Charmed & Strange

Yoav

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 29, 2008)
• Original Release Date: January 29, 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Universal Music Group
• ASIN: B0012DR42Q
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #85,885 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

He sings into his guitar, slaps it around quite a bit and you wouldn't be entirely surprised if he happened to throw it down and stomp on it with his bare feet. Born in Israel, raised in South Africa and now splitting his time between Montreal and London, Yoav isn't quite like other singer-songwriters. He counts Timbaland and the Neptunes as major influences and spends as much time coaxing funky rhythms out of his battered acoustic guitar as he does strumming it. He won over Tori Amos' fans after supporting her on tour, which makes sense. The songs on his debut album, Charmed and Strange are quirky and inventive. Listening to the dense, multilayered arrangements on "Adore Adore" and "Club Thing," or even his ethereal take on the Pixies' "Where Is My Mind?," you'd be hard-pressed to believe that the whole thing was played on that poor six-string. -- Aidin Vaziri

Product Description

The acoustic guitar. Like drums or the human voice, this instrument is so common in Western popular music, it's easy to take for granted. Until you hear what it can do in the hands of an artist like Yoav. Charmed And Strange, the debut album from the London-based artist, incorporates myriad sounds: woozy vapor trails; clipped, modern club beats; Middle Eastern flourishes; flashes of quiet introspection reminiscent of Nick Drake; eerie outcries a la Jeff Buckley. All crafted by Yoav, using only his voice, an acoustic guitar, simple effects and treatments... and a lot of imagination.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I can't stop listening to this album. . ., February 1, 2008

By	jsheldon (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As with many, I first heard Yoav at a Tori Amos concert this last December, and I do have to say his performance was pretty awesome (especially considering the act immediately following). The banging on the guitar, recording and playing of loops, then filling in the final components of each song was very intriguing. People were pretty much silent during his performances, which shows a lot for an opening act. I picked up this album the day that it was released in U.S. stores, and I've been listening to it nonstop since then. I can't say that there is one filler song on this album. The lyrics are a little weak at times, and I do prefer the live versions of There is Nobody and One by One from the Adore EP, but overall Charmed and Strange is rich, haunting, and extremely satisfying. You would be missing out on something very great and unique by not giving this album a chance. It'll be interesting to see how he will be received here in the U.S. in the coming year.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing, haunting album, February 1, 2008

A Kid's Review

I've seen Yoav live several times. The man is amazing, talented, with a velvety voice that can croon, soar, and send shivers down your spine. His album, his debut, is riveting and gorgeous. Some highlights are "Adore, Adore" a song about people who are in the music industry for the wrong reasons, "Beautiful Lie" a song about dishonesty in a relationship, "Club Thing" which has a rockin beat and killer chorus. One of the most beautiful songs, though, is "Angels and Animals." It's worth $[...] for just that song, trust me. His best songwriting. The album closes with a slow, methodical version of "Where is my Mind?" originally by the Pixies.

This man can write, sing, play guitar, and all of his loop petal effects are amazing, especially watching him play live. Go see him live if you can, and snap up this album. Yoav is sure to hit it big!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Debut, February 10, 2008

By	Chet (cleveland, OH) - See all my reviews

I too first saw Yoav when he opened for Tori last fall. I'm not sure if you can fully appreciate his music unless you have seen him perform live. Since everything you hear is coming from his accustic guitar (the beats, bass and even errie sounds played on a loop), watching him actually build a song live, completely by himself, is amazing to watch. But this CD is the next best thing.

The music has a fresh sound that is both haunting and beautiful to listen to. It's a great start and I am anxious to see where he goes from here.