12 Arrows

Judith Owen

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 11, 2006)
• Original Release Date: March 12, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Courgette Records
• ASIN: B000EOTW0G
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #187,793 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist
Judith Owen has been described as one of the "great talents of her generation" by Richard Thompson, with whom she performed this past summer at Joe’s Pub (part of Richard’s 1,000 Years of Popular Music). The Welsh-born singer, songwriter and piano player has a witty, theatrical flair that plays perfectly off the deep, emotional nature of her music. The L.A. Times calls Judith "whip-smart and endearing," while Variety Magazine describes her as having "an early Randy Newman charm…she’s a rocker and a jazz chanteuse, a charmer and a seducer." The great Van Dyke Parks describes her this way: "Judith Owen - as brutal as Brahms, delicate as Delius, a total refreshment to the high art of Song crafting. Dazzling, stark, light and dark, a totally significant other." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
12 Arrows is a new collection of songs from Judith Owen, recorded as solos, duets, and trios. Working with Vertical Horizon’s Sean Hurley on bass and the esteemed Herman Matthews (Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston) on drums, Judith’s new work is the most dramatic of her career. "I’ve never written ‘busy’ music – I like things sparse, and emotionally bare. These recordings push this even further, and I’m a better songwriter for it." In recent months, new songs like "Romeo & Juliet," "Some Arrows Go In Deep," and "You’re Not Here Anymore" have emerged as torch songs for those who thought they couldn’t be torched any more. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Only a Hint of the Wonder..., August 6, 2003

By	D. Vera "dc_dan" (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Twelve Arrows (Audio CD)

This collection only begins to hint at the wonder of Owen's voice. That fine instrument is on full display in her live shows. She has a way of attacking a line that leaves you breathless and a sparkling wit in approaching a cover. Take her cover of Chris Cornell's "Black Hole Sun" for instance. Owen pulls the song apart, massaging the tune back into shape and before you know it, the Soundgarden song is all her own.

But her own compositions make an indelible mark on the psyche too. The elegiac "You're Not Here Anymore" is a good example -- Owen has described it in her live concerts as her realization after her father's death of the changing landscapes of family life. This is more than sonic "you can't go back home." She has a way of weaving verse and note in a way that seems to skim across the water of life. And by some magic she lifts you along with her.

Judith Owens work is the wisdom of truth over despair (see "Romeo & Juliet" & "Nothing Lasts Forever"). It is fantastic to finally have a cd of her work available to a broader audience. Do yourself a favor and become acquainted with a true artisan. You'll be sure to enjoy it and you can pride yourself of knowing her work when she hits it big. Oh, and if you can catch her live, do yourself the supreme favor.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars DELIGHTFUL DUET, March 27, 2003

By	Catherine Fischer "cathfisch" (Newark, De USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Twelve Arrows (Audio CD)

Judith Owen's piano styling and powerful vocals may remind some of Tori Amos, but Owen's album is less angry and more ethereal. Not to be missed on the CD is the haunting and evocative duet with Richard Thompson (himself the mastery of heartbreak in love) called "Poseidon". And what a delightful surprise to find Julia Fordham on the CD as well. Can you ever hear too much of her? Owen writes all but one of the songs and has produced or helped to produce the songs as well. It is a CD well worth the listen.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Twelve arrows - accurate and true, January 14, 2004

By	Mr. M. Thomas "Mark Thomas" (Newton Abbot, Devon United Kingdom) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Twelve Arrows (Audio CD)

This is the only Judith Owen album I own at present. Previous experience was limited to the sublime backing vocals (OK, duets really) on Richard Thompson's excellent Old Kit Bag. In Twelve Arrows, Judith has given us a collection of self-penned songs that spans a number of different musical styles, defying attempts to pigeon-hole her work. Judith's voice is expressive, articulate, honest and emotionally communicative. I love the relatively sparse arrangements, and 'one take' approach to recording. The piano playing is excellent too. I know she is compared to Tori Amos, but is this simply because both are female singer/songwriters with piano as their principal instrument? Once you get over that superficial similarity there's a big difference: Judith's work is affirming, uplifting, self-aware and includes an element of humour. Interestingly, Judith is a Brit living in the US, and Tori is an American living in the UK.

I'd recommend this CD strongly to anyone who loves music and is not preoccupied with fitting artists into genres. I can't say if this CD is better or worse than other JO work, but I guess I'll be checking out her other stuff just as soon as international delivery allows. Sadly, this other work is not available from Amazon.