Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #42596 in Music
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

Tedious overwrought nullity
This reminded me of the risks of buying stuff on the strength of five-star frenzies. Meandering melodies, meaningless lyrics, the whole effort smugly convinced of its own worth as a sort of Keane or Coldplay tribute. There is not a memorable song or even moment in this sleepwalk of flip-side filler.

Wow
I was recommended A Fine Frenzy a while ago, and when I heard "Almost Lover", I was absolutely blown away. Just stunning...her voice and lyrics are absolutely beautiful. Yes she's going to get Tori Amos comparisons all over because she's a redhead that plays the piano, but although I love Tori, that's not fair; she's an artist in her own right, and I actually think her songs are nothing like Tori's. A lot of the album is about disappointment in love, and there there are hearbreaking songs such as "Almost Lover" (simply the best song I've heard in a long time, and one of the best-break up tracks ever written), about someone that was never quite officially your lover but led you on dramatically, which makes the heartache even worse when things end, as you don't even have the chance to say you'd been together properly - it's hard not to feel the pain when she sings 'I'd never want to see you unhappy / I thought you'd want the same for me...' and 'I cannot go to the ocean / I cannot drive the streets at night / I cannot wake up in the morning / Without you on my mind.' Who hasn't been there? Then there's "Ashes and Wine", about being on the receiving end of a break-up (feauturing the beautiful lyrics 'I'll drown in my tear-storming sea / That would show you, that would make you hurt like me') and having to let go but not quite wanting to; 'Is there a chance you may change your mind?' And then there's "Near To You", another stand-out track, about trying to move on but not quite being able to. The opening lines are just stunning, and hit you right there: 'He and I had something beautiful, but so dysfunctional it couldn't last / I loved him so, but I let him go, 'cause I knew he'd never love me back / Such pain as this shouldn't have to be experienced / I'm still reeling from the loss, still a little bit delirious.' Beautiful song... But where there are the quiet, heartbreaking songs, there are also catchy, positive songs, too; for example "You Picked Me", a pretty, sweet, and upbeat tune, and "Hope For The Hopeless" (the title says it all) and I also am a big fan of "The Minnow & The Trout" (the album title is taken from one of the lyrics) and "Think of You." Basically, she's one of the best singer-songwriters to emerge in recent times, especially for one so young. She has a beautiful voice, powerful lyrics, and for a debut album this is simply amazing. Buy it.

'I Talk to the Trees'
There seems to be a surfeit of these earnest female singer-songwriters out there in the flux and fluctuating pop arena. Most are quite bad, but sifting through the rubble left on the battlefield, you can occasionally rescue small gems like A Fine Frenzy, hiding in potholes after the big guns (and we all know who they are!) have long finished discharging their infertile loads.
'One Cell in the Sea' is a tiny, slightly miraculous pop album. I'm sure supporters of Vanessa Carlton, Kate Nash and Colbie Callait et al can instantly tell their heroines apart and could fervently point to the varying merits of each, but for yours truly it needs something grabbing and different to raise the heckles and 'OCITS' has that special something.
'That special something' isn't anything mystical or other-worldly, it's simply well thought out words and ideas, presented straight and true in satisfyingly low-key but busy treatments. Nothing revolutionary or incendiary here pop-kids.
A Fine Frenzy (aka Alison Sudol) is a tiny, waif-like presence with a killer line in powerful melody and thoughtful wordplay. She's mainly piano-driven with layers of strings and acoustic guitar, and she's just dropped lucky - it all comes together for her (and fortunately - for us!). Even the lyric booklet is good. It's hippy woodland nonsense to a degree, with various colourful etchings of song-birds, (the only instance of vanity Ms. A Fine Frenzy indulges in) but in it's one-trip dream and romance world view, it finds this particular easily distracted commentator in sympathetic mode. It's merely an extension of 'OCITS's earthy lush-pop. A symbolic branch of it's mini-engine of creativity and mission. Unsurprisingly, she's a quietly understated and beautifully stylish lady. She reminds very much of Madeline Smith, the fetching 70's Hammer actress, particularly in one gorgeous shot, where she's wearing a long, pleated, blood-crimson dress and is looking worriedly over her shoulder, as if the forest around her has just come alive, and is stealthily revealing it's sinister intentions.....
High points? Many, but the 'You Picked Me'/'Rangers'/'Almost Lover' triumvirate about a quarter in take some stopping. Deft and moving scopes of sound and thought, 'Last of Days' is suitably haunting, and the exceptional 'Lifestyle',the nearest thing we get to a 'rock' song, even has a "Yeaahh!" at one stage. Woah girl, deep breaths.
The album's not perfect. (although Alison probably is..) It goes on too long, there's a slight lack of diversity as it turns the last bend, and it sounds a bit one paced after repeated listens, but nothing that affects the effect of the many essentials. AFF will iron this out for her next album, importantly making sure she leaves in all the sleights and subtleties that make 'OCITS' one of the best of it's kind.
At the moment she's (deservedly) head and shoulders above the opposition, we'll wait see if she finishes there....