The Album Review Thread

[Jack]

No one will have heard of these.

TRESPASSERS WILLIAM

Different Stars

The second album from the American collective.
Trespassers William's strength is summed up in their front-women: Anna-Lynne Williams. The singer/songwriter of the group may be the only women but it his her lyrics, and her voice that make Trespassers William stand out.
Like most frontwomen, she is the focal point of the band, with the spotlight on the album thrust upon her. So it must be assumed that any fault is her own, but unlike Courtney Love & Amy Lee, Anna-Lynne does noth bathe the album in herself, and despite being the main point, it is not a sole effort, and thus "Different Stars" is the bands own.

And the bands own it is. Many women try (without them knowing it) and are often hyped (Norah Jones, Dido) to create a second album that surpasses the first, but here Anna-Lynne has. Her voice feels more fragile, the band's instruments create a entheral, poetic backdrop to the crystalised voice of the front-women tahtnot only supports the lyrics, but adds to it.
Some would say that the album has a negative feel, with this lisetner feeling so close to the singer's soul it's unnerving emotion's deep within. However, the subject of Love has never been delt with so honestly, from a women's aspect. While Dido often tried to portray a strength surpassing her male counterparts (White Flag), only to then fall weak at the knees (Here With Me),
Trespassers William talk of a love that is believable and portrays the inner hurts of a heart under so much emotion. This cannot not fail in bringing emotions to the surface.

All in all, Trespassers William (Who incidentadly have just finnished theire third album) have surpassed expectations and despite it being not a huge commercial sucess, their cult following makes it a strong release. This album brings so many emotions to the the fore-front and reminds one of what feelinsg like heart-break and true love and the relationships with the ones we love felt like and can make us appreciate the purity of such a feeling. To appreciate it more and to take it when it does take us.

TRACK-BY-TRACK

INTRO
A sonic introduction that spurs the heart. A good instrumental for the album which makes a good entry for...

LIE IN THE SOUND 9/10
The first single. The song speaks of "love you more than I should, so much more that is good for me" This song made me want to buy this album after hearing on a preview disc, and so will you. The acoustic guitar is gentle, and Anna-Lynne unsettles us with this ode and makes us feel alone.

DIFFERENT STARS 9/10
The title track. As soon as this starts, tears can well in the listener. The electronic sounds vcreates imagy iof galaxies far away, where the lovers are split, lying under different stars. Here, they wonder if their ex thinks of them all, despit being so far away. The song makes one feel isolated from the rest of the universe, alone with their thoughts.As a teenager, it's a feeling that one feels so often, and is easily relatable.

ALONE 8.5/10
Alone starts very happily, and could be considered as the happy song of the album. However, the lyrics tell a different story, and yet the listners cannot help but feel swept along by the jangly pace and the chorus, which makes good use of the instruments.

ET YOU DOWN 6.5/10
The only bad song (in my opinion), the desolate pace which drags and the lyrics arn't as solid. However, it fits with the album, and a such is a very good filler.

VAPOUR TRAIL 7.5/10
The only cover on the record, and a fine one too that follows the theme with the album, as well as sounds superior to the original.

FRAGMENT 9.5/10
Fragment is (IMO) the best solo song on the collection. It is soft and makes one feel loved, yet alone at the smae time, caught by the beautiful voice of Anna-Lynne. Her hope of loving no one as much as she does, takes you along, and makes everything make sense.

JUST LIKE THIS 7.5/10
A song that is like "Let You Down" in pace, but this actually works in it's favour, with the cold mettalic drums coupled with the dry bass makes the song hum with love, and you too will feel the emotions riding on the singer's tones.

LOVE YOU MORE 9/10
On first listen sounds rather like a slower "Alone", but on second listen the song is touching and heart-felt. Every person on the planet can relate to this song, and no one I've met (and heard this)hasn't been touched by Anna-Lynne's desire.

UNTITLED 7/10 - 10/10

The epic of the album (12:52) is a souble-header with a hidden track which is better IMO then the first and is the best song on the album.
The first one is mixed in mystery and is hard hitting.
The second one is the most nest song there, with Anna-Lynne and her acoustic guitar singing of love, and this rawness makes it clench around your heart and refuse to let it go till she whispers "You held my throat like a violin, never to be held again,Cause there's no-body like you." You'll be gripped until the final strum of this song.
It is beautiful and a fitting epitaph to the most heart-wrenching album I've heard. "Love was supposed to save me" (which is pretty good since I the only bourght it just cause I'd been paid)

This album is the finest discovery I've ever found, and I hope you will "discover" it too.