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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Magical, August 22, 2002
A fantastic album -- Tanya seems much more free to express her own style now that she's on her own (not part of Belly, Throwing Muses, etc.). This is a somewhat more low-key Tanya than we saw before, but there is still that electric guitar, rock sound going on. And as expected, the real magic is in the lyrics. My personal favorite is "Mysteries of the Unexplained," a breathtaking vision which addresses the question, "what is beauty?" and gives a very satisfying answer.
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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
WITH THESE HIPS THESE LIPS THESE GETAWAY STICKS..., October 6, 2000
I GOT IT MADE... Tanya on her own is a pretty picture. But the album still feels like it lacks something. Where her music felt more complete with Belly, this leaves a little something to be desired. The songs here are all complete, and Donelly even took some singing lessons to enhance her vocal abilities here. But this does not quite live up to her full potential. This album, though, is still fulfilling and satisfying. Donelly's lyrics are more emotional, more confrontational, and she has begun to mature into her own voice. The first four tracks are delightful, especially "Mysteries of the Unknown". "Acrobat" is a surprisingly but modestly understated gem. "Breathe Around You" is a rather sexy turn for Donelly... while the final two tracks "Manna" and "Swoon" are the best on this album. It continues to be an interesting journey to follow Donelly's career in all its various incarnations. Very satisfying, and you won't regret investing time or energy on this album... despite its minor flaws and lack of cohesion.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Will satisfy her old fans and win her some new ones too, August 25, 2001
After playing for ten years in other people's bands , Tanya Donelly has finally deceided to go solo in 1997 and while many thought she wouldn't be able to deliver on her own , her debut album " Lovesongs for underdogs " came to prove them wrong . First of all it is obvious that the Donelly of this record is definetely different from the Donelly who led Belly to the top of the alternative single charts catalogue some years ago . The production is more professional and the whole music texture more carefully made than before . Star had this ethereal schizophrenia in it's sound while King was a more stiff , contradictory pop record . So where exactly does she stand now? Well , from the first track " Pretty Deep " you can easily tell that this is first-class stuff . Same goes for the second one , " The Bright Light " which was also released as a cd-single. It's obvious that she is more certain of herself than ever . Even on poisonous rock tunes like " Breathe Around You " and " Lantern " she sends out a confidence which is hard to ignore . The risk she seems to be taking is to try to make her own private universe a part of the mainstream rock culture . For the first time the lyrics are being overshadowed by the dynamic of the music . In the past , the macabre themes of Star served the twsted fairytale-like atmosphere of Belly's debut yet King's lyrics were more abstract and confusing to most people . Even then though , Donelly had something specific to say . You just had to do your research first . " Super Connected " for example was mocking rock stars for acting like Gods . On the video clip we find the rest of the band turning Donelly into some kind of Frankestein-like flying idol while she's singing " are the heartstrings connected to the poison coming out of your mouth ?... " ( " We just play music . It's not like we've cured cancer or anything... " she once said in an interview ) Knowing all that , these lines and these images take a whole different meaning . " Lovesongs..." now contains a number of riddles and metaphors which , while they don't feel like anything deeply profound , dont have trouble convicing for their honesty . Lines like " come on what's your name ? / i've got a good game " simply point out the strange charms of Donelly's voice and music . They express a feeling yet not tell a specific story . Highlights of the album include " Swoon " , one of the most touching ballads she ever wrote and ofcourse " Bum " whose japanese-like fierce sweetness is impossible to resist . The only tracks which don't make it are " Manna " , " Clipped " and " Mysteries..." , not that there's anything wrong with them yet ( especially on the bright and harmless refrains ) they are not what one would expect from an artist which knows so well how to flirt with the listener's dark side . As a singer-songwritter Donelly has always been enigmatic . It would be fair thogh to say that she sounds truly excited on " Lovesongs..." but not as safe in her own skin as she sounds on her latest offering " Beauttysleep " . Even so , this is one criminally overlooked rock album which contains many top tunes for all music lovers to cherish .
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by Tanya Donelly 
