Real Life : Joan As Police Woman : Review : Rolling Stone

Before striking out on her own as a singer-songwriter, Joan Wasser was a violinist, gigging and recording with Lou Reed, Tanya Donelly, and Antony and the Johnsons. If those guys rubbed off on her, it's hard to tell: Wasser's debut LP sounds straighter than any of her past collaborators', with well-groomed, piano-soaked stuff that shows off her malleable drawl and gift for pretty. Wasser is engaging when she lets some grit or weirdness trickle in: "Save Me," a dark, sorta-funky lament about losing her man could almost be Fiona Apple, and though "Eternal Flame" swells to a lovey-dovey chorus, it also banks on a syncopated melody that's way catchier than anything else on the record. But Real Life loses its way on cushy, delicately crooned ballads like "The Ride" and the title track, which are tasteful and Starbucks-ready like the last Beth Orton record, only missing backbone, and tunes. Wasser kept the fiddle playing to a minimum; couldn't she have done the same with the sleepy stuff?

CHRISTIAN HOARD

(Posted: Jun 12, 2007)

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Give us your review of Real Life

Review 1 of 3

4of 5 Stars

I don't know CHRISTIAN HOARD hears when he listens to music, but "The Ride" is one of the best, if not THE best song on this album. You only need to hear it twice to understand.

Jul 24, 2007 00:03:44

Review 2 of 3

5of 5 Stars

Amazingly good recording. "Save Me" reminds me of Queen Esther, and shades of Joan Armatrading, Ellen McElwaine, and yes Diana Krall. What a voice. Buy it NOW!

Jul 12, 2007 17:32:12

Review 3 of 3

4of 5 Stars

Though not the most dynamic effort of this year,Real Life is lush,and more notable than the flavor of the month sounds of artists like Amy Whinehouse,who seem to rely on the gimmick of their approach. Joan Wasser and Co. glide effortlessly around melody and lyrically she is as strong as Patti Smith. Her voice,though not soaring as much as it might be able to,is positively endearing,and I find myself hitting repeat quite a few times with almost every track.
The emotion is there,and does not feel put on one bit,and in the end I want to listen over and over again. Real Life sounds like real life to me,and in a great,warm way.

Jun 18, 2007 19:56:06

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