Customer Reviews

Warm Strangers [Vinyl]

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I certainly hope not, because I've been playing this CD over and over ever since I got my greedy little hands on it.

I first heard Vienna Teng's music on a friend's copy of the independent release of her first album, Waking Hour, and I became a fan with "Between" and "The Tower," with their graceful lyrics and catchy tunes, and the absolutely gorgeous "Lullaby for a Stormy Night," which is sweet and charming and never fails to make me get a little teary in that way very personal songs do. I had the rerelease of Waking Hour pre-ordered for over a month, and it was completely worth the wait.

Warm Strangers even outdoes Waking Hour. Lots of people will compare Vienna to Tori Amos, Sarah McLaughlan, and Norah Jones, who are all artists I like but I don't think that the comparisons are completely warranted. First off, Vienna has the ability to write lyrics that are both deeply layered, complex, and moving as well simply musical, but I feel like many other artists tend to choose either the sound of the words or the meaning of the words, without really combining them with as much grace as she does.

Second, one of my favorite things is that all of Vienna's music is very personal, so when you listen to her you feel like she's sitting across a little table from you and leaning in and telling you a story. This effect is heightened when you see her live, since she always has a story to go along with the song. That feeling of intimacy is something that I think the vast majority of artists can't create so completely as she does, and it's part of what makes her so listenable. In this way, she is very much like Norah Jones, who I think has a lot of that same ability to make music seem like a one-on-one conversation between the singer and the audience, but their styles are dramatically different.

Finally, Vienna Teng's music is not easy to just pigeonhole and move on. You have to listen to the lyrics, listen to the music, and think about what the contrasts and agreements between the music and words mean about the song itself. A great example of this is Shasta, which has really kind of heavy lyrics and is about something serious, but is sung with a lightness and written with a lot of humor and fun.

This CD is incredible; there isn't a track I'd even consider mediocre on it. My favorites are are Harbor, which I find personally very meaningful, as well as being just a great song, Shasta, Hope on Fire, and the absolutely lovely Green Island Serenade, which is sung in Chinese, but the lyrics in Pinyin, as well as a translation, are available on her website: [...]

Warm Strangers is amazing I must say. I came across Vienna Teng online and I was always curious of her. She sounded like she had a very memorable and lovely voice and her piano skills seemed great. Finally I bought the c.d. after hearing Harbor for probably the twentieth time on Amazon's sample. Harbor is the song that propelled me the deepest to buy this c.d. and it is indeed the most strongest and favored song on here for me. Yet there are so many other songs on here that capture me as well now that I have listened to the full c.d. a few times over.
The one thing I must say I love about this c.d. is its lyrics. Some of the songs on here are so strong because of the lyrics, and how Vienna sings them makes them instant favorites. Vienna has background sound on here that is wonderful and suited well for the moods of each song so well. The piano is lovely with Vienna. She is another woman behind the piano, but with her own voice and her own words, and she deserves to be recognized.
I say she is a lot better than Alicia Keys, the only young woman really being favored in the media for her piano skills. Open your eyes people and listen to Vienna Teng! This is the woman you should be hearing! She is among the many young talented female artists that should be recognized but just aren't. Charlotte Martin, Keri Noble, and of course Vanessa Carlton are some of the women that are not recognized for their true talent and Vienna Teng is right next to them. That upsets me, especially while hearing Vienna sing those lovely high notes like on Mission Street. Vienna and a lot other unrecognized female talent could seriously kick a lot of these constantly favored women of the media out off their high horses if just given the chance. Yet the media only wants women who strip and talk about having the perfect boyfriend. That's is a downright shame, for they have no idea how wonderful it is to hear something so different, so magical, and so emotional as Vienna's voice like on My Medea. They're missing out, and they have no idea how much.

Anyway, you fellow readers understand me. Because you think of the exact same thing when you hear such talent as Vienna's. I really enjoy this c.d. I am eager to hear more from her. I believe she holds much talent. I have become a strong fan of hers. And the more I hear her the more I stray from the radio. Thanks Vienna for that.

