Suzanne Vega...Album by Album Thread.

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Yam Graham, Mar 29, 2014.

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  1. Yam Graham

    Yam Graham 2023 Thread Starter

    Location:
    West Midlands, UK.
    Wiki....
    The album shows a return to Vega's early musical form of acoustic folk-pop, shedding the stylistic experimentalism she had developed with producer and husband Mitchell Froom in the 1990s. New producer Rupert Hine shows some traces of his past work with '80s new wave bands by employing electronic beats, but mostly allows Vega's voice and guitar to dominate the tracks in a manner reminiscent of her debut album and its 1987 follow-up, Solitude Standing.

    Lyrically, most of the songs, like "Widow's Walk" and "(I'll Never Be) Your Maggie May", deal with the unhappy dissolution of her romance with Froom. Vega's "calm, hushed, clear singing" belies the album's "mood of heartbroken defiance". Its lyrical content represents "the most personally revealing songs she has written" in her career.
     
  2. Rigsby

    Rigsby Forum Resident

    Location:
    London, UK
    I'll go out on a limb, and state this almost as a straw man, but I'll say Penitent is the most beautiful and heartbreaking song in her catalogue. I think the lyric, music and production are absolutely killer. It's not the only song in her back catalogue to bring me to tears if the moment is right (Gypsy can do it!) but it's an incredibly strong song.
     
  3. Hearing this back after a while, the second half is a bit weaker than I remembered. But I still think this is the best of her albums since 1990's Days Of Open Hand. It's good to hear her acoustic guitar again and she also comes up with what is her best set of songs in years. Apart from a couple of exceptions I like what Rupert Hine does to the songs, I wish they had recorded together more often.

    Penitent (9/10)

    Great melody and for the first time in a very long time I can actually hear Suzanne's acoustic guitar.

    Widow's Walk (7/10)

    Bit of a boring melody, but a beatiful lyric and I like what Rupert Hine does on the keyboards.

    (I'll Never Be) Your Maggie May (7/10)

    The most popular of the album's songs at live shows. I don't like this studio version with the drum machine and all the keyboard overdubs. It works better solo on acoustic guitar, the way it is most often performed live.

    It Makes Me Wonder (9/10)

    Rupert Hine's production works much better here and I really like the lyrics and drumming. One of Suzanne forgotten classics.

    Soap and Water (10/10)

    My favourite song from the album. Beautiful divorce song with a great lyric, Rupert Hine's production creates a wonderful dreamy mood. The onlu problem is that the song is much to short.

    Song In Red And Gray (9/10)

    Nice acoutic song with a lovely melody. Rupert Hine production never gets in the way of her acoustic guitar

    Last Year's Troubles (5/10)

    A song which once again shows us that Suzanne Vega and upbeat songs don't go well together. The melody's simply silly and the upbeat mood of the music doesn't fit with the dark subject of the lyrics.

    Priscilla (7/10)

    This song brings back memories of the Days Of Open Hand album and would rate higher if the melody was a bit less boring.

    If I Were A Weapon (4/10)

    Another upbeat song, this one doesn't even have a catchy melody. Fortunately it's very short and forgotten once it's over.

    Harbor Song (8/10)

    Beautiful acoustic waltz which also features one of the album's better lyrics, a song that I had nearly forgotten about.

    Machine Ballerina (7/10)

    Bit of a weird contrast between the happy instrumental theme and the quiet acoustic verses.

    Solitaire (6/10)

    Funny song, but I don't really like the drum machine and the melody is a bit monotonous.

    St. Clare (9/10)

    I was about to write "The kind of acoustic song only Suzanne can write", but looking at the credits it appears to be written by Jack Hardy. Anyway, a very fine acoustic song which makes a great album closer.
     
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  4. Yam Graham

    Yam Graham 2023 Thread Starter

    Location:
    West Midlands, UK.
    I'll post my thoughts when I've listened again.
    Played it this morning...and some of the songs have become very personal to me with what I've gone through this last 3 years.
     
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  5. booker

    booker Forum Resident

    Location:
    Poland
    We need this record on vinyl period.
     
