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20 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Lizzie West is Unique, May 7, 2003
By A Customer
The album, as a whole, is fluid and somber at the same time. The poetry of the lyrics is like poetry itself, devoid and full of abstract meaning simultaneously. Miss West's vocals, which sound Natalie Merchant-like or even like Fiona Apple, are magnificent. The album's tracks do not have the natural flow of West's vocals. The beginning quartet of songs: "Welcome" (if it can really be considered a song); "Time to Cry"; "The Day We Met"; "Miss You Baby" is magnificent. The it goes downhill. "Sometime" is slow and methodical, makes for wonderful listening once but is somewhat intolerable in subsequent listens. "Monkey Back Blues" and "Jenny" just suffer from the slowing pace. I just couldn't get through "Jenny" because it began to plod around the 2:00 mark.The interesting thing is that "Doctor" is where the album recovers its momentum. After the quirky (featuring the only cuss word of the album; a truly startling surprise) and somewhat dissonant song which I loved, "Hit the Road" makes "Doctor" sound like the Macarena. It begins a string of four consecutive great songs. It's almost acoustic pop combined with some 80's tones (the joyous background following "...very confused...", which sounds almost like 10,000 Maniacs). And then the great instrumental middle section at 1:45 with her joyous and subtle "Bop's" in the background. The song would make for a wonderful single. It continues with the somber "Prayer", a song that got me hooked to the album. I heard it on an "Alias" episode underscoring perfectly the wake of a beloved character. The song is perfect for funeral orations and wakes. It is so sad and perfect. And then the gospel tinge of "See You Through (Conversation). It is a total surprise that Miss West is able to pull out so many different forms of music and make it into a seamless record. She takes country, jazz, pop, blues, bluegrass, bits of hip-hop and electronica (!), and gospel and just makes it part of her undobtedly extensive musical arsenal. It makes for a wonderful album. I'm not from the Midwest but I get the feeling that Lizzie West wrote this album purely as an homage to life in the Midwest states. Welcome -- If anything, this track represents the most unique and almost spiritual prelude to any album I've ever listened to.
Grade: B+ Time to Cry -- Masterful. The use of the harmonica brings you to the South or the Midwest immediately. The beating drums in the background bring in a bit of hip-hop or rock rhythm to the song.
Grade: A Dusty Turnaround -- Three for three. The song is infectious in its unique and catchy blend of lyrics and accompianment. The chorus is worth a listen over and over again. Again, it just brings images of traveling down some empty road in the Midwest with the wind in your hair. "Just remember man, there is no place like home."
Grade: A+ The Day We Met -- A tale of reminiscence between two lovers coupled with some strange invocation of imagery ("pumpkin-colored trees are turning red"). The easy pace of the instrumentation makes the song work.
Grade: B+ Miss You Baby -- Another longing for a man. The song just slows to a halt. But the lazy pace of the song has its charms. The lyrics are unique but it seems repetitive. Like we've heard it before. But, again, I like the beat and rhythm of the song.
Grade: B Sometime -- Here's where she stumbles. The lyrics don't fit with the instrumentation. As such, there is something off-kilter with the song.
Grade: C Monkey Back Blues -- Worst song on the record. It's so achingly slow. I guess it's the nature of the blues. Couldn't get through the first listen of the song.
Grade: D+ Jenny -- Continues the languid pace of the record so far. It's such a disappointment given the astounding beginning.
Grade: C- Doctor -- One of my favorites. A perfect blend of odd lyrics and an almost R&B/rock element on instruments. And then the weird instrumental break at 3:09. Just threw me off.
Grade: A Hit the Road -- Best song on the record. Period. It's so likable and upbeat. The guitar is so relaxing and a perfect compliment to Lizzie's astonishing lyrics. I just love the "Bop, diddy-dy bop" in the background as well as the echoing "very confused". Just a marvelous song.
Grade: A+ Prayer -- Second best song. Wonderful, poetic lyrics from a poem by Mary Frye. The accompianing instruments magnify the sense of sadness and somber mood. It's a depressing, moody song. And to throw in a spoken part was genius. Perfect.
Grade: A See You Through -- The gospel touch was nice and surprising.
Grade: B+ Holy Road -- A long, slow, worshipful-like church song. Not that likeable.
Grade: B-
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