Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bewitching, enchanting, lovely, March 3, 2005
(4 & 1/2 stars) This is a quiet but mighty collection of songs made by two extraordinary musicians. I've enjoyed Petra's sweet, girlish vocals since the earliest days of That Dog, and Mr. Frisell's guitar work has been making me happy over the course of many years, especially his series of "Americana" CDs. (His collaborations with Petra's dad Charlie have also been most fruitful.) On this new CD, Petra & Bill have achieved a winning combination of voice and guitar, enhanced on occasion by Petra's violin and a tasteful level of overdubbing and sound loops. The CD consists mostly of cover tunes, with two original instrumentals (one each by Haden & Frisell). I appreciated the wide-ranging selection of source material - from Tuva throat-singing to Foo Fighters to Gershwin and beyond. One of the best things about the disc is that the two artists consistently abandon previous interpretations of these songs to come up with their own completely original versions. This album is just a delight from start to finish!
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
In Praise of Bill Frisell...., July 28, 2005
I bought this in March, at the same time as "The Who Sell Out." However, I had such a strong reaction to that one that, in fairness to Ms. Haden, I wanted to wait a few months before rating this one.
I'm glad I did. While I have given both 4 stars, I like this album more; whereas that one was a "soft 4", this one is a "high four."
What I don't like about this one: Ms. Haden has a thin, not fully mature-sounding voice. With the exception of "When You Wish Upon a Star", her voice robs her of the ability to put emotional coloration into her music and really interpret it. It's not so noticeable on songs like "I Don't Want to Grow Up." It's very noticeable on songs like "I've Got a Crush On You." She either needs to avoid "torch songs" like this, or get a vocal coach really to get her diaphragm going.
What I do like about this one: The arrangements. Ms. Haden's vocal dubbings, so as to add harmonies, and violin fills are very complementary of the music. And Mr. Frisell's choices of guitars adds a nice variety of colorations to the tunes.
What I really like about this one: Bill Frisell. Bill Frisell can say more with one note than just about any other musician around. Listen to what he does with "Moon River", for example, and you'll hear what I mean. And his acoustic guitar background to the folksong, "John Hardy Was a Desperate Little Man" really reminds me of the archetypal American guitar minimalist, John Fahey.
All in all, recommended. RC
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Addictive, February 13, 2005
A bunch of beautifully rendered covers, from Coldplay's "Yellow" to Stevie Wonder's "I Believe". Petra Haden's voice is reserved but nonetheless unfailingly expressive. I normally find Bill Frisell too chilly, but Haden's singing makes his playing much more appealing. What I like most about her voice and singing, I think, is that they're utterly without affectation or distracting mannerisms; as a result, she sounds unlike anyone else. I can't wait for her recreation of "The Who Sell Out". (And now that I've waited -- this is far better.)
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Interact With Your Music: Discover, listen to, and buy new music, all from the pages of SPIN's digital edition, free to Amazon customers.
by Petra Haden and Bill Frisell 
