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These Four Walls
 
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These Four Walls

Shawn Colvin
4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (41 customer reviews) More about this product

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These Four Walls + Polaroids: A Greatest Hits Collection + Children Running Through
Price For All Three: $39.95

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  • This item: These Four Walls ~ Shawn Colvin

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Product Details

  • Audio CD (September 12, 2006)
  • Original Release Date: September 12, 2006
  • Number of Discs: 1
  • Label: Nonesuch
  • ASIN: B000FIMHFS
  • In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #6,464 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

    Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

    #30 in  Music > Alternative Rock > Singer-Songwriters
    #99 in  Music > Folk > Singer-Songwriters

Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s

Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or view the MP3 Album.

Samples
Song Title Time Price
listen  1. Fill Me Up 3:39$0.99 Buy Track
listen  2. These Four Walls 2:57$0.99 Buy Track
listen  3. Tuff Kid 3:10$0.99 Buy Track
listen  4. Summer Dress 4:21$0.99 Buy Track
listen  5. Cinnamon Road 3:51$0.99 Buy Track
listen  6. Venetian Blue 3:45$0.99 Buy Track
listen  7. The Bird 3:09$0.99 Buy Track
listen  8. I'm Gone 2:53$0.99 Buy Track
listen  9. Let It Slide 4:17$0.99 Buy Track
listen10. Even Here We Are 2:44$0.99 Buy Track
listen11. So Good to See You 3:43$0.99 Buy Track
listen12. That Don't Worry Me Now 3:40$0.99 Buy Track
listen13. Words 2:29$0.99 Buy Track


Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Shawn Colvin's fans are a dedicated and patient lot. They've had to be, to have waited five years for this new release and nearly six for the one before it. But she rewards the faithful with gems every time, and These Four Walls is no exception. Despite a label change to the more musically adventurous Nonesuch, after having been associated with Columbia since 1989, this is a typically low-key yet beautifully constructed set. Colvin again works with producer/songwriter John Leventhal, her musical collaborator for the past quarter-century, and that long-standing partnership pays off with 11 superbly crafted originals. Colvin's breathy voice conveys the emotion, yearning, sadness, and even the occasional joy and hope behind the melodies. As producer, Leventhal colors these songs with subtle textures, adding organ, brushed drums, and layered electric and acoustic guitars to bolster but never overwhelm the songs or Colvin's delicate yet defined vocals. It's a clean but never-slick sound, with enough edge and dynamics to reflect the nuances in the lyrics. Covers of the obscure Paul Westerberg track "Even Here We Are" and the Bee Gees' "Words"--the latter sounding like a demo, with just acoustic guitar, spare bass, and sparse piano--illuminate additional details in her approach. They round out one of Colvin's finest, most honest, and poignant collections. It's an album worth the extended wait. --Hal Horowitz

Recommended Shawn Colvin

Polaroids: A Greatest Hits Collection

Fat City

A Few Small Repairs



Product Description
This is Shawn Colvin's first album since 2001's A Whole New You. On These Four Walls, Colvin displays an easy-going sophistication and an appealingly grown-up spin on both her own evocative songs and the smartly-chosen covers she interprets.


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Customer Reviews

41 Reviews
5 star:
 (26)
4 star:
 (9)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:
 (3)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.4 out of 5 stars (41 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Always worth the wait, January 29, 2007
By Tim Brough "author and music buff" (Springfield, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)      
Perhaps the lack of recognition given Shawn Colvin is due to her drawn out release schedule. With two albums in 11 years, she could give Boston a run for Tom Sholz's money. Maybe if she'd been a bit more prolific, she'd be recognized as the terrific artist she truly is. But then again, as each CD is a knock-out collection without filler tracks, maybe it's just as well. The appreciative audience of fans (like me) that snap up the CD's as they trickle out are always assured of only the finest quality music.

"These Four Walls" is no exception. Eleven new songs and two covers, there isn't a wasted note or overplayed stanza on the entire CD. Songs of lover's resignation (the beautiful title song) and bitter rants like "Tuff Kid" are interlaced with love songs like "Let It Slide" and her cover of the Bee Gees' "Words." Producer and co-writer John Leventhal does for Colvin what he has done over numerous times through the years: frames Colvin letter perfectly. It is the same kind of empathic touch he gave to Rosanne Cash on "Black Cadillac."

The show, however, belongs to Colvin. Her delivery of these songs is unflinchingly honest, and had this been the time of hits for the likes of her, Natalie Merchant and Suzanne Vega in the late 80's, the audience for this would be clamoring for "Summer Dress" and "Venetian Blue" on the radio or even VH1. But alas, Shawn Colvin's "These Four Walls" will suffer the commercial fate of more discriminatory buyers, like the folks who are probably reading this review. So what are you waiting for?