1) Feather Moon- Love this song. I believe it is an excellent beginning to such a c.d. as this one. It is a slow, haunting song and I enjoy it. 5/5

2) Harbor- This song was the whole reason I bought the c.d. in the first place. I could not get this song out of my head. It is amazingly catchy and beautiful. It is quicker than the first song with a great piano melody. The best song on here to me. 10/5

3) Hope On Fire- I love this song's lyrics. They ring all too true. It is faster, and it makes your heart pound with the heat of her lyrics. Excellent. 5/5

4) Shine- Now she tones it down a bit with this song. Again the lyrics you can instantly attach yourself to, but alas after the first three songs, this song kind of lacks. I love the piano on this though. 4/5

5) Mission Street- Wow this song is great, especially in the chorus. Very beautiful. The background music blends well with the lyrics of the song. 5/5

6) My Medea- This has to be my next favorite next to Harbor. This song is just so powerful and amazingly well written. This story makes me sad because I know the legend of Medea and like all Greek tales it was such a tragedy. Vienna sings it well though, making it so emotional and wonderful to hear over and over. Great job Vienna. If people had ears this would be her second single after Harbor. 10/5

7) Shasta- You know this song is so upbeat but when you read the lyrics you don't think it should match well with what she is saying. Yet somehow it goes well. I like an upbeat sound after the sad tale of Medea. The piano is nice on this song. 3.5/5

8) Homecoming- A lot of people like this song, but I must say I am not one of them. This is one of the songs I have a problem with. It's not a terrible song, it actually has a nice melody but the song I felt was too long. The melody can only last so long before it got to be boring and so I only find myself hearing the song for like three minutes and then skipping most of the time. The melody just gets boring after awhile. 3/5

9) Anna Rose- She makes a strong comeback for me on this song. How beautiful this song is, how beautiful Vienna's voice is on this song, I just love it. I would have liked for this song to be on the radio as well. 5/5

10) Passage- Wow this song is just haunting as well as powerful. Vienna sings by herself and she sings about dying in a car crash. This song kind of reminds me of Vanessa Carlton's song the Wreckage, where she is singing about death in a car wreckage as well. Yet both songs are entirely different and are spoken of differently and just interesting to hear. I like it for its spooky atmosphere. 4/5

11) The Atheist Christmas Carol- I love, I love, I love this song! Another slow song, and very beautiful. Not as dark as Passage, and now she is back with her piano. This song is just delicate and yet emotional. I love the chorus the most. 5/5

Hidden Track- This song is called the Green Island Serenade I believe, this is what I have read on other reviews on here so I assume that's right. It is spoken in a language I do not know, but on this site a reviewer did translate for us. Just look around for it. Overall it is a nice melody, but nothing special to me. Just a nice, slow, and soft song to hear and relax to. Nothing too exciting though, it certainly doesn't match up to Harbor or My Medea. The piano though is so beautiful on it though that it deserves an extra star. 4/5

So overall I believe I give this c.d. a good 4.5 out of 5 stars. It is a great c.d. with great songs, there is not one song on here I hate, but indeed there are one or two songs on here that pale in comparison to all the other brilliant ones. With Warm Strangers she has taken me on a gorgeous and magical journey that only I regret I had not travelled on sooner.

PS- If you love Warm Strangers, check out these others:
Harmonium- Vanessa Carlton
Fearless- Keri Noble
On Your Shore- Charlotte Martin
This Fire- Paula Cole
Ophelia- Natalie Merchant
Under the Iron Sea- Keane
All For Believing EP- Missy Higgins
Safe in A Crazy World- Corrinne May

The hidden song, Green Island Serenade, is a very famous Chinese song in Taiwan. Green Island is a beautiful island in Taiwan.

