding states just to see her perform. Apart from that, I adore this album. "16 days" has a melody and lyrics that touch your soul like nothing else. "Breathe" is haunting and makes you lose yourself in the whispering beauty that is Lori's voice in the track. "Stars" is another stand out dreamy song in this CD, along with "Fourth Of July". Her lyrics are immediate, making you think that you are there with her enjoying and feeling what she feels. "Treasure" is probably the happiest song I've heard Lori Sing. Why wouldn't Love be a treasure??? Why wouldn't Lori be a treasure? She is a treasure to all her fans, and all who had the privillege to get to know her music. I highly recommend this CD along with all her previous releases.

This isn't my favorite Lori Carson album, but it's still a great CD. Especially good for late night drives on deserted highways, or any other quite moments alone. Stand-out tracks are "16 Days" which has my favorite line on the album -- "thank God for second chances, true love, and forgiveness.." -- "Treasure" is a beautiful, sweetly honest love song, and "Rainy Day" with its prayerfully hopeful reprise -- "in spite of everything I feel a little bit hopeful again." I found a couple of the songs a bit sterile, especially lyrically, songs that didn't strike me as particularly honest -- "Caroline" and "Spinning World." But there are moments on this album that are so beautiful and moving they've been planted in my mind forever, and I'll keep using them to get through whatever I need to for the rest of my life.

Lori Carson has a beautiful voice and can write some definitely pleaseing melodies. It's a very easy album to get into. If you're not in the mood for something too heavy, get this album. But if you're looking for a talented lyricist, look somewhere else. The major error in "Stars" is her songwriting. Songs like "Head in a Box" start out with pretty good lyrics, but then Lori falters as if she's singing the song for the first time and singing the first thing that comes to her mind. Which I have no doubt, she probably does take whatever first comes to her mind. But with pretty instrumentation and that simply delicate voice, Stars is a definite good buy. Suggested tracks to download would be: the title track, Rainy Day, or Caroline.

this album has great,slow music.the vocals flow very nicely.the lyrics aren't epic;they aren't supposed to be.this is music meant for something other than strict interpretation,I'd call it sonic therapy(a term Peter Steele from the Brooklyn band Type O Negative coined.)these should also keep you dis-occupied in relaxation:Type O Negative"October Rust",Buckethead"Electric Tears"(same META label as another of Lori's albums),DAvid Gilmour"On An Island",Julee Cruise"the Voice of Love",Jocelyn Montgomery"Lux Vivens",Dawn Upshawn's Gorecki performances,even GabbyLa-La might interest you.Don't allow your ego to control your taste in music;give these a try!