  6. The Panda

    The Panda Forum Mutant

    Location:
    Marple, PA, USA
    Very good record. Love Maggie May, Widow's Walk and Solitaire
     
  7. mtruslow

    mtruslow Forum Resident

    Location:
    Towson, Maryland
    I really love 99.9. It's a great album. Quite unexpected and I also saw her on that tour at Johns Hopkins University Shriver Hall in fall 1993. Great show!
     
  8. Yam Graham

    Yam Graham 2023 Thread Starter

    Location:
    West Midlands, UK.
    'Songs In Red And Gray's (2001)

    Suzanne Vega has been one of my favourite artists since hearing Marlene On The Wall back in early 1986.
    Certain songs have always resonated with me...But for some reason...Some of Suzanne's more than most...certainly on a personal level.
    When my mother passed away in 2010....At her funeral, I had the lyrics to Blood Sings read out.
    My mom was brought up in care homes with her two sisters.
    Her mom died young and her Dad abandoned them.
    Without going into details...They lived a very hard early life.
    Eventually they went their separate ways....and never met up again for 33 year!!!!
    Hence...The lyrics to Blood Sings, really touched me

    My marriage collapsed 3 years ago...Which eventually led to getting divorced last year.
    To say it's been a rollercoaster of emotions, would be accurate...But not something I would wish on anyone.

    This album contains more songs that are now, compelling to listen to, but at the same time....Very difficult to listen too as well.

    Songs In Red And Gray is a return, to some degree, her earlier work and although I like it very much....I do favour her previous 2 album's.

    I will say that Soap And Water is in my opinion the most heartbreakingly beautiful song she has ever written.
    Every time I play it....It stops me in my tracks.
    The lyrics....Sum up my own turmoil over losing my marriage.

    Penitent, Widow's Walk, I'll Never Be Your Maggie May, It Make's Me Wonder and Last Years Troubles all deal with the same subject matter....Divorce and the aftermath of a failed relationship.
    They happen to be great songs in the main...Even tho I find it uncomfortable listening at times too.

    Maybe a couple of tracks that I'm not overly fussed with....But overall another great album.

    Her last album for A&M....She was dropped after this...And it would be another 6 years before we got another.

    (8/10)
     
  9. driverdrummer

    driverdrummer Forum Resident

    Location:
    Irmo, SC
    I'm going through a rough time as well. I'm taking vacation days the rest of the week because of health issues and stress.
     
  10. Yam Graham

    Yam Graham 2023 Thread Starter

    Location:
    West Midlands, UK.
    [​IMG]

    'Retrospective: The Best Of Suzanne Vega'
    (Released 2003)


    1.

    "Luka" 3:52
    2. "Tom's Diner" (remix by DNA) 3:49
    3. "Marlene On The Wall" 3:41
    4. "Caramel" 2:54
    5. "99.9F°" 3:15
    6. "Tired Of Sleeping" 4:25
    7. "Small Blue Thing" 3:56
    8. "Blood Makes Noise" 2:29
    9. "Left Of Center" 3:30
    10. "(I'll Never Be) Your Maggie May" 3:48
    11. "In Liverpool" 4:44
    12. "Gypsy" 4:03
    13. "Book Of Dreams" 3:24
    14. "No Cheap Thrill" 3:10
    15. "Calypso" 4:13
    16. "World Before Columbus" 3:27
    17. "Solitude Standing" 4:39
    18. "Penitent" 4:18
    19. "Rosemary (Remember Me)" 2:44
    20. "The Queen And The Soldier" (live) 5:02
    21. "Woman On The Tier (I'll See You Through)" (from Dead Man Walking soundtrack) 2:27
     
  11. Yam Graham

    Yam Graham 2023 Thread Starter

    Location:
    West Midlands, UK.
    'Retrospective: The Best Of Suzanne Vega'
    (Released 2003)


    If you have Tried & True, perhaps this one is not worth picking up, but if not its well worth it.
    Slightly longer track listing makes it perhaps a better more fuller overview of her career up to this point.
    A great starting point for anyone just discovering her music.