Green Island Serenade

The Green Island is like a boat
floating in the moon night.
Oh girl, you have been floating in my heart too.
Let the sound of my song follow the breeze
blowing open the curtain of your window.
Let my passion follow the flowing water
pouring out my heart for you endlessly.
The long shadows of the palm trees
cannot hide my love.
The bright and beautiful moonlight
lights up my heart all the more.
The night of Green Island has been so calm.
Oh girl, why are you still in silence?

Five Stars!! I have not heard this CD but I ran across an hour long performance by Ms Teng on PBS. Just her and her awesome piano and it stopped me in the middle of a Sunday night football game. (Thank God for PIP). She sang most of the songs on the CD before an appreciative audience. She reminds me of Laura Nyro and Essra Mohawk, which is a huge compliment in my musical universe.

Her music is very personal, bewitching, and immediate, backed by the enthralling colorations of her piano orchestrations. On the TV special, she tells the very interesting stories behind each song. I consider her to be a major musical find and I will follow her career. My favorite songs of hers are the spellbinding "Harbor" and the stunning "Passage". Bravo, Vienna. Five Stars.

How can you describe an album that moves into your heart and stays there, an album that shakes you to the bone yet, somehow, fills your darkest places with hope, comfort, and warmth? Is there any way to describe such an album successfully? I doubt it. Still, Vienna Teng's sophomore CD WARM STRANGERS is so phenomenal, that I have to try.

From the first song, it's easy to see that Teng's talent will garner endless comparisons to Tori Amos and Fiona Apple. Yet these comparisons are not wholly justified. Yes, Teng plays piano and yes, she writes intelligent, poetic, and cathartic songs. There's something about Teng, though, that places her in a different class--an even higher one than Amos or Apple. Teng is neither as angst-ridden as Apple nor as strange (and, frankly, frightening) as Amos. Teng is infinitely more approachable than either of these artists.

Now, let's get down to the song-by-song rundown:

1) "Feather Moon" (4.5/5 stars) - This opening tune is loaded with poetic, almost hyper-intelligent lyrics that defy interpretation (or, rather, beg for a slew of contradictory different ones). Beautiful, soothing vocals and piano-driven melodies set the tone for the album.

2) "Harbor" (5/5 stars) - A stately and polished ballad that transcends the quiet nature of so many of Teng's other songs. Lilting vocals, technical mastery of piano ... just an amazing, uplifting song.

3) "Hope on Fire" (5/5 stars) - Here, Teng offers another upbeat and spiritually-uplifting song filled with soaring vocals and piano-driven melodies. This is as close to a pop tune as Teng has ever gotten ... and she nails it!

4) "Shine" (4.5/5 stars) - A sweetly endearing ballad of the same class that made Teng famous. Her beatific soprano voice glides easily over the angelic high notes, but lyrics wisely avoid any saccharine overtones.

5) "Mission Street" (4.5/5 stars) - This quietly beautiful song presents what Teng does so well: Elegance, understatement, and real, raw emotion.

6) "My Medea" (5/5 stars) - My personal favorite. Teng tackles the Greek myth of Medea, Jason's murderous and vengeful scorned wife, and makes Medea--who murders her children--seem all-too-human. Teng surrounds her eerily beautiful vocals with lush, unique arrangements. This track alone is worth any sale price.

7) "Shasta (Carrie's Song)" (4.5/5 stars) - This truly unique song does for abortion clinics what the Dixie Chicks' "Goodbye Earl" did for abused wives. Teng avoids the possibility for overwrought emotion and instead plays the tune as a musically upbeat number featuring percussion, horns, and piano. Her poetic lyrics deal frankly with abortion but never take sides--the listener must decide for him- or herself. Excellent effort.

8) "Homecoming (Walter's Song)" (4/5 stars) - Here, Teng uses the story-song technique that Bree Sharp has perfected. "Walter's Song" accompanies "Carrie's Song" and presents the situation from the abandoning male's point of view. Teng's gentle vocals and redemptive lyrics make it a soothing contribution. My ever-so-slight complaint: At almost six minutes, the song seems a bit too long.

9) "Anna Rose" (4/5) - Another sweet ballad/lullaby. Teng's angelic voice ventures dangerously close toward "too precious" territority, but, once again, her smart lyrics avoid this sin.

