4Play

Nov. 2, 2008

Dido - Safe Trip Home - Arista
Five years after her last album, Dido’s latest arrives with a more serious, pensive feel after the quietly-skilled musician took that time to do more songwriting. It’s not depressing at all – just more thoughtful, and also features Dido’s collaboration with a host of talents that perfectly enhance her songs. Produced by Eels/Fiona Apple/Rufus Wainwright helmsman Jon Brion. the set features Citizen Cope on guest vocals, Mick Fleetwood on drums and a standout number (“Grafton Street”) co-written with Brian Eno. Dido also showcases her musical growth by playing guitar, drums and keyboards on most of the tracks, including the poetic “Northern Skies” and the uber-catchy, poppy first single, “Don’t Believe in Love.”


Sarah McLachlan - Closer - The Best Of - Arista
McLachlan worked with her longtime producer Pierre Marchand to put together a selection of 24 songs from her own back catalog, and it’s a comprehensive and impressive overview of the beautifully-voiced Canadian singer-songwriter. Opening with “Vox,” the set moves forward through many of McLachlan’s best and most memorable tracks, among them, her first real hit, “Building a Mystery,” the delicately pretty “Adia,” the heart-tugging “Angel,” and older album hits “Good Enough” and “Hold On.” A few newer album tracks are included too - “Fallen” being the most notable; and she even throws in two previously unreleased songs - the best being “Don’t Give Up On Us” - for good measure.



Duffy - Rockferry - Mercury
The title track of Welsh singer Duffy’s debut disc is a throwback to authentic ‘60s soul-pop, a la Dusty Springfield or Nancy Sinatra - but the album is also very much of today, courtesy of Duffy’s co-writer Bernard Butler and some super-precise wall-of-sound backdrops. This all might sound kitschy, but it’s far more homage than gimmick; Duffy wavers between a couple of different ‘60s feels, from the more dramatic hit “Mercy” to the more chill sounds of “Serious” and “Warwick Avenue,” all delivered in a voice that is eerily old-school. Duffy says she was influenced by her parents’ old VHS tapes of ‘60s musical performances, and that influence is obvious here, as is her inherent singing talent.


Alanis Morissette - Flavors of Entanglement - Warner Bros.
Bringing in Madonna/Bjork producer Guy Sigsworth for her newest set - her first since 2004 - Morissette showcases a wide range of emotions, reflecting the personal tumult of the past few years. She’s not one to ignore her own hard knocks, though - instead, she channels them into lyrical density, whether its the defensive, petulant “Straitjacket,” the word-tangling “Moratorium,” or the self-deprecating “Tapes.” “The Guy Who Leaves” brings in a new electronica feel, while the pensive “Torch” and “Limbo No More” slow things down thoughtfully. A couple of the songs show that she’s moving towards her own emotional recovery, too - “Giggling Again For No Reason” being the most obvious.