    5/5
     
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  12. Yam Graham

    Yam Graham 2023 Thread Starter

    Location:
    West Midlands, UK.
    [​IMG]

    'Beauty And Crime'


    Released 11th June 2007

    1. "Zephyr & I" - 3:10
    2. "Ludlow Street" - 3:16
    3. "New York is a Woman" - 2:54
    4. "Pornographer's Dream" - 3:23
    5. "Frank & Ava" - 2:38
    6. "Edith Wharton's Figurines" - 2:23
    7. "Bound" - 4:43
    8. "Unbound" - 3:34
    9. "As You Are Now" - 2:20
    10. "Angel's Doorway" - 2:55
    11. "Anniversary" - 2:57
    12. "Obvious Question" (Bonus Track) -
     
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  13. CybrKhatru

    CybrKhatru Music is life.

    Location:
    Los Angeles


    I have Solitude Standing but I have a feeling I'll pick this up soon. I'd like to hear more of Suzanne's music again. I absolutely adore "Book of Dreams" and was semi surprised to find out that she was influenced by XTC on that number. :)
     
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  14. Yam Graham

    Yam Graham 2023 Thread Starter

    Location:
    West Midlands, UK.
    Both Tried And True and Retrospective are excellent overviews upto their release points.
     
  15. David G.

    David G. Forum Resident

    Location:
    Austin, TX
    I'm sorry I've missed this topic over the past few years! I'm a big fan of Suzanne Vega, going all the way back to the days of the Fast Folk Musical Magazine. There are a bunch of artists I first heard in issues of the Fast Folk Musical Magazine that I really liked, so I watched for solo albums from them. Suzanne Vega was one of the artists I liked the most, and I was thrilled that she achieved such a level of success with Solitude Standing.

    No time to write more right now, but I'm posting this here so I can follow the discussion.
     
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  16. Planbee

    Planbee Negative Nellie

    Location:
    Chicago
    Beauty & Crime might be my favorite SV album. I'm surely in the minority there.

    The first six songs on Songs in Red and Gray are outstanding--I don't know what happened with the second half of that record.

    I like the production on both albums. Again, probably in the minority... :)
     
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  17. The first Suzanne Vega album I bought on the day of release (I got into her music a year or so after Songs In Red and Gray was released), hadn't heard this one in years. I was worried that the album's production might sound dated 10 years later. But it turns out I still like the album just as much as I did in 2007. Both the songwriting and production have their ups and downs, but the highlights are very good.

    Zephyr & I (6/10)

    Simple opening song that sounds a bit boring to me. Never realised before it's KT Tunstall singing the harmonies.

    Ludlow Street (8/10)

    That's much more like it. Beautiful melody, nice strings and a great drum part.

    New York Is A Woman (8/10)

    The most Suzanne Vega-sounding song on the album. I love Suzanne's acoustic guitar and the occasional use of horns. Melody is not as good as I had remembered.

    Pornographer's Dream (9/10)

    Suzanne Vega and bossa nova may sound weird on paper, but it works. One of the album's most beautiful melodies, Suzanne delivers it beautifully and the strings are spot on.

    Frank & Ava (5/10)

    The production reminds me of her Mitchell Froom produced albums, that's not a compliment. An irritating repeating chorus.

    Edith Wharton's Figurines (7/10)

    A simple acoustic song is what we need after the heavy sounds of Frank & Ava. The melody disappoints a bit after a promising start.

    Bound (8/10)

    This would have been my favourite song on the album, if I didn't dislike the drum sound and strings in the chorus so much. Now I prefer the version on Close Up Volume 1.

    Unbound (4/10)

    My least favourite song on the album. I don't like the repetitive and monotonous melody or the drum machine.

    As You Are Now (6/10)

    Short unremarkable acoustic guitar song which doesn't do a lot to me, except for a nice string interlude halfway through

    Angel's Doorway (8/10)

    Upbeat song with a beautiful catchy melody, one of the highlights on the album.

    Anniversary (8/10)

    Lovely simple ballad to close out the album, I had completely forgotten this song.
     
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  18. krock2009

    krock2009 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Philadelphia, PA
    Only one single was lifted from this "No Cheap Thrill". "Caramel" was released as a single earlier in the year, when it appeared on the soundtrack to "The Truth About Cats And Dogs". A&M Records actually torpedoed the promotion for this record because it came out on the same day as Sheryl Crow's self-titled second record, and they chose her over Suzanne.
     