10) "Passage" (5/5) - My second-favorite song on WARM STRANGERS. Teng strips "Passage" of all unnecessary elements and uses just her voice--her haunting, chill-inducing voice--to narrate the story of a girl who has died in a car crash. Interestingly, Teng tells the story from the dead girl's point of view, and the girl watches as the loved ones she's left behind grieve, reflect, and move on with their lives. A stunning, heartbreaking song.

11) "The Atheist Christmas Carol" (5/5) - The album's final track closes it just as "Feather Moon" opened it: quietly. Teng offers comfort and solace to those who feel alone during the holidays. Her warm voice and comforting lyrics swirl amidst her piano, making the final track one that sticks in the memory long after the CD has finished playing.

If you're looking for silly, pretentious Jewel-esque psuedo pop/folk ditties, don't look here. Teng is the real deal, the true talent, the star on the brink of explosion. She doesn't sell out or oversing; she does just what any truly talented musician should: combine vocal talents with intelligent lyrics and create a diverse and musically engaging album.

This is the highly anticipated follow up to Vienna's amazing debut, "Waking Hour" and it's worth the wait. Happily, the debut album was not a fluke (not that there was any doubt).
Vienna's beautiful voice and skilled piano playing and songwriting are back...plus. This CD is a tad more produced and employs several more instruments.
"Harbor" has hit single written all over it. I do sincerely hope this makes it to the radio. It will certainly take Vienna to the top of the charts.
On "Mission Street" we really get to hear her amazing songwriting. It already sounds like a classic. Her voice is crystal clear, her words poignant and the other instruments compliment her beautifully.
The more I hear Vienna the more I realize how incredible she is. To be an artist that has it all is really quite rare. Often you have people that have great voices, but can't write. Or can write but shouldn't sing. Or in some cases are just pretty and look good onstage but really can't sing or write. With Vienna you have everything...the whole package. She can play piano classically, write beautiful intelligent songs, sing like an angel and she's beautiful inside and out. What more could you ask for?
(read full review at collectedsounds.com)

Vienna Teng is an impressive new artist working through Virt Records, a very special company dedicated to strong work ethics and individual attention to artist releases. Heralded by San Jose Mercury News as "...a child of Chopin and Sarah McLachlan," Teng captivates and leaves the listener stunned with the amazing warmth of her latest release.

"Warm Strangers" begins with the soft, smoky "Feather Moon." "Harbor" follows, showcasing Teng's crystalline soprano voice and fluid instrumentals. With the imploring lines, "Sail your sea, meet your storm. All I want is to be your harbor," this song captures some beautiful moments. Third is the rallying cry, "Hope on Fire." ("Gotta move, gotta choose, you've got a difference to make.") Fourth comes the passionate, ethereal "Shine," which demonstrates Teng's beautiful piano-playing style.

Next in line is the slow, seductive "Mission Street" with its slinky instrumentals and Teng's warm, infectious voice. The raging, impassioned "My Medea" follows. Teng demonstrates that she is not all flighty soprano with the astoundingly powerful tones of this gorgeous song. Following is the seemingly light, "Shasta (Carrie's Song)," which starts with the lyrics "So far, so good." However, the darker meaning of this song is revealed by, "They'll take you in their arms and then take out their knives."

Following is the truly wonderful "Homecoming (Walter's Song)." You will find yourself humming this all day long. "Anna Rose," a truly lovely song, comes next. Almost a lullaby in nature, this one is easy to repeat over and over. Tenth comes the a capella "Passage," a somewhat terrifying song about the passage of time after the singer's death. "The Atheist Christmas Carol," a beautiful piano song which belies its name with the repeating chorus, "Don't forget I love, I love, I love you." And, last but not least, the hidden track, "Green Island Serenade," which Teng sings in Mandarin.

"Warm Strangers" is an amazing sophomore effort. With her warm, clear voice, poetic, introspective lyrics, and beautiful instrumental compositions, I'm sure we'll be hearing a lot more from Teng.

