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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
On Thao Nguyen's second album and first for Kill Rock Stars, the young singer's delightful voice draws you in. She sings in a wispy manner that recalls Sinead O'Connor at bedtime, employing the cottonmouth phrasing of Beth Orton, Chan Marshall (Cat Power), and Jolie Holland to great effect. This is downright happy music with brooding lyrics, an approach that's worked well for Belle and Sebastian and Cardinal. Nguyen and crew have it down pat. Bee Stings has been expertly produced by Tucker Martine, a long-standing collaborator of Laura Veirs. Veirs actually introduced the two, as well as hooking Nguyen up with her label after getting an unsolicited recording in the mail. On Nguyen's MySpace page, she describes her music like this: "Tangles of guitar, knots of singing, threads of beat and thump make a rope fit for hauling the heavy machinery of your day." Who can argue with that? --Mike McGonigal
Product Description
According to Thao Nguyen, she has two talents: her first is she has a knack for beat-boxing and humming at the same time (Rahzel needn't worry about any competition just yet though) and her second, and in her opinion finest, is that she had a capacity to watch so much TV as a kid, she's convinced her personality is made up of several different sitcom characters. Of course Thao, the 23 year Virginia-bred songwriter, is forgetting her unique voice, natural sense for a good melody, and striking lyrics, skillful guitar plucking and her deadly dry sense of humour. Thao's debut for Kill Rock Stars, showcases all these talents and more, proving she's a star in the making.
With her perky strumming guitar, bluegrass tinged banjo, giddy sense of self and uninhibited vulnerability, Thao manages that rare combination of songs that sound happy but are, at times so sad. Whether using an acoustic guitar strummed with a toothbrush or a sharpie pen, or employing keyboards, horns and a full rhythm section with her band The Get Down Stay Down, her songs are always buoyant, littered with catchy riffs and lyrics gripped with intimate details juxtaposed with her cheeky humor. ''My songs reflect my personality as far as shirking the seriousness of things'' says Thao.
Thao's sly and mischievous sense of humour is all over this record, lightening the gravity of her words in the tradition of the very best songwriters, raising the mundane and ordinary to the extraordinary. Her music comes to life during her live performances, where Thao's clever, self-depricating and charming personality shines, surpassed only by her guitar picking skills.
The vinyl version contains two extra tracks: a cover of the Smoky Robinson classic ''You Really Got Hold On Me'' and and a Thao original ''Tallymarks''.
With her perky strumming guitar, bluegrass tinged banjo, giddy sense of self and uninhibited vulnerability, Thao manages that rare combination of songs that sound happy but are, at times so sad. Whether using an acoustic guitar strummed with a toothbrush or a sharpie pen, or employing keyboards, horns and a full rhythm section with her band The Get Down Stay Down, her songs are always buoyant, littered with catchy riffs and lyrics gripped with intimate details juxtaposed with her cheeky humor. ''My songs reflect my personality as far as shirking the seriousness of things'' says Thao.
Thao's sly and mischievous sense of humour is all over this record, lightening the gravity of her words in the tradition of the very best songwriters, raising the mundane and ordinary to the extraordinary. Her music comes to life during her live performances, where Thao's clever, self-depricating and charming personality shines, surpassed only by her guitar picking skills.
The vinyl version contains two extra tracks: a cover of the Smoky Robinson classic ''You Really Got Hold On Me'' and and a Thao original ''Tallymarks''.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By WolfAmI!
Format:MP3 Music
This is simply a great album. Don't be put off by the one-star review. The reviewer complained about the quality of the recording and songwriting. Listen to the previews of the songs and you can hear there's nothing wrong with the quality of the recording. The simple fact is that some people can't enjoy any music if it's not artificial, over-processed Barbie-pop. This is a very tasteful album with solid performance and solid songwriting. It deserves much more than one star.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By C. Bobal
Format:Audio CD
Thao Nguyen's second full-length album has anything a music-lover could ask for: catchy guitar-playing, clever lyrics, and most importantly, feeling. Thao's voice conveys emotion like few other singer-songwriters can. Her backing band, the Get Down Stay Down, add depth and interest to the sound without overwhelming the focal point of the songs - Thao's lyrics and the amazing voice she sings them with. It might take a few listens to figure out what the lyrics are saying, but it feels more like an intriguing mystery to solve than a chore. Is she talking about her childhood? Is it a metaphor for a relationship? What is this "Bag of Hammers" that the second track (and one of the best on the album) is named for? No matter what conclusions you reach, I guarantee that the listening process will be an enjoyable one!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By B. Fullerton
Format:MP3 Music|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've been listening to "Bag of Hammers" over and over again ever since I first heard it in December. Thao does jangly pop in an original way. This is some of the finest new music I've heard in a long, long while. The entire album is a winner.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
I love this girl's sound
I heard her on NPR and I had to download an album.The lyrics to her songs are great and her music is refreshing.
Published 1 day ago by Sean Reynolds
4.0 out of 5 stars
Nice change of pace.
Was tired of the same old stuff in my collection, and also weary of so much on radio or online. Found this while browsing and it was a really nice surprise. Read more
Published 1 month ago by rjepp
4.0 out of 5 stars
Thao makes me smile.
I dig this album! I dig all of Thao with The Get Down Stay Down albums. Bag of Hammers has been a favourite for years.
Published 1 month ago by Jeenah Explosion
5.0 out of 5 stars
Music CD
I recieved a cd in the mail. The cd was in excellent condition. I was extremely pleased with this purchase.
Published 11 months ago by Amelia S Gutke
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Indie Beats
Wow, this is a GREAT album! I first got introduced to Thao from listening to another talented artist named Mirah. If you haven't checked her out yet, be sure to do so. Read more
Published on February 11, 2011 by RugbyGirl
4.0 out of 5 stars
A pretty good album
Thao With the Get Down Stay Down is one of a number of bands making folk young again. They blur lines, sounding a bit like a Rock & Roll marching band fronted by acoustic... Read more
Published on August 22, 2008 by D. Lipp
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stung
Ah, the power of YouTube. I was cruising the web a few months back and stumbled upon a video of Thao Nguyen singing her then most recent single, the hand-clapping, foot-stomping,... Read more
Published on June 2, 2008 by Ned Huthmacher
5.0 out of 5 stars
Melliferous!!!
My father passed away in early January, and I can honestly say that last month when I listened to "Bag of Hammers" and watched the clay animation of it on YouTube I felt like an... Read more
Published on May 6, 2008 by inkstone
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great second album from Thao
Thao Nguyen came pretty much out of nowhere with her 2006 debut album "Like the Linen" which was a pleasant introduction to her folk-rock type music. Read more
Published on April 1, 2008 by Paul Allaer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thao Nguyen's Trailblazing Talent Grows
My daughter introduced me to Thao Nguyen's music with her first CD a couple of years ago and I am greatly impressed with the growth young Ms. Read more
Published on February 17, 2008 by Charlie Young
Listmania!
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