Suzanne Vega - Nine Objects of Desire

Suzanne Vega: Nine Objects Of Desire

This is one of the most wonderful CD's I own. I have two more of her CD's on the way, just waiting for delivery. May 20, 2007

Emily Dickinson reincarnated

This is one of those incredibly under-appreciated albums that shows that true art and poetry are still being created. Suzanne proves that love songs can be incredibly mysterious with the use of strange settings and metaphors. "Honeymoon Suite" has a haunting tone, which is so rare in more recent pop music. "World Before Columbus" is my personal favorite (and one of my all-time favorite songs). With wonderful metaphors, it deals with everything from world history and greed to love and a desire to live and feel more deeply.

Other passages delve into fears, darkness, and issues of mortality (e.g. "Birthday," "Headshots," and "Tombstone"). "Thin Man," I discovered, refers to the skeletal "figure of death" (i.e. the Grim Reaper) mentioned in the liner notes. The song is remarkably similar in imagery to Emily Dickinson's "Because I Could Not Stop for Death." These themes are balanced, though, by periodically upbeat and jazzy songs, some with racy overtones (e.g. "Caramel" and "Stockings.") As always, Mike Visceglia's base-playing and the other instrumentation are as good as it gets. It is difficult to imagine a more beautifully written and arranged single-disc album. September 7, 2006

Great follow-up to 99.9F

After 99.9F, which I consider her greatest CD, I wondered how Suzanne could pull off another spectacular record. She did it with this one. It's reminiscent of 99.9F, but not as industrial sounding. The rhythms here are a little more interesting and FINALLY we hear songs that are obviously about her own perspective (e.g., Birthday, Honeymoon Suite, World Before Columbus). Her lyrics on this one are no longer mysterious and open to multiple interpretations. There are a few missteps, however, and this album has the distinction of containing the only Suzanne Vega song I hate: Lolita. What was she thinking? Also, Casual Match has a decent verse, but the chorus is completely unaffecting. Otherwise, this is one great CD. July 16, 2006

Caramel!

I love this CD! It's great when your relaxing at home with a cup of coffee. I'm only nineteen and I don't usually listen to this type of music. It's very easy listening. Caramel is my favorite and probably the only one I've really listened too, but I can let the CD just play while I'm at home and every song is nice. September 6, 2005

Softer and More Refined Vega!

This was Suzanne Vega's second album produced by Mitchell Froom. There is a great variation in moods and styles and Froom obviously has a great skill of giving Vega's songs inventive arrangements without ruining them with over-production.

This album is a natural follow-up the very experimental album "99.9 F" which had a lot of odd sounds and rhythms. You find quite a lot of the same things here, but the overall impression is that of a softer and more refined album.

What make Suzanne Vega's albums so good is the songs and her soft voice; what makes her albums great is the perfectionism in which the songs are arranged and produced. Both elements are present on this album, which may very well turn out to be her most satisfying and enduring.

A handful of these songs would have fitted nicely into "99.9 F"; "Birthday", "Stockings", "Casual Match", "No Cheap Thrill" and "Lolita" . Among them my favourites are "Stockings", with great sensual lyrics, "No Cheap Thrill" and the almost heavy "Birthday".

On other tracks a more refined touch is apparent. "Caramel" is a latin-inspired great tune with a tasteful hornarrangement. "My favourite Plum" is another memorable song with a beautiful string arrangement. "World Before Columbus" are "Honeymoon Suite" two acoustic songs with Vega playing the guitar. I particularly like the thought-provoking lyrics of "Honeymoon Suite".

"Headshots" is another favourite.

Least appealing are the jazzy track "Tombstone" and the riff-based "Casual Match" and "Lolita" July 24, 2005

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