Subjects

Judd & Maggie | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 23, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA Victor
• ASIN: B0009VKMAI
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #397,579 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars UNIQUE VOICES SEAMLESSLY PAIRED, August 28, 2005

By 

Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Subjects (Audio CD)

A young brother/sister team from Maryland are more talented than any ten people. It's not only their singing but their song writing that won me. Their harmonies and lyrics are simple yet true. When this duo sings their voices always complement each other as they take turns on leads.

The opening track, "Perfectly," has Maggie in the lead asking "Is this the good beautiful and true...."backed by Judd's guitar. She offers a poignant lament in "One Year Past 20" - "I'm already one year past 20 with two broken hearts/Maybe one you could restart."

Judd's voice comes to the fore in "Late Hour," which reflects the album's title, "Subjects" as it's about people: There are two kinds of people/They both spin a tale/Complex as a web/Or straight as a nail."

Both voices are strong, individual, yet always enhancing each other. Together, perfectly matched, the voices are powerful, incredibly harmonized.

It would be impossible to pick a favorite among these 12 songs. Adding to the sound is the terrific drumming of Joey Waronker and Justin Meldal-Jonson's fine bass.

Enjoy!

- Gail Cooke

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, confident debut, December 20, 2005

By 

A. Fontaine - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Subjects (Audio CD)

What if James Mercer of The Shins decided to team up with Neko Case to record a melodic folk rock album?

If they did, it would probably sound a great deal like Subjects, the major label debut from tuneful siblings Judd and Maggie. Subjects is a mature and self-assured release by the twentysomethings, featuring upbeat acoustic numbers interspersed with earnest, lilting piano-based ballads.

Instrumentation throughout is spare and mostly unplugged, serving up Judd and Maggie's "chocolate & peanut butter" vocal harmonies on a silver platter. Their voices are reminiscent of a punchier, more world-weary version of the Carpenters.

Subjects kicks off with the single "Perfectly", a song on the fulfillment love can bring: "we both know you're the only one who can make me rest perfectly."

Other standout tracks include "One Year Past 20", with a gorgeous, pleading vocal from Maggie floating atop a bed of Judd's dramatic piano chords, and "Snow Song", a catchy pop confection sporting subtle electronic touches.

Tunes full of wry, clever lyrics ("I used to paint pictures, now I only paint walls") and heart-on-sleeve sincerity ("I'm already one year past twenty, with two broken hearts...maybe one you could restart") greatly outnumber heavy-handed tracks like "Sponge" ("my heart's a sponge, it's soaking up love").

Highly recommended listening for fans of Eastmountainsouth, Leona Naess, The Pierces, Eisley, and Hem.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best albums of the year, September 23, 2005

By 

J. Bourdon (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Subjects (Audio CD)

I've been listening to Judd & Maggie for quite some time. I have to say there is something about them that puts them above all the rest. Could it be that the matching vocal chords of brother and sister have some musical combination that can't be beat? Could it be the amazing simple, and yet so complex lyrics and melodies that inspire such indescribable emotion? I'm sure it's all of them. One this is for sure, Subjects is one of the best to come out this year and everyone should keep an eye out for Judd & Maggie in the future.