Customer Reviews

Trailer Park

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I got Trailer Park when it was first released in the late 90's and waited for it to take off. It never really did. Then her next album, Central Reservation was released and again I waited...and again not much response. While Beth has a large loyal following, it is nowhere near the following she deserves. She is a talented songwriter with a wonderfully distinct voice. I really like a number of the songs on the album, but I especially like "She Cries Your Name" and "I Wish I Never Saw The Sunshine". If you are deciding between this and Central Reservation as your introduction to Beth Orton, I actually like this album better. On the other album, the song "Central Reservation" is a great song and got some air play and some dance remixes got some play, but I think overall this album has stronger songs. (Don't let the Dance Remix comment throw you...Beth's music is mellow ballads and funky songs. She is not Madonna, she is much more Indigo Girls and The Story.)

Started with Daybreaker and worked my way backward through Central Reservation and just received Trailer Park. All three are excellent.

All three are different and unique in their own way. I think that Beth's voice is clearer and less edgy on Trailer Park than her later work which is a very pleasant surprise as the lyrics - which are excellent - can be understood. In some ways this CD reminds me more of Daybreaker than CR as both span alot of musical territory from straight acoustic guitar to orchestral movements.

There are few artists that I can honestly say that I take great pleasure in all of their CD's, Beth is one. Yeah I know I haven't mentioned "Best Bits" which I have also received but have not really listened to - but this is a remarkable string of CD's.

There are those who simply do not like Beth's voice and those who don't want to spend the energy to listen to music that is better with active brain activity. That means that you really have to listen to the music to really get what Beth is doing - it really is not suited to backround music. If you don't fall into either category you will more than likely fall in love with Beth like I have.

A lot of bizarre labels have been attached to the music of Beth Orton: Folk and rock, to be sure, but also trip hop, beat hop, treat beat, beat bop, seat crop, and lounge. It doesn't matter that i made up half of those words just now, and it doesn't matter that you even try to put Beth Orton into some tidy little pigeon hole, because her music is impossible to nail down. What is Beth Orton's music? It's beautiful, soulful, witty, heartbreaking, and damned near perfect. She's not the next anyone. She's the first Beth Orton.

I got this CD completely on impulse. I actually decided on it because I heard a song from her more recent album, Central Reservation. Well, the store only had copies of Trailer Park, so I ended up buying that. I'm so glad I did. I'm partial to electronic music, so I particularly like "Tangent" (the way her voice echoes is beautiful), but the rest of the album is stunning as well. I love singing to "She Cries Your Name". In short, folk music gets its hands dirty here. Enjoy the ride.

Once in a great while, an album comes along that transcends musical genres such as pop, folk or electronica and instead creates a wholly original sound from a unique blend of styles... Trailer Park is such an album. Beautifully crafted songs, awash in acoustic guitar and subtle electronic beats, counterpointed by Miss Orton's stunning voice. Trailer Park is the rare album that exists as a whole, possessing singular songs, yet best enjoyed in it's entirety...perchance on a moonlit balcony with cocktail in hand (personal preference). There is an interesting and bittersweet interplay throughout between the bright melodies and Orton's soul searching and jilted lyrics. Anyone who has ever had their heart broken will find a kindred spirit in "I Wish I Never Saw the Sunshine", a last tear-smudged kiss on the cheek before the haunting fade out of "Galaxy of Emptiness". Trailer Park is rare indeed in the current climate of pre-packaged, glossy pop music excess; a warm, engaging work that begs repeated listening, and comforts like an old friend on a rainy day.

Words cannot describe how much I love this, but I'll give it a try. Beth Orton's "Trailer Park" and newer works are absolutely beautiful, both the music and her wonderful voice. This album combines folk and a little electronica with spectacular results. There is no way you can lose with album. Every song is amazing, with styles ranging from flat out techno (Tangent) to country (How Far), from orchestral (Don't Need a Reason) to atmospheric (Galaxy of Emptiness.) Everyone on the face of this planet will like at least one song if not more on. Great, great music that is sure to last for the rest of time.

I sometimes take a while to find amazing musicians but when I do I fall in love. Beth Orton is one of those artists. She has such a unique voice and I love that so much. This cd is a little mixture of all kinds of genres but it makes a whole different style altogether. If you like Fiona Apple I'm sure you'll love her.

