cletta1201's Full Review: Be Not Nobody by Vanessa Carlton
Things Cletta1201 said about Vanessa Carlton:
-How come “A Thousand Miles” isn’t on my Michelle Branch CD?
-Damn she sounds just like Michelle Branch!
-Damn Michelle Branch looks taller in this video!
-Wow Michelle Branch can really wail on that piano!
And my favorite offender:
SSLABS:"Vanessa Carlton is one of the most important female artists to come to the forefront since Fiona Apple"
Cletta1201: That's pretty huge coming from you even if I don't agree, on a whole I think she's pretty unimportant and hasn't really done anything out of the ordinary. When I first started to hear this song on the radio I thought why is this not on my Michelle Branch cd? I think they sound COMPLETELY alike and I'm sure it isn't marketing coincidence that all those more "down-to-earth" female singers are being launched at the same time. For some reason I was sure that you wouldn't like this - go figure huh? (On sslabs review, which can be found at:
http://www.epinions.com/content_65891110532 )
I admit it – I still think she sounds like Michelle Branch but after watching the video for ”Ordinary Day” and being quite impressed with the lyrics and that the video wasn’t full of sexual innuendo (which I don’t necessarily hate) and butt-naked dancers (which I do hate) – Carlton sold herself to me. I went out that same day and bought her debut album ”Be Not Nobody”.
Even after having listened to the album a great number of times, I still believe that “Ordinary Day” is the best song on the album and I’m shocked that it wasn’t chosen over “A Thousand Miles” as the first single. “Ordinary Day” tells the tale of meeting a boy who takes you on a journey only to realize – it was all a dream. Of course, Carlton puts it much more eloquently than that and that’s probably what is most impressive about her. That at the tender age of 22, she has not only wrote all but one of the songs on her album but she got to claim executive producer credits too – that’s amazing from any angle you look at it. Of course writing your own songs is amazing in and of itself, but that doesn’t always equate with being a phenomenon, you have to have talent too and luckily Carlton does.
”Pretty Baby” is a sweet song that shows Carlton’s youth in its writing: ”Pretty baby don’t you leave me/ I have been saving smiles for you/ Pretty baby why can’t you see/ You’re the one that I belong to”. It has an almost child-like feel to it but it is one of the better tracks. One of the more interesting things that I find about Carlton is that I think there are a number of ways that they could have pushed her in marketing. Had the record company chose to release ”Rinse” as the first single, she would be known as a different kind of performer. “Rinse” of all the tracks, reminds me of Tori Amos with the grittiness and the fluctuations and growls in vocals – and most importantly, in the piano playing. “Rinse” is a great song, excellent even – but image is everything and painting Carlton as a radical feminist is probably not the persona they were looking for. I’ll be the first to say that the first two singles are completely misleading and not really representative of what can be found on ”Be Not Nobody” and of the person I feel Carlton really is.
”Paradise” has the same darkness of “Rinse” and then it dawns on you that listening to this album you can almost hear Carlton grow up. The album matures with each song and the tone changes from sweet and tender to mature and polished. “Paradise” features a delicious break in music that seeks to bring you to your knees, its just that good. For those of you who like to rock out there’s a great cover of the Rolling Stones”Paint It Black”. It’s sexy, it has an edge and it’s good. There are a lot of gems on BNN – lots of little things that are satisfying and interesting. Pay attention the piano when it’s not really the focus and you’ll be amazed. Read along with the lyrics while you listen – she’s a smart woman.
The success of “A Thousand Miles” undoubtedly pushed Carlton through the stratosphere and drew her comparisons with other musicians like Alicia Keys, Tori Amos and even Fiona Apple. While the comparisons are a bit gracious – Carlton does have an obvious likeability and impeccable timing. We’re approaching a time where it really sucks to be Britney Spears so anything that is unlike what she is – automatically stands out. Dubbed “The Anti-Britney’s” – the new breed of girl singers who write their own songs and play instruments are the new hot thing and in all likelihood we will grow tired of them and break them down á la Britney in due time – but in the meanwhile, the anti’s are impressive and doing their own thing.
There s only one thing tougher than making your debut album, and that s recording your first demo. Making mine was a total nightmare, laughs Vanessa C...More at Buy.com
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