Customer Reviews

On Your Shore

5 star:		(42)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I was lucky enough to discover Charlotte Martin here on amazon when she appeared in my recommendations. After hearing the sound clips, I was completely hooked and had to get my hands on the CD. Since then, this album hasn't left my CD player, and I have also purchased her In Parenthesis EP.

Though comparisons to Tori Amos are unavoidable, due to the similarities in their gorgeous piano playing, it should be noted that there are differences as well. Charlotte Martin's lyrics are somewhat less obscure, though no less meaningful. It seems that Martin might simply be slightly more accessible. Nonetheless, each song will move you in some way or another, and will touch your soul in a way that many of today's shallow, money-grubbing artists simply don't come anywhere near accomplishing. Her lyrics, throughout the course of this album, span an immense gamut of emotions.

The seamlessly astounding blend of piano, strings, and driving drum beats, along with Charlotte's captivating voice (on both lead and backing vocals), can only be described as phenomenal. Charlotte's classical training definitely permeates the sumptuously graceful arrangements, and is clearly identifiable as her voice soars over a rather impressive range.

Though each track is amazing in it's own right, some of my favorites on this album include:

Track 1; "On Your Shore" - Amazing opening/title track! Though not extremely upbeat, it is no less memorable. I love the lyrics on this one, and the chorus is superb.

Track 4; "Every Time it Rains" - Great drums lend a driving beat to the uplifting and hopeful lyrics, despite the dark undertones.

Track 5; "Steel" - This one always gets stuck in my head, and I end up humming/singing it the rest of the day. I really love the simple, yet elegant piano on this one. The bridge is definitely reminiscent of Tori Amos, as is the piano playing near the end of the song.

Track 10; "Parade On" - Exquisite ballad that will almost bring you to tears.

Track 11; "Something Like a Hero" - Touching lyrics, great piano, and great chorus

Very few artists appeal to me this strongly and this quickly, and most take several listens before I come to any conclusions about them, but On Your Shore struck a chord with me immediately. This is an album you can pop into your stereo and listen to all the way through, without once hitting the skip button. If you are a fan of female vocalists with amazing accompaniment, including a strong piano presence, then you NEED to buy this album! I'm only sorry I didn't discover Charlotte Martin sooner, and I anxiously await any forthcoming albums with baited breath!

The names in the "most gratefully" section of the liner notes to Charlotte Martin's full-length major-label debut say a mouthful: Howie Day, Kate Bush, Kevin Shields (of My Bloody Valentine fame), Pete Yorn, Peter Gabriel ("do you remember I auditioned to play piano for you"), and Tori Amos to name just a few. Indeed, if you rolled all these folks together, you might end up with something very much like _On Your Shore_. This is a good thing.

Kate's influence is arguably the strongest: both the rhythm section and vocal harmonies on "Limits of Our Love" are straight out of "Running Up That Hill," and it can't be an accident that Charlotte sings the title line of "Every Time It Rains" with the same cadence that Kate sings that same line in "Cloudbusting," and those are the two singles.

So far, I like Charlotte best when she rocks out. (In particular, the bridge sections of "On Your Shore" and "Madman" are stunners.) When she does the ballad thing...well, so far the results aren't quite up to Tori or Vienna Teng standards, but that's setting the bar awfully high. The notable exception to this rule is her gorgeous rendition of the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses": while I was never much of a Stones fan, this cover has me picking my jaw up off the floor.

As for the lyrics, it's evident that some folks don't think they're very good, and Charlotte herself has been heard to confess that she could use some improvement in this area. While it's true that she probably won't be getting published in poetry journals anytime soon, I don't think she's got anything to be embarrassed about, and a fair number of her turns of phrase are just plain fun. ("Chasing you around the room is tempting...")

While Charlotte may not yet have separated herself entirely from the pack, she's clearly well on her way. In fact, _On Your Shore_ gets beaten out only by Casey Stratton's _Standing at the Edge_ for my "most welcome debut by a singer-songwriter" award for 2004. Good stuff.

Perhaps you haven't heard about this captivating musician, because she is not as well-promoted as other young artists. However, I am certain that you will enjoy this album if you give it a chance. ANYONE can relate to life's challenges that Charlotte sings about such as: rejection, anguish, hope, and love. But Charlotte addresses these trials in a manner that distinguishes her from other artists.



Along with her angelic voice, Charlotte reveals her emotions by creating graphic images in the minds of her listeners. For example, in her song "Parade On" Charlotte sings, "She tried to stop a train for him without shoes..." Such powerful metaphors, illustrate the great sacrifices people make for those they care about.



In addition to her original songs, Charlotte recreates a tear-jerking version of "Wild Horses" by the Rolling Stones. With the way she pours her heart and soul into this classic, one would think this it is her own creation.