  19. Yam Graham

    Yam Graham 2023 Thread Starter

    Location:
    West Midlands, UK.
     
  20. Yam Graham

    Yam Graham 2023 Thread Starter

    Location:
    West Midlands, UK.
    'Beauty And Crime (2007)

    At the time of its release I remember being underwhelmed a little at first probably because I'd been looking forward to this album for so long.
    I can't believe its 10 years old this year!!!!

    "Zephyr & I" - Nice opening song for me. 8/10

    "Ludlow Street" - Beautiful song, one of my favs on the album 9/10

    "New York is a Woman" - I love the lyrics more than the melody. 7/10

    "Pornographer's Dream" - Love the chorus, more stripped back. 8/10

    "Frank & Ava" - Like mdekoning said could have been on either of the Michell Froome produced albums.....ok...luckily its short!!! 6/10

    "Edith Wharton's Figurines" - I really like this....somehow it makes me feel sad tho.... 8/10

    "Bound" - Best song on the album, that has become a personal favourite even more so with the Close Up version. The words sum up my feeling towards my wife....now my ex. (10/10)

    "Unbound" - Uptempo, but a dip after the previous brilliant song (7/10)

    "As You Are Now" - Suzanne's ode to her daughter Ruby, I really like this and the sentiment (9/10)

    "Angel's Doorway" - This took awhile to get under my skin and I tended to skip this when I first got the album....like it more now. 7/10

    "Anniversary" - A beautiful simple song to finish....probably 'a typical' of Suzanne...but what I like so much about her. (9/10)

    Overall all tho not one of my absolute favourites Beauty And Crime still has enough to highly recommend it.
    I love the album packaging...tho I noted even Suzanne Vega's not immune to the loudness wars....this CD is LOUD.

    8/10
     
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  21. Yam Graham

    Yam Graham 2023 Thread Starter

    Location:
    West Midlands, UK.
    [​IMG]

    'Close-Up Vol. 1, Love Songs'

    Released 2nd February, 2010

    1. Small Blue Thing
    2. Caramel
    3. If You Were in My Movie
    4. Gypsy
    5. Marlene On the Wall
    6. (I'll Never Be) Your Maggie May
    7. Harbor Song
    8. Headshots
    9. Songs in Red and Gray
    10. Stockings
    11. Some Journey
    12. Bound

     
  22. David G.

    David G. Forum Resident

    Location:
    Austin, TX
    I find the Close-Up albums to be really interesting. They're not 100% successful in my book, partially because much of her early work was already very acoustic and minimal in nature, so these re-recorded versions don't always bring much new to the songs. For some of her more recent songs, though, these stripped-down performances are quite revealing and help me to hear the songs in a new way.

    From this first volume, I really enjoy these new takes on "Caramel," "If You Were in My Movie" and "Stockings" the best. They make some of these more rock-oriented songs sound a lot like the folky material on her earliest albums. I find myself listening to these Close-Up albums quite often -- more often than much of her post-'80s catalogue.
     
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  23. Yam Graham

    Yam Graham 2023 Thread Starter

    Location:
    West Midlands, UK.
    'Close-Up Vol. 1, Love Songs' (2010)

    I don't feel it's worth doing a track by track review of this album....or indeed any of the Close Up series because basically they are just stripped down versions of the originals.
    Suzanne basically did this to get some artistic rights to her old songs which are owned by A&M.
    Overall they work very well, although some differ only marginally to the originals....simply because a lot of them are stripped back to start with...just Suzanne and her acoustic guitar.
    Having said that...
    I love this, the first in the Close Up series....dedicated to Suzanne's Love / Relationship songs.
    The version of Bound on here is just wonderful....and has become one of my all time fav songs.

    8/10
     
  24. Classicrock

    Classicrock Senior Member

    Location:
    South West, UK.
    Skipped the Close Up because they are just repetition. Beauty and Crime got a vinyl release on Classic Records and they followed that with a 45 rpm Clarity vinyl box.
     
  25. Yam Graham

    Yam Graham 2023 Thread Starter

    Location:
    West Midlands, UK.
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