When We Were Small

Rosie Thomas | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 22, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sub Pop
• ASIN: B00005UWLX
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #119,827 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #60 in Music > Indie Music > Alternative Rock > Singer Songwriters

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Haunting, Original Work, March 2, 2003

By 

Brian D. Rubendall (Oakton, VA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: When We Were Small (Audio CD)

Rosie Thomas's "When We Were Small" is as intimate an album as you're ever likely to hear. The individual songs are punctuated by bits of recordings of Rosie and her family from when she was a child. Just to empahsize the point further, the CD booklet contains family snapshots and a dedication to her parents.

The music itself is spare and minimalist, with Thomas often backed by only an accoustic guitar or piano. Nevertheless the stories have power, concentrating as they do on themes of love, loss, heartache and divorce. Thomas's voice is amazingly sharp and the album's clean production serves her well. The highlights include "2 Dollar Shoes," "Farewell," "Wedding Day" and the closing "Bicycle Tricycle," which evokes childhood memories as well as any rock song ever has.

Overall, a stunningly personal recording that never once lapses into sentimentality.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Where has she been all our lives?, January 8, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: When We Were Small (Audio CD)

Many reviews have well described the cd's unique and beautifully simple compositions. By not venturing into heavily multi-layering the tracks from a production angle, the listener is transported easily into Rosie's melodically happy, sad and fragile world.

Having seen her perform this solid package of compositions when she opened for Richie Havens last April, I was instantly hooked like many of you by her sweet & haunting voice.

It's a kick to listen to some of her life's experiences between songs with that cartoony voice of hers. ..but when she starts to sing she takes on an angel-like softness and clearity that hasn't been heard in the music biz for decades. Immaculately produced by Martin Feveyear & Eric Fisher. I look forward to her next cd and hope it's here soon.

Congrats to Rosie on her recent 35 city European tour (opened for Bryan Ferry!)

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars beautiful, January 29, 2002

By 

"tomotri" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When We Were Small (Audio CD)

"When We Were Small" contains 10 delicate tales of family, love, pain and loss, all told in a gorgeous soprano voice reminicent of Joni Mitchell. Thomas' deceptively simple acoustic guitar and piano playing is supported nicely by subtle bits of bass and drums.

What truly separates Thomas' music from contemporary singers such as Tori Amos is her utter lack of pretense. I would compare Thomas' style to that of Damien Jurado (with whom she duets on the excellent Bruce Springsteen tribute, "Badlands") or David Bazan of Pedro the Lion. All three writers posess a sense of honesty and clarity in their lyrics that is all too rare in today's irony-ridden music world.

Some highlights: the gentle piano ballad "Farewell," the harrowing "Charlotte," and the beautiful closing track, "Bicycle Tricycle."