Rarely do you come across an album that presents such a universal panacea for the stresses of modern life! On returning from the big ol' city, don't hit the bottle, your partner or the cat; just slip into Trailer Park and let Beth's folksy, dreamy tones give you an audio massage and soothe all those worries away. This has got to lower anyone's blood pressure a point or so; the theraputic value must be incalculable! My sole criticism is that perhaps the album peaks a little too soon. The opening track has Beth crying his name and is probably the strongest ballad here. Other highlights are the slightly eerie vibes when she goes off at a tangent and the achingly beautiful lament expressing her regret at having seen the sunshine. Songs about losing the one you love can easily become maudlin and cliché'd. Beth, however, brings a freshness and purity to the genre, whilst still managing to ooze such pure emotion, you almost need to wipe down your hifi after each listen. Lovely, lovely stuff.

i found this disc in a promo box where i worked months before it was released. i popped it in my cd player, and have rarely taken it out since. as much as i like her follow-up, 'central reservation', this is miles beyond that, in my opinion. every track is a new experience, linked only by beth's exquisite voice.

*** THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE 2CD LEGACY EDITION from 2009 ***

This 2009 2CD remaster (HVNLP17CD-LE) of Beth Orton's lovely 1996 debut album is a clever choice for a LEGACY EDITION. And as an import, the musical revelations on Disc 2 will be a huge draw.

But here's a detailed breakdown first... (UK releases)

Disc 1 (59:41 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 11 are her debut album "Trailer Park" issued October 1996 on Heavenly Recordings on LP, Cassette and CD (HVNLP 17, HMVMC 17 and HVNCD 17).

Disc 2 (57:49 minutes):
1. Safety
2. It's Not The Spotlight
1 and 2 are on the CD single of "She Calls Your Name" issued May 1977 on Heavenly HVN60CD. 1 is an Orton original, while 2 is a cover version of a song written by BARRY GOLDBERG with lyrics by GERRY GOFFIN (of Goffin & King fame). It turned up as a cover on Bobby Bland's 1973 album "Dreamer" and then two years later Rod Stewart more famously covered it on his "Atlantic Crossing" album.
3. Galaxy Of Emptiness [Live at the Sheppard's Bush Empire, 26 Nov 1996]
4. Pedestal
5. Touch Me With Your Love [Instrumental]
3 to 5 are non-album tracks on the CD single of "Touch Me With Your Love" issued January 1997 on Heaven HVN64CD.
6. It's This I Am Find
6 is a non-album track on the CD single of "Someone's Daughter" issued March 1997 on Heaven HVN65CD.
7. Bullet
8. Best Bit (Early Version)
7 and 8 are non-album tracks on the reissued CD single of "She Calls Your Name" issued June 1997 on Heavenly HVN68CD.
9. Best Bit
10. Skimming Stone
11. Dolphins
12. Lean On Me
Tracks 9 to 12 are the "Best Bit EP" issued in December 1997 on Heavenly HVN72CD. All songs were non-album. "Dolphins" is a FRED NEIL cover (lyrics above), while "Lean On Me" first appeared on an album called "Occasional Rain" from 1972 on Cadet Records. 11 and 12 features American soul icon TERRY CALLIER on duet vocals - 12 is Callier doing his own song.
13. I Love How You Love Me
13 is a cover version of a PARIS SISTERS song from 1961 written by BARRY MANN and LARRY KOLBER (produced by Phil Spector).

MILES SHOWELL at METROPOLIS did the remaster in August 2008 and it's a beautiful job. If I was to say what's better - it's the rhythm section - suddenly the bass and drums are there - and with more muscle than before. This isn't a loud remaster for the sake of it because when I play the old version against this, the difference is much more subtle than that - but it is better. Highlights for me are "Don't Need A Reason" and the wonderful clarity of "Sugar Boy".

But the real shock is the quality of Disc 2. Putting all the non-album sides and EP tracks together on one disc is an obvious approach for a reissue, but man - the results! Played all the way through, the coherence of the tracks makes it sound some long lost beautiful album - it just 'so' works. The "Best Bit EP" with the two TERRY CALLIER duets have long been fan favourites. "Lean On Me" is more soul-bliss than an average soul can stand - and it still floors me as to how beautifully matched their two different voices are. I might risk an assassination attempt on my life here (such is the affection the album is held in), but I'm tempted to say that Disc 2 is arguably far better than Disc 1? Whatever way you look at it, the listener is on a musical winner here.

So there you have it - for fans there's the beautiful new sound quality - and for newcomers there's a superb debut on Disc 1 with a fantastically complimentary album's worth on Disc 2.

A great little reissue then - and stunning value for money.

PS: for musical influences on Beth Orton, see my three reviews of Terry Callier albums she has name checked - "New Folk Sound Of..." (1965), "Occasional Rain" (1972) and "What Color Is Love" (1973)