Lori Carson - Stars

After her masterful acoustic-guitar-based third album, Everything I Touch Runs Wild, Lori Carson left New York City for Seattle and began work on a song cycle even more delicate than her previous confessions. Producer Layng Martine III--a cohort of Bill Laswell, for whose Golden Palominos Carson has contributed vocals--increased the ambient textures. Using keyboards, strings, and drum loops, he underpins Carson's forlorn acoustic tales with near-orchestral grandeur that suggests a strong trace of, say, filmmaker Ingmar Bergman's icy core of alienation. Carson, however, holds her own as someone who has presaged the trip-folk of Beth Orton by several years and supported the hypnotic rhapsodies of Ida and Low long before they found their respective audiences. "Breathe" and "Head in a Box" recount emotional distress and romantic obsession without flinching, while "Fourth of July" and "Treasure" close out the album on an unexpected positive note. --Rob O'Connor Amazon.com

it's perfectly fine.

this album has great,slow music.the vocals flow very nicely.the lyrics aren't epic;they aren't supposed to be.this is music meant for something other than strict interpretation,I'd call it sonic therapy(a term Peter Steele from the Brooklyn band Type O Negative coined.)these should also keep you dis-occupied in relaxation:Type O Negative"October Rust",Buckethead"Electric Tears"(same META label as another of Lori's albums),DAvid Gilmour"On An Island",Julee Cruise"the Voice of Love",Jocelyn Montgomery"Lux Vivens",Dawn Upshawn's Gorecki performances,even GabbyLa-La might interest you.Don't allow your ego to control your taste in music;give these a try! August 14, 2006

Can't go wrong with Lori

This isn't my favorite Lori Carson album, but it's still a great CD. Especially good for late night drives on deserted highways, or any other quite moments alone. Stand-out tracks are "16 Days" which has my favorite line on the album -- "thank God for second chances, true love, and forgiveness.." -- "Treasure" is a beautiful, sweetly honest love song, and "Rainy Day" with its prayerfully hopeful reprise -- "in spite of everything I feel a little bit hopeful again." I found a couple of the songs a bit sterile, especially lyrically, songs that didn't strike me as particularly honest -- "Caroline" and "Spinning World." But there are moments on this album that are so beautiful and moving they've been planted in my mind forever, and I'll keep using them to get through whatever I need to for the rest of my life. December 25, 2003

I love Lori, I couldn't take to this album...

I think there's two reasons why I'm cool to Stars, but love much of her other works: (1) the production is overblown, and (2) the songwriting just isn't up to par.

These two problems work in concert on Stars. Face it, despite anything David Gray might tell you, some music isn't cut out for sampling. Sometimes I feel Lori is a folk musician in denial.

For a better taste of Lori's incrediable talents check out Everything I Touch Runs Wild, Where It Goes, or, if you can find it, Shelter. December 16, 2001

more like 3 and a half, but hey Amazon isn't letting me

Lori Carson has a beautiful voice and can write some definitely pleaseing melodies. It's a very easy album to get into. If you're not in the mood for something too heavy, get this album. But if you're looking for a talented lyricist, look somewhere else. The major error in "Stars" is her songwriting. Songs like "Head in a Box" start out with pretty good lyrics, but then Lori falters as if she's singing the song for the first time and singing the first thing that comes to her mind. Which I have no doubt, she probably does take whatever first comes to her mind. But with pretty instrumentation and that simply delicate voice, Stars is a definite good buy. Suggested tracks to download would be: the title track, Rainy Day, or Caroline. April 4, 2001

I'm so terribly sorry

....You have such terrible taste!. Lori definitely caters to the likes of you. What the else do you listen to? I hope you are listening to something else, otherwise quickly seek help!! Lori,that goes for you too. February 10, 2001

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