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Suzanne Vega - Solitude Standing Audio CD

A fair review of the Suzanne Vega "Solitude Standing" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Suzanne Vega reviews here, or go back to the Suzanne Vega tabs.

Suzanne Vega Band: Suzanne Vega
Title: Solitude Standing
Rating:
Release Date:
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Tom's Diner 2: Luka 3: Ironbound/Fancy Poultry 4: In the Eye 5: Night Vision 6: Solitude Standing 7: Calypso 8: Language 9: Gypsy 10: Wooden Horse (Casper Hauser's Song) 11: Tom's Diner (Reprise)

Wonderful!


"Solitude Standing" remains one of the most musically perfect albums Suzanne Vega has ever done. Describing music with words regardless of the writer's talent or favorable intent towards an album is at best an injustice, but I'll try my best. There's a gentle expansion of her sound towards a more mainstream pop/rock sound especially in "Luka" and the title cut, but the songs never lose their spiritual core.

The romantic "Gypsy" works perfectly with very minimal production while the sad, but stoic longing of "Calypso" is complemented with an unobtrusive synthesizer background and tasteful percussion.

Vega prefers a drier vocal delivery reminiscent of Astrud Gilberto ("The Girl From Ipanema"). Her voice is gentle, somewhat cool on the surface and devoid of vibrato as Vega prefers to let the lyrics and the music itself communicate the emotion of the songs and communicate they do.

Vega's lyrical content approaches poetry again even if not quite up to the standard set by "Suzanne Vega". One of the joys of this album is that you can just soak up the pleasant sonic textures rather mindlessly while going about your daily business. Then later, in a more thoughtful mood you can listen anew to wrestle with the multiple layers of meaning concealed under the surface of Vega's intentionally ambiguous lyrics.

Producer, Lenny Kaye (former guitarist for Patti Smith) worked on Vega's first two albums and they remain the strongest she has ever done. Kaye just seems to "get" Suzanne Vega - he has a feel for what works to strengthen and complement her work without ever distracting from her voice, her guitar or her vision. The band's contributions are strong and tasteful.

BUY IT!
.


Simply beautiful
Susanne Vega's voice is like a quiet whisper that draws my attention effortlessly, the lyrics are powerful and so is the music. I love listening to it, especially with my earphones. Definitely a keeper in my collection.


The Lemmonheads cover 'Luka'
The Lemmonheads cover "Luka" on their album "Lick. This is a pretty good album. " Vega's original is pretty good, too. .


Folk Rescue
It revisited the straightforward, unpretentious folk sound and deceptively poetic format of her self-titled 1985 album, producing two fine singles, "Tom's Diner" and "Luka". Vega's second album, "Solitude Standing", was released in 1987. At a time when folk was largely buried under a mass of big-sound rock, Vega helped rescue it. Pure voice, sweet guitar, lyrics with integrity ranging from the whimsicality of "Tom's Diner" to the powerful social message of "Luka", but with credibility and authenticity in every track. Vega help this listener rediscover contemporary music.


This CD blew me away...
But I was blown away when she sang the whole thing in acapella. When I first heard Tom's Diner it was like I was sitting there next to the artist watching these event unfold as you sat in the window booth. Luka I already like from hearing it on the radio. Ironbound and Gypsy stirred up images in my mind of hardship and fleating love. Night Vision took me a few years to figure out. . . yeah I am a little slow sometimes. But when I got it it was another 'wow' moment. That is what I like about Suzanne Vega's music. It makes me get lost in the lyrics images. Tom's Diner is a prime example. But if you are a person that likes lyrics that don't make you think or imagine then you shouldn't buy this CD.


You can see a complete list of all Suzanne Vega discography, or go back to the Suzanne Vega tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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