Customer Reviews

Thumbelina's One Night Stand

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

 

 

Let me start by saying that I purchased this album and 'stranded in suburbia' at roughly the same time. Therefore my comparison is at face value and I don't prefer one over the other simply for nostalgic reasons.

I found 'Stranded...' had several tracks that are very very poppy in that 'OC' sounding way. Not a bad thing necessarily, but certainly not a good thing either. And while the album did have some ocassional fine moments, it quickly found it's way out of my CD player after a couple of listens.

Fast forward a week later when I got 'Thumbelina...' in the mail and gave it a listen... and then another listen... and then another listen. This album is simply much better. To use a cliche, it shows maturity- she has discovered a style of music that suits her. Everything is improved- from the music which incorporates solid flavorful blues & country styles (ala Neko Case) to the production of Melissa McClelland's tangy voice, simulaneously sultry and meloncholy (Feist) this album is splendid. In fact, it may be one of the best albums of 2006. If I could give it 4.5 stars I would (of course it's not perfect), but in this case I will err high and give it 5 to encourage people to check out.

As an aside, I saw Melissa McClelland perform here on Maui with the Ladybird Sideshow. She was remarkable and everyone I was with thought so too. While this album cannot capture the pressence of her in person, it still easily holds it's own and then some...

I first heard Melissa McClelland on track 9 of Jesse Cook's Frontiers album I was struck by the quality of her voice and the timing in the music. I started looking for her music and found a couple of albums here on Amazon. OW!! Canadian imports at around $24 dollars. Oh well.
The more I listened to that track, the more I wnted to listen to more of her music. I bought this album and have not been disappointed. The lyrics are quirky, the music is not run of the mill. A lot of thought went into this album and it shows. I cannot pick out one tune in particular because they are all good. The instumentaion is not typical. It includes a string quartet, timpani, celtic harp, and the more usual guitars, piano, vibes, etc. The sound engineering is excellent, no distortion here.
Try this one, you won't be dissapointed.

I seem to play this CD over and over again. She has a smoothe, lovely voice and her songs have real meaning. This is the type of CD you enjoy listening to while taking a long car ride. The mellow feeling you get each time you pop it into your player is well worth the cost.

I purchased this CD after hearing a cut on CBC radio. Melissa is a new artist in my collection and I've been listening to the CD over and over the past couple of days. It's funky, mellow, smooth, sultry, funny and more. If you enjoy listening to talented female vocalists then I would recommend this as a must try. Great "making a road-trip alone" music (if you are having to carry on a conversation with someone in the car you might miss out on the lyrics).