Customer Reviews

Timbre

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

By 1999, it seemed that most people had forgotten about Sophie, and in that case, she becomes a secret gem for the fans. We don't have to hear her beautiful music played to death on the radio. Timbre, Sophie's third, and most mature cd finds her exploring more deeply the ties that bind two people together. The cd as a whole is not as uptempo or as electronic as 1994's Whaler. Timbre has some of her best songs "No Connection", "Strange Thing", "32 Lines", "Mmm My Best Friend", "The Darkest Childe" and "Lose Your Way." The greatest feature Sophie has is that she doesn't sound like Alanis Morissette, Paula Cole, Fiona Apple, Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Jewel, Joan Osborne or Tracy Chapman. Sophie has her own sound. It's a great sound too, even better than her two hits "Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover" and "As I Lay Me Down". This, and her other two cds, are must haves for any rock collector.

The definition of Timbre: The quality given to a sound by its overtones as (a)the resonance by which the ear recognizes and identifies a voiced speech sound (b)the quality of tone distinctive of a particular singing voice or musical instrument. This is a wonderful description of Sophie's latest cd. Sophie uses a variety of instruments that gives the cd that "new artist" feeling, something never been done before. However, I feel the real "timbre" is the emotion she puts into her music! Timbre will take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Much like "Tongues and Tails". A few songs may satisfy fans of "Whaler" ("Lose Your Way", "Strange Thing," "Nocturne" and "I Walk Alone") but I think that fans of "Tongues and Tails" will be the happiest of all. The emotionally charged cd is one that you have to listen to more than once, before you start to make your favorite choices. The lack of support from Sony records makes this release even that much more amazing. Show your support, give the cd a chance and beg your local radio stations to play Sophie's latest! Sophie's first release from Timbre, is almost an anthem for her fans, "Lose your way and I will follow. Here today and here tomorrow." True fans of Sophie will follow her anywhere and wait for years for her next release.

Pay no heed to the less than satisfactory reviews you may have read concerning this album from Sophie. Some albums you instantly are crazy about but then after just a few listens you are tired of it. With "Timbre" its just the opposite. Like many of my favorite albums ever, I wasn't instantly taken with "Timbre" but then after 3 or 4 listenings, it really started to grow on me in a big way! Now this is one of my top 10 favorite cd's ever!!! I never grow tired of any of the songs, and lyrics like "stare into space because of me,dare to let noone take the place of me" definitely touch the heart cords...and then there's the song"darkest child", quite possible the most unique song i have ever listened too.. I could go on and on about this album, but don't take my word for it, buy this cd today! Listen to it time after time and prepare to fall in love with it! Enjoy! :o) ...........

Sophie B. Hawkins's "Timbre" is a stunning collection of songs all jammed onto an hour-long CD. Such tracks as "No Connection" and "Lose Your Way" really stand out, as well as the provocative and sexed-up "The Darkest Childe." This is one of the best albums of 1999 without a doubt, and any fan of hers should own it. Even if you're not a fan, it's still a terrific album to own!

Sophie B. Hawkins is a woman who is passionate about her music. This is a fact that is greatly reflected in her latest album, Timbre. The lyrics, including "I wanted to be loved/ I wanted to be known/ I wanted to be held/ I wanted to be thrown" from "I Walk Alone" are amazingly personal. I admit that the single "Lose Your Way," a touching song in itself, is the reason why I bought the CD, but I am very satisfied with the album overall. "Strange Thing" would have to be my favorite because the lyrics and music work very well together. I would have to say that as an artist, Sophie B. Hawkins is "here today and here tomorrow."

If you enjoyed Sophie's previous CDs, then you will be pleased with Timbre. As usual, the songs are well conceived, performed, and presented. The songs are pretty and very pleasant to the ear.

Compared to her earlier works, Timbre has a different sound: it does not have as much electronic, techno-pop flavor, but instead has a more natural sound utilizing a variety of intruments. Overall, it is original, creative, and like her earlier works, a CD that can be listened to again and again.

I don't yet appreciate this album as much as the first two, but I'm getting there. On the first album, I relished every song. On the second, I didn't care as much for the softer ones that received the radio play, but was affected intensely by a couple (especially "I Need Nothing Else"). This is a pleasant, soft listen, very relaxing, with some variation provided by "The Darkest Childe" (You're so freaky Sophie..is that why we love you?), and some emotionally compelling songs, for me namely "Help Me Breathe" and "Bare The Weight Of Me." So I have to recommend it. She's a thoroughly amazing artist with such an alluring voice. I'm listening to it right now and find her music so soothing and enticing at the same time. Like champagne in a hot tub.

I haven't listened to the entire CD yet, BUT! I heard her song "The One You Have Not Seen" from the movie 40 days and 40 nights. When I heard the song I knew I had to have it. It took some effort to find the artist and the name of the song(Thank Goodness for the DVD slow motion feature), but I found it and I can't wait to hear the entire CD.

Even though my favorite song from Sophie will always be "as i lay me down to sleep" this album overall is definitely her best... You can tell that the lyrics really come from the heart, and its almost like by listening to this cd you get a lil peek into her life and what she has experienced. It is true however that the mood of this cd is somewhat more somber/depressing at times than her past work but still none-the-less this is one cd worth adding to your collection.

i liked this cd from the very first song!!! it took me 2 years to buy it, cuz i didn't think i'd like it like her first 2 cd's, but actually, it's stands alone on its own strength!!! it is at many times, norah-jones sounding(because of it's relaxing and smooth jazz-type feel in many of the songs. the one song darkest child is pretty racey well, down right dirty, but the song itself seems to be about how the world has taken this girl and made her a whore for its own sake(so the vulgarity in the song fits the storyline). anyhow, besides that, the rest of the music is really well done!! i kind of like it better than her wilderness cd which came after this one. :-)