Customer Reviews

Strange Conversation

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Gosh, what a find. This is my first CD by this artist, only the second CD I've felt compelled to review this year. I was attracted by the literary concept, and the audio samples provided by Amazon sounded a bit like Maria Muldaur or Bonnie Raitt at their bluesy best. It turns out that my first impressions were right.

A booklet included with the CD gives the literary sources of the songs, opposite the lyrics of the songs themselves. It is amazing. The musical arrangements are so adept, sound so right, that I knew immediately that I was going to listen to them again and again.

I love her upbeat interpretation of E. E. Cummings' "anyone lived in a pretty how town," but mostly I love her intellectual blues.

As an amateur DJ for a community radio station, I stumbled upon this CD (well, more like requested it) and have been quite pleased. Yes, it's a CD compiled of songs that are inspired by famous poems or, alternatively, there are musical versions of the original poems themselves. Although there are moments when her song doesn't quite do the original justice, there are also moments when she nails it better than its original author. I particularly enjoyed the upbeat Galuppi Baldessare, the heart-breaking Sence You Went Away and The Drop and the Dream. For literary folks out there, I believe you'll find this to be a grand treat. The original poems included in the CD booklet are a nice compliment to the songs themselves. It's an intelligent and thought-provoking album with a wide range of music styles.

I admit, I stumbled on this album because I had too much time on my hands in the summer heat, and I like Mark McKay's music, and I saw on his album page here on Amazon that Kris did some vocals and cello playing for him on a couple of his albums--Shimmer and Live from the Memory Hotel. I am always looking for new music, a new album to be the kind of album I just love and can listen to over and over again for months. If you know what I'm talkin about you also know how rare it is! Anyway, this album just might turn out to be one of those. So far so good! I'm loving the purity of it. The poetry angle is a cool angle. Richard Buckner did this too, fyi, for anyone who might really dig this experiment! But don't listen to reviewers, just check out the samples and downloads and see for yourself.

I bought this CD because the lyrics are based on familiar poetry. Delmhorst adds just the right amount of whimsy and melodic interpretation. Easy to listen to and enjoyable.

Heard Kris Delmhorst being interviewed and singing on NPR, and what an interesting project this is! It appealed to me on both literary merits and for the snappy songwriting. The e e cummings poem "Pretty How Town" is not done the way one would expect -- sad or romantic -- but is a perky cowgirl-type song.

Excellent phrasing, as good or better than Norah Jones; fantastic sweet, sincere bluesy voice but not overwhelming; beautiful, heartfelt delivery; great album, looking forward to a follow up (more of the same); recommend listening to recent NPR interview.

I heard this CD reviewed on KCRW and was very moved by the artist's voice and her idea to convert favorite poems into songs. My favorite track by far is the first on the playlist: Galuppi Baldessare. Delmhorst has sort of a Nora Jones/Shawn Colvin thing going on. Whimsical and deep at the same time. Very enjoyable to listen to at dinner time, with kids, in the car, while working...pretty much any time or place. Go for it!

I heard an interview of Kris Delmhorst on NPR and clips of her music, and went straigt out and bought this CD. It is one of those CDs that you actually buy because you like all the songs, not just one or two. Nice mellow, high quality Folk music.

As if it were possible, the intellectualism and literary inspiration for this collection of songs are icing on the cake. The richness of Kris Delmhorst's voice steals the album. If you like Norah Jones, Diana Krall, or Margo Timmins (Cowboy Junkies), buy this. I almost never write reviews, but I had to share my enthusiasm for Delmhorst's voice in hopes others would have the joy of discovering her as well.

I first heard sonme of the tracks from this album on NPR here in the states. The basic concept is simple, take selections of poetry and set them to music.
Notable tracks are Galuppi Baldessare, and Invisible Choir. Galuppi Baldesare comes in with a bounce, a poem about music set to music would be a chalenge for some but Kris's voice swings in with a driving beat and a wonderful diction which makes the words leap out at you. Poetry is wordcraft and this presentation lifts the words off the page and throws them at you. The setings are diverse and ideosyncratic and well worth listening to. Give it a listen, I'm sure you'l like it.