One of the best of 2006.
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Like a fine wine, Shawn just keeps getting better!, February 6, 2007
By M. Manzino (Bronxville,, New York United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I have been a fan of Shawn's music since her break out hit Sunny Came Home. Although I really love that song, there are also some other songs that are even better than Sunny Came Home in my opinion. These Four Walls showcases Shawn's remarkable voice and songwriting ability. Tuching, poignant and bittersweet, this album has a song for every mood. The title track is beautifully sung, and the guitar is just haunting. Venetian Blue, The Bird, I'm Gone and Let It Slide are powerful emotional testaments to the power of Shawn's songwriting and John Leventhal's producing prowess. Shawn's cover of the BG's Words and Paul Westerberg's Even Here We Are showcase another side of Colvin's talents. She interprets covers like no other! My favorite tracks are Tough Kid, The Bird, Cinnamon Road, These Four Walls and Let It Slide. Patty Griffin and Marc Cohn's contributions to Cinnamon Road are amazing, and Teddy Thompson (son of singer/songwriter Richard Thompson) make Let It Slide wonderfully expressive. If you are a fan or just a newcomer, you won't be disapponted! I have listened to this album numerous times and find something different each time. Definitely worth the wait!
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars It's folk music. Ok?, August 23, 2007
By Buster Fudpucker (West Union, SC) - See all my reviews
If you are a Shawn Colvin fan this is a must have CD. The first track, Fill Me Up, has a tempo reminicent of Sunny came home. I like the dark feel to the title track and Summer Dress. Cinnamon Road is another song that is well done.

Shawn's music just feels right to me. She has a folk rock style with a little edge. If you have Born in the USA stuck back in your collection somewhere pull it out and listen to My Hometown. Shawn's songs are like that. They are about life and the truth. She tells it like it is,(Let it slide, Tuff kid). The whole album takes me back to some of the good artists of the 70's. She does a good cover of the Bee Gees Words. Other songs remind me of artists like Carole King, James Taylor, and even Bob Seeger. If you like folk and want to sit back, have a beer, and listen to what a great artist has to say you wont be disappointed. If you like Brittney or Shania and want your music sugar coated keep looking...
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Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars Flat, a disappointment
I'm crazy about Shawn Colvin. She shares what's in her heart with us, both the pleasure and the pain. Her music is honest and passionate. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Paul in Pittsburgh

4.0 out of 5 stars Classic Shawn
I've been a Shawn Colvin fan since "Steady On" was released, and I saw her perform live eight times during the nineties. Read more
Published 4 months ago by S. Bowman

3.0 out of 5 stars Willing artist, shallow material
Colvin's seduction lies in her voice, at once oddly piquant and straight-faced, a twang that nicely embodies her cast of yearners, scrappers and outcasts. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Ennis Smith

4.0 out of 5 stars Fills you up
Shawn Colvin has always been a rather charming artist of smart sentiments and pleasant arrangements - it leads to lovely, not especially challenging songs, and a general feeling... Read more
Published 14 months ago by E. Kutinsky

2.0 out of 5 stars Not even close!
Not even close to "Cover Girl" or "Steady On". The songs on this album all sound the same. And this album is all studio work. Read more
Published 15 months ago by M. Vircsik

5.0 out of 5 stars Her best yet
I have nearly all of her work and this is my favorite by far. If you're a fan, you will not be disappointed with this one!
Published 21 months ago by love Mr. Darcy

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth the wait
As a fan of Shawn's music since I first listened to Sunny Came Home, I was hesitant to buy this one as I wasn't sure if it would live up to my expectations. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Y. Slayton

5.0 out of 5 stars I am forever in love with Shawn
Daer Shawn,
My family met you in Jacksonville, Oregom. I am quite sure that you do not remember me or my wife and kids. Read more
Published 24 months ago by James A. Morrow

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing
Seen her live. Have a couple of her albums. Disappointed with this one. I usually like cryptic lyrics, but what the heck is she talking about. Read more
Published on May 25, 2007 by Michael R. Lefton

4.0 out of 5 stars Nothing But Sky
Shawn Colvin's "These Four Walls" is a good set, well worth the wait. Of my favorites, "Tuff Kid" pulses with Antoine Silverman's fiddle adding a nice touch, "So hey everybody at... Read more
Published on May 12, 2007 by Lee Armstrong

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