Discovering true musical talent is rare these days, but this is your opportunity to do just that! So please don't pass on this CD. :- ) The fact that Charlotte writes her own songs and creates her own music cannot be said enough. If you buy this album, I am sure you will not be disappointed. However, if you are still in doubt, just click on some of the sample tracks. For more information about this brilliant artist, please visit charlottemartin.com

This is a beautiful CD which, at least on the copy I received, includes anti-consumer copy control making transfer to your computer and iPod difficult.

Please encourage Amazon to disclose this on the product description the way that Amazon UK does.
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Update: To Amazon's credit, copy protected CDs are now clearly marked.

This CD is simply incredible. While I understand the comparisons made of Charlotte Martin to Tori Amos or Kate Bush, I don't think she's just a clone, as some have argued. Every artist has takes inspiration from others, and Charlotte is still very much her own sound. Every song on this CD has, at one point or another, been exactly the song I needed at the time.
Highlights:

Every Time It Rains--Probably Charlotte's most well-known song, and for good reason. It's very powerful lyrically and it's well produced. It was great on "In Perentheses" but I think she's made it even better here.

Madman--This song has a unique sound, and the lyrics are just killer.

Up All Night--Shatters me.

Something Like A Hero--This feels to me like the crux of the album. It's unlike anything I've ever heard before.

Wild Horses--This beautifully showcases Charlotte's vocals and piano playing.

These are the highlights, but the whole CD is excellent. My only problem with it is that I feel she overused strings in the background, particularly on "Your Armor" and "On Your Shore" For better, sparser recordings of these, check out "In Perentheses" and "Veins".

I recently heard the song "Every Time It Rains" on the radio and I thought that I'd find out more information about this new singer/songwriter. I went on her website to find that I liked almost every song on the cd with "Limits of Our Love" being my favorite along with the gorgeous "Every Time It Rains". It has been a long time since I have been completely satisfied with a CD and I am so glad to have switched on the radio that day. I truly hope she succeeds.

Charlotte Martin has a voice all her own. Her exquisite and harmonious piano skills, combined with a strong, passionate voice gives this incredible album a certain uniqueness that is rarely found these days. I have followed Char over the past few years and her growth is certainly evident on this album. Her words are passionate and she sings with an energy that reverberates into the listeners soul. It is a beautiful album that I would reccommend to anyone!!!

Is it possible these days to review an album from a singer/songwriter/pianist without mentioning Tori Amos? Not in my experience. And this one doesn't help matters by including the aforementioned goddess of the rolling piano, in her liner notes (along with Kate Bush and Robert Smith). Perhaps this is Charlotte Martin's way of admitting the similarity and paying a homage to her inspirations as it would seem from her Kate Bush-esque drumbeat on "Limits of Our Love."

In the end, Charlotte does set herself apart by adding almost unheard-of pop weirdness as in "Something Like a Hero" which ends in a chant/rap.

Charlotte's voice is also, I would say, a finer instrument than either Tori or Kate's. It sours to glass-shattering heights effortlessly and there's no doubting her heart is in these songs, especially on the bonus track cover of "Wild Horses."

In her debut album, Charlotte's sound and lyrics have become more subdued compared to earlier EP's which had a far more unusual, almost cabaret spirit to them. It's missed here in favor of traditional piano ballads.

Still, this is polished and thunderous pop music. And if she can stay away from the too obvious Tori-speak lyrics ("could lip-gloss save a nation Mr. Powers"), her next album should have people comparing other singer/songwriter/pianists to her.

I do not use the term "great" often. This is the best cd I have heard in years. If, like me, you are a Kate Bush fan, tired of 10 years without a release, this might be for you. She has the same style and feel as KB, but Charlotte has her own style, as well as a superior singing voice. The background vocals are very similar to songs like "Cloudbusting". But, forget the comparisons, this cd stands on its' own. Wonderful piano, terrific singing, great songwriting, and not a weak track on the cd. You can just push "play" and not get up. There really is not much need to talk about her individual tracks because they all stand out. Slow numbers, faster ones, the intense songs, all are special in their own way. And the cover of "Wild Horses", a song that I have never liked even a little bit, is amazing. She sings the second half of the song with all of the soul you can imagine, with a style all her own. This is a great cd. I am wondering if she can ever match it with subsequent works, but no matter. This is a slice in time of an artist on the top of her game and you should buy this cd.

Charlotte Martin really knows how to make an album, and "On Your Shore" proves it. I've followed her career for about a year, so I'm a little biased, but this album is beyond what I was anticipating. The lyrics and melodies of her songs are fantastic in their bare forms, but Charlotte uses layered vocals and instruments to make her songs rich and complex. However, she also knows exactly which songs to leave with just her voice, her piano, and another instrument; these tracks are powerful in their simplicity.

If you have even the slightest interest in checking out a new artist, I definitely recommend getting this album. You will not regret it- I mean it. Also, if you ever come across the opportunity to see Charlotte perform live...TAKE IT. She is an amazing and engaging live performer, and I guarantee she will blow you away.