published: 29 /
1 /
2008
Label:
Echo Records
Format: CD
Convincing debut album from San Francisco-based singer-songwriter Sarabeth Tucek which nevertheless doesn't, however, quite live up to its initial promise
Review
‘Something For You’, the opening track to Sarabeth Tucek’s debut, self-titled album is one of those songs which is almost universally liked by everyone – a song which ticks all the right boxes, that you can play to your friends, relatives and maybe even strangers without fear of them scowling at you as if you’ve just spat in their ears. It’s one of those songs that gives you a little tingle of joy whenever the shuffle function puts it on your MP3 player. In summary then, it’s quite a good song.
I knew little to nothing about Ms Tucek before I listened to this album, but have enjoyed getting acquainted with her songs in preparation for this review (saying “preparation” makes it sound like work, which I like). What I think works against the record is exactly the thing I’ve been praising in the previous paragraph. ‘Something For You’ creates a bit of a Citizen Kane-style situation; it’s a track which sets the standard too high for the preceding songs to match. Not that there aren’t some other really good tracks to find here: the Aimee Mann-esque ‘Ambulance’, ‘Stillborn’ and the Beth Orton style beauty that is ‘Blowing Kisses’ being 3 fine examples. Closing track ‘Home’ is also a bit of a spine-tingler.
As debut albums go, this is a pretty convincing effort, but it doesn’t quite live up to its initial promise, somehow. It does, however, give us a first look at a song-writing talent which will, with any luck, improve over the next year or so to return in triumph with a superior follow-up record. Here’s hoping.
Track Listing:-
1
Something for You
2
Stillborn
3
Holy Smoke
4
Hey You
5
Ambulance
6
Come Back, Ballon
7
Nobody Cares
8
Nightlight
9
Hot Tears
10
Blowing Kisses
11
Home