This reviewer concurs with fellow reviewers on this page: Warm Strangers equals and exceeds the greatness of Vienna's debut, Waking Hour. With that said, I'd like to add a song-by-song commentary.

Feather Moon: Okay, not my favorite. I want this one to feel as profound as it might have been, but it falls short somehow. If it had been placed elsewhere on the CD, rather than in the coveted "first chair," my expectations might not have been so high. "Harbor" would have worked better as the CD's first song.

Harbor: Melodic masterpiece.

Hope On Fire: I still haven't decided whether I like Hope On Fire, a song that sounds at once stylistically antiquated and progressive (kind of a cool quality). The "oooh-oooh-oooh" lyric irks me at best. This song might sound striking as instruments alone, spiced with the "we're running out of time" stanza.

Shine: Pretty.

Mission Street: Steve Herrman's phrases on the mariachi trumpet are some of the most sublime elements of this song, of this CD.

My Medea: It's an important song, and I salute Vienna for writing it.

Shasta, Homecoming, Passage: These three tracks demonstrate one of Vienna's consistent, vital strengths as a contemporary popular musician: poetic storytelling. Shasta, in particular, serves as a nice, long exhale to the arresting intensity of My Medea, and lyrically kicks .... Homecoming makes one ask, "How does she do that, empathize so precisely?"

Anna Rose: Pretty.

The Atheist Christmas Carol: My favorite. It's a song that has awaited life for some time. Thank you.

Surprise Track Number 12: Beautiful. This song alone makes Warm Strangers worth owning.

With Warm Strangers, not only does Vienna Teng completely avoid the typical second-CD slump, but she manages to surpass her amazing first album, Waking Hour. There is not a single skippable song on the whole disc. With many more backup instruments, experimental up-tempo rhythms, and a surer, higher range, Vienna -- both with her voice and with the piano -- sounds absolutely gorgeous.

The lyrics aren't as personal as those on Waking Hour, but that doesn't take away from the effect of the songs at all. Whether it's dedicated to a person she loves ("Harbor") or a wandering truck driver ("Homecoming") or a pregnant friend ("Shasta"), Vienna puts her heart and soul into each track and it shows. The devastating, a cappella "Passage" alone would have been worth the CD price, because after dozens of listens it still gives me chills. The haunting "My Medea", which brings up images of the woman in Greek mythology who killed her own children, is probably my favorite track. But honestly, there isn't a single weak song on here -- if I had to pick one, it would be "The Atheist Christmas Carol", but only because the lyrics don't stand out to me.

Finally, the surprise track "Green Island Serenade" is a perfect way to end the CD. It's a classic Chinese folk song and I understood it, but you certainly don't have to know what words Vienna is saying to appreciate how beautiful she sounds. She's surpassed my expectations and then some, and I eagerly plan to follow wherever her career takes her next.

The title of this review is what Vienna Teng seemingly has found. I don't know where she gets her song ideas from, but musically her songs are original and lyrically they're simply phenomenal.

Her voice is always crystal-clear and never sounds strained, even at its highest and lowest ends. She must have at least a 2 octave range, but I'm betting its more.

It's hard to believe she's as young as she is (must be early-to-mid-20s) because her songs are very mature and thought-provoking. Who would think that you could write a song with a catchy hook and great lyrics in 5/4 meter? Vienna Teng does (track #2, Harbor).

There are songs with beautiful melodies, such as Anna Rose (like a lullaby), Shine (a beautiful ballad), and The Atheist Christmas Carol. There are also songs that are haunting, like Passage. But the common thread these all have is that they can rivet themselves to your heart because they are universal in their themes and they can appeal to just about anybody.

Instrumentally, the songs are gorgeous (except Passage, that is a cappella!). Vienna Teng is a pianist first and a vocalist second, and you can tell by listening to her play.

If you're wanting to see Vienna in concert, go to www.moderntroubadors.com. She's touring with 3 other wonderfully talented young musicians.