...'Cause she's bittersweet
Written: Jun 28 '07
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great voice to go along with engaging music and varied subject matter
Cons: Last fourth of the album doesn't hold up as well at that point
The Bottom Line: Worth a purchase
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| smarterthan3's Full Review: Chaotic Resolve by Plumb |
There's a reason the old adage "Don't judge a book by it's cover" is still used so frequently today: People still take things at face value, and often less at that. Take Plumb ever-evolving rock group turned solo title of a Mrs. Tiffany A. Lee. Judging by the singles (Which I'm not really sure qualifies as cracking the cover opposed to viewing it) one wouldn't appeared to be misinformed by labeling Lee a goth-pop artist. Another person may look at the liner notes/back cover of the CD and come to the conclusion, through the lip-gloss highlighting and lengthy waves of hair, that the air is lighter on this side of the proverbial fence. Neither will be quite right or wrong, the ultimate detractor to a good ol' argument, as "Chaotic Resolve" is a nice mix of darker-hued music with a center of warming moral support via a confident, confiding, neo-angelic voice.
Not that I can exactly talk, since this is my first exposure to Plumb and, I have to admit, I was more on the side of the fence that hypothesized dank and darker things then what the final product ends up churning out. In complete contrast, things start out as light as the sun that comes shining through the window 10:30 on a crisp Saturday morning. "Blush (Only You)" is a tender love song with a mild rock beat that is both steady and light. Especially refreshing here is the suggested attitude that Tiffany is not hopelessly infatuated with a significant other and while she would, of course, prefer to be with the one to whom she sings, her world would not explode from the inside out if such a thing weren't to happen. The transition from opener to "I Can't Do This" isn't peaceful, but "Can't," with all the angst of a fifteen-year old, is still an entertaining listen, at this point (A somber mood is handled with much more care later on). "Real Life Fairytale" returns to the mood of origin, acting almost as a sequel to "Blush." With the absolutely lightest rock background possible, the kind that never strays too far from radio airwaves, the song is near painful in its tradition, but a strong voice and an attitude that hints that, while this has, not everything works out so clean cut. And it's pretty obvious the artist is grateful for the chance at true joy.
The more permanent musical scent sprays it's first lingering moments in "Better." The darker atmosphere is never overpowering, and next to the still featherweight guitars, who have turned to noticeably foggier fare, is the realization that Lee is never condescending while she counsels a struggling soul. "Manic" is similar in style (Hinting menace) and morale; songwriter Lee is again viewing a struggling female figure trip through life's pitfalls. There is harsher criticism here, thanks to the heavier musk of thematic material, but the song captivates with a subtle hook brought to the next level by empowering vox. "Cut" is a heart-pricking piano ballad, ending a trilogy of songs dealing with emotionally distraught individuals. This time Lee slips into the character herself, recalling solely against keys the reasoning behind her destructive scars. While some may argue it's worthlessness simply based on it's obligation, they won't be saying so after taking a listen. The ballad may be mushy, bordering on contrived in the musical department, but the songs still chills despite how familiar I've become with these kind of things.
"Bittersweet" benefits from a damp electronic beat sped up a tad to stay one step ahead of Lee's lyrical confessions, while the suggestive aggression leaking through most of the previous tracks finally comes to a head in the guitar section of "Good Behavior." While she isn't feeble, there is a real sense of uncertainty in Lee's voice that wavers along with the pulsing guitars in the post-chorus and floats with the stray notes in the haunting bridge. Good stuff there. For one number, anyway, Plumb feeds some Gwen Stefani into her veins (And maybe a touch of Pink's attitude from "Stupid Girl’s") with the revolving "Motion." The horn/guitar clash is severely understated, which takes away from the powerful trance the track could have had, but the mood is so loose and vibrant that you don't even have an inkling of anything negative.
The album slides it's way down to a finale on the likes of "I Have Nothing" and "Jekyll and Hyde." "Nothing" borders on boisterous, though it never gets so bloated that Lee's voice passes anything but understandably aggravated. "Jekkyl and Hyde" opens up with a nice lyrical metaphor describing an omnipresent ex as a cigarette that's quite clever, and makes it's living dancing in slow motion, teasing listeners with the promise of a delectable reward for their patience. It's a bit too bogged down to manage a wink, though.
Anytime you attempt to bookend an album with a 6-minute closer (Bonus tracks aside), it's best to have a blueprint in place so at the 4-minute mark you aren't stuck crooning alongside a noodling guitar or looping piano. Unfortunately, "Sleep" doesn't have too much of a plan. While I have to admit I'm glad a somber approach wasn't taken, if you're trying to lull a person into a subconscious sleep, an excited piano isn't exactly the way to do it. While I don't really get the point of throwing on bonus tracks on anything but deluxe/special/limited edition's, "Damaged (Redemption Extended Version)" (An 'unrated' extended edition of a track of her last album) and "Pray For Me" (A Michael W. Smith cover) get that asterisks next to their title here. I think it would be better if one were a fan of the original "Damaged" to critique here, since there is little here that excites me, besides the commonly good vocal work. "Pray For Me" fares a little better, it has a nice little electric beat and a speedy delivery. Still, it's nothing grand, and it feels exactly like a tack-on.
Weaker downward slope aside, this is an album and artist that is solid, reliably, I'm sure. I certainly won't jinx her by promising all of you that I'll be looking deeper into her discography, but I'll let you know that this album is good enough to convince me to do so. Download a track or two if you're hesitant, but I'd be surprised if you wouldn't end up buying those tracks twice when you buy the solid product. Recommended.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
smarterthan3
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Member: Jim
Reviews written: 194
Trusted by: 53 members
About Me:
If I was worth dying for, this God is worth living for
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