Album: Little Voice / Artist: Sara Bareilles / 12 tracks: 48:53 / Sony BMG Entertainment, Epic Records
Now
before anyone cries out, ‘Old news, what are you doing mate,’ we are aware
that Sara Bareilles released her CD Little Voice last summer, but we
are also painfully aware that we missed out on reviewing it. The American
singer / songwriter /pianist from Eureka Californian’s hit song, “Love Song,”
sat at the # 4 spot on Billboard’s Pop 100 Airplay Chart for the week of March
15th (this year). The album Little Voice peaked at # 7, and as
this was going to publication, sat in the ninth spot.
For those who have not caught Bareilles outstanding performance on the Tonight Show With Jay Lenno, in mid January, or her late February appearance on the Today show, you missed out on capturing the full passion and energy behind this very, very talented artist as she performed “Love Song.” The tune is not your typical breaking heart love song, nor is it a bubble gum pop confession of a heavy crush. Bareilles’ original tune talks about the type of expectations, and confining controls that are sometimes placed on one lover or another. This is not a dark themed song about abuse, but more about a lover simply asking for more time, to get comfortable, and so she can feel secure. The song begins with a mid tempo piano chords, but shifts into high gear as the singer hits the chorus.
Is it just me, or are we starting to notice some very creative young artists starting to emerge in the past two or three years? It would appear that the more the music industry spirals downwards, and labels spin out of control, people like Bareilles, Colbie Caillat, Jack Johnson and KT Tunstall, have appeared on the scene to give us hope, and to reinvent the music scene.
Little Voice, is far from being a one hit wonder, with songs like the blues rock overtones of “Vegas,” which takes direct aim at our society’s fascination with quick fixes, and our willingness to buy the most recent brand of snake oil, in the belief that all of a sudden all our problems will disappear and our lives will be forevermore trouble free. Bareilles ties the pursuit of fantasy and dreams to an underlying and popular theme, throughout this CD that being how does this all relate to relationships.
The first few bars of “My Sweet Love,” which are repeated later in the song, are reminiscent of Crowded House’s “Don’t Dream It’s Over,” but that is where the similarities end between these two good songs, as Bareilles takes her song, to a more lofty and ethereal place, as she keeps the melody light.
Bareilles blends her pop melodies with R&B rhythms as “Come Round Soon,” takes a close look at the nastier side of love, the heartbreak, pain and denial that accompanies broken love. Chris Chaney’s bass guitar establishes a deep groove, upon which guitarists Lyle Workman, Joel Shearer and Bruce Watson, build their riffs. Once again, Bareilles employs a staccato beat to great effect.
The album Little Voice experiences a change of pace when Bareilles slows things down with her pretty piano and Fender Rhodes chords leading the listener through the emotionally vulnerable “Morningside,” a song that prompts us to ask why some of us keep returning to a lover who brings nothing more than heartbreak and disappointment.
Next to “Love Song,” the eighth track “Love On The Rocks,” is the tune that I think will chart the best. “Love On The Rocks,” thrusts Bareille’s creative songwriting into the forefront, as this is a musically delicious experience, with Rafael Padilla serving up great percussion and Jamie Muhoberac delivering some solid piano chops.
“Many The Miles,” offers great potential if radio music directors can get their heads wrapped around the fact that this gospel/blues infused song possesses such good vocal performances from Bareilles, and background vocalists Javier Dunn and Josh Day, that it should overcome the genre restrictions that exist on North American radio stations. This is an excellent song that should easily transcend numerous markets, if given a chance.
Other worthy songs to listen from Sara Bareilles’ CD Little Voice, include, “Fairytale,” definitely not of the kind your mother used to read to you at bedtime, and the last track, “Gravity.”
If we are to assume (and we do not know this) that Bareilles’ songwriting is somewhat of a cathartic experience as it is with many, truly creative tunesmiths than we can guess that the strong connection between the singer and her lyrics, must find its origins in a past relationship or relationships.
In so many ways, Sara Bareilles reminds me of another excellent storyteller and songstress, Sarah McLachlan. Like McLachlan, Bareilles pushes the lyrical boundaries, demonstrates emotional depth, infuses her songs with real life themes, and demonstrates outstanding musical creativity. If you have not yet discovered the music of Sara Bareilles, you should!
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Reviewed March 2008
