Tracey Thorn - Out of the Woods

"Please ma'am, I want some more"

Tracy Thorn, the haunting voice of Everything But the Girl, delivers a nice variety of soulful ballad and inspiring dance music on her first solo album. I am more a fan of the group's acoustic offerings myself, but their version of techno (is that still even the term?) is leagues above standard club fare. "Easy" and "Grand Canyon" are standouts in that category. The wonderful climax of the second, in which she encourages a lost soul to claim his true self, urges, "This is the price for you, just look around this room: Is anybody here made out of stone? Down among the heretics, the losers and the saints, you are here among your own--you've come home, you've come home." Given the pained experience that informs most of these songs, her repeats of "You've come home" and "Everybody loves you here" ring as powerful words of welcome from someone who knows what it is to be painfully excluded as "other." Here she shares her experience as one who has come "through the woods" and encourages another to claim that self without apology, leave behind those who don't understand, and claim the motley crew that gets him.
My very favorite song on the album is the poignant and all too brief, "By Picadilly Station I Sat Down and wept." There is not a wasted word in the song, and the unresolved chord on which it ends coincides perfectly with the terrible loss in its words, "the air just seems to shiver and you're never seen again; never seen again." The understated lyrics and delivery are perfect for what could otherwise be a worn-out theme. As we all know, the emotions that come with loss are raw, despite the cliche of their typical expressions in song, and Thorn is a master at evoking them so that they feel as fresh and personal as the lived experience. December 12, 2007

Very nice electronic return

Well, after many years waiting for new music of EVBG, the alone return of Tracy Thorn to the electronic music is a very nice sorprise. Good lyrics and a fresh and modern music are a good CD to play again and again. Enjoy it! November 15, 2007

Welcome back Tracey!

After 5 years I thought Tracey had retired but it turns out she has been busy. I can understand reviewers who said it sounds nothing like the old Tracey. This is her debut solo album and while reminiscent of the best of Everything But the Girl she now has a distict confident and masterful new sound all her own that is, in my opionion, outstanding!! She also has some of the best producers(Ewan Pearson, Charles Webster...) around adding their own style to the mixes.
My favorites are "Its All True" and "Easy" easily the records highlights.
Highly recommend July 17, 2007

a masterpiece of pop music....

I can't say enough great things about this album. I've always been a huge fan of Tracey Thorn's voice, and EBTG, and this has become one of my absolute favorite albums. Don't miss this! June 23, 2007

Return to form for Tracey Thorn

Worth the wait ! Its great to hear a singer who doesn't need to try too hard to own her own space, and add to this the vision and talent to effortlessly switch between basic acoustic arrangements and electronic house.

Listen to this a few times to realise that simple pop songs will always find a way of lodging themselves in your brain. Stand out tracks include 'Its All True', 'Easy', 'Raise the Roof', and the superb club anthem (to be) 'Grand Canyon' ....which demands a Deep Dish remix. My only request is that we dont have to wait so long for the next album ! June 10, 2007

More reviews at Amazon.com ...