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Sara Melson - Dirty Mind
2008/2/26
Psychedelic/Folk Rock
Nettwerk Records
http://www.myspace.com/saramelson
http://www.saramelson.com



01. Feel It Coming
02. Anywhere Anytime
03. Never Been Hurt
04. Hard Pressed
05. Dirty Mind
06. Turquoise Sky
07. Rise Up
08. Fall Down
09. Don't You Wanna Know
10. Happy Endings
11. Nuclear Sun
12. Birthday Prayer
13. Turquoise Sky (Acoustic)

來自美過印地安那，現居在洛杉磯的創作歌手。首張專輯"Dirty Mind" 2/26正式發行，但Sara先前已經在網路上發表過幾首新專輯中的歌曲，都有不錯的迴響。這首"Never Been Hurt"出現在影集心傾何處 "South Of Nowhere"裏，而最新的單曲"Feel It Coming"也被熱門的影集 實習醫生格蕾 "Grey's Anatomy" 拿來當插曲。偏Folk Rock 的曲風，應該是張值得聆聽的專輯。



Sara Melson has always distanced herself from the pack of pretty (but pretty forgettable) singer/songwriters by staging visceral live shows and releasing a series of beautiful EPs. Sara's voice packs the phonetic warmth and emotional wallop of Neko Case; and the brutal, raw vulnerability of early Liz Phair. The tango of her breathtaking vocals and a soaring, cinematic guitar solo on an early version of "Happy Endings" is one of favorite musical moments this decade.

That said, my expectations were high for her major label debut, "Dirty Mind" and I'm thrilled to report this glistening disc does not disappoint. The album kicks off with a triumphant battle cry (Feel it Coming) that is one of the most euphoric album openers since Arcade Fire's "Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)." Every song from there on builds the momentum. "Anywhere Anytime" is sped up, and dare I say it, a bit country-fied from an earlier version - and it is a blast to listen to. In fact, many of her early demos receive dramatic re-interpretations on the album, providing a real treat for her longtime fans.

When you listen to Sara's exquisite lyrics, you remember the lovers you let slip away and later realized were too good for you. "Never Been Hurt" (which provided the soundtrack for the spellbinding season finale of "South of Nowhere") just may be the most candid, brutally honest song about the beginning of a relationship since Material Issue's "The Very First Lie." All of the songs provided here successfully walk the same line - themes anyone falling into and out of love can identify with, wrapped in haunting melodies and monster hooks that would become timeless radio classics in a perfect world. In many ways, this solo debut feels like more like a band album, since Karl D'amico (guitar), Kane McGee (drums) and Austin Nicholsen (bass) are clearly ready to blow the roof off arenas with these songs.

One final critique: Sara is the latest in a string of adventurous singings by Nettwerk (Ladytron, Felix da Housecat). Any other label would have probably urged the producers to over-process Sara's vocals so she would sound just like everyone else. Thankfully, the vocals remain pure and the songs will be just as powerful in twenty years as they are today.