Sophie B. Hawkins Timbre
Label: Columbia/CRG
Genre: Rock, Pop
File Under: Damn, I wish this song was over
Rating: 66
Seven years ago, her wild-woman Tonight Show
performance and tossed-off claims of
pansexuality briefly made Sophie B. Hawkins
the toast of pop music's cutting edge. But now,
in the post-arrival-of-Alanis-Morissette era,
Hawkins is a woman without a scene. With two
Top 10 pop hits under her belt, she's no longer
seen as the bright, edgy youngster, yet her
offbeat musical choices still place her outside
the mainstream. So, what's an inventive,
ambitious woman to do?
Continue hacking away at established musical
styles, that's what, and let the tree trunks fall
where they may. The trouble is, they often fall
with a resounding thud, as overproduction and a
general unwillingness to edit out extraneous
musical ideas turn much of this CD into an
ordeal. Even "Mmm My Best Friend," which
instantly grabs you with a powerful percussion
wallop, dissipates into a sweet little pop tune,
albeit one that sneaks up on you with its charm.
"Help Me Breathe," on the other hand, grows
more and more irritating as Hawkins' already
super-breathy vocals build toward a
vibrato-intensive whininess.
As if that weren't enough, her lyrics tend toward
a self-importance that, while sometimes clever,
can also wear on the listener. "In your refrain/ I
hear the chords of love in vain/ How can I help
but call your name?" she sings, in the album's
closer, "The One You Have Not Seen." And on
"The Darkest Childe," which uses a looped tribal
wail to create a fascinating groove, she seems
to be imitating Maya Angelou's poetic
incantations. On one hand, you have to tip your
hat to anyone who tries so hard to impress. But
Hawkins' everything-but-the-kitchen-sink
approach and look-at-me vocal style get in the
way of her considerable potential. Will we ever
see it fully realized? 霠Bob Remstein
--
gender is just an excuse, relationship shouldn't just be an excuse,
love is often an excuse, although sometimes these excuses are all
we have to hold onto,
death is the reason and living is the celebration
- Beth Orton
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.twbbs.org)
◆ From: 192.192.50.106