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Days of Open Hand

Suzanne Vega - Days of Open Hand Audio CD

A fair review of the Suzanne Vega "Days of Open Hand" 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.

Band: Suzanne Vega
Title: Days of Open Hand
Rating:

Release Date: 1990-04-06
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Tired of Sleeping 2: Men in a War 3: Rusted Pipe 4: Book of Dreams 5: Institution Green 6: Those Whole Girls (Run in Grace) 7: Room off the Street 8: Big Space 9: Predictions 10: Fifty-Fifty Chance 11: Pilgrimage

Dreamy & Haunting Classic
Not a particularly entertaining or energetic performer, she wisely used the images from the CD booklet (and others) as surreal backdrops. I really loved this dreamy and haunting album from the first listen but I was completely won over when I saw Suzanne tour on this record. It allowed me to literally swim in the richness of each song. The images deepened the lyrics and enhanced the music. I know this is a review of the CD but I can no longer separate the music from the feeling having each song wash over me as it did at the concert.

My suggestion is then to do something quite revolutionary in this day and age: buy this CD (okay that already is revolutionary!), trust me - buy this CD, find an uninterrupted hour in a perfect environment for you and you can listen to it in its entirety. Allow the music to be your sole emotional focus. I think you`ll find that you've purchased and experienced a rare and beautiful piece of art.
.

I'm surprised how much it's grown on me
I have to say, that when I first listened to this album, I was a little dissappointed - especially compared to her first two. I'm a big SV fan; I own all her albums and look forward to new ones. But, now with the innovation of iPod shuffle, I listen to her more. Some of the tracks on this album, especially Tired of Sleeping and Those WHole Girls, have really become my favorites. I was surprised when I looked back and they were from this album. I recently listened to the whole thing and it's much better than I rememberd it years ago. I guess I've grown musically, just now as fast as SV. She's ahead of my time!.

The subconscious set to music
Virtually all of the songs, however, seem to relate to one thing in particular: the subconscious (dreams, fantasies, fears, a desire to feel, and memory). This is an extremely deep and sophisticated work by Suzanne Vega. The abstract and unreal passages led me to reach this conclusion, along with the fact that the opening track, which sets the tone, is "Tired of Sleeping. " I have come to love Days. . . because of understanding it this way. I believe that Salvador Dali would have absolutely loved it.

My personal favorites are "Tired of Sleeping," "Big Space," "Rusted Pipe," "Predictions," and, especially, "Pilgrimage," all of which deal with abstract emotional and psychological journeys. "Predictions" seems to support the expression that "History repeats itself" by beginning: "Let's tell the future, Let's see how it's been done. . . " I love the universal perspective of this. Mike Visceglia's base-playing on "Pilgrimage" is other-worldly and mysterious. It seems like the soundtrack for an archaeological documentary on National Geographic or the History International channel--a program where they are uncovering ancient secrets. Vega is unapologetically inscrutable on this follow-up to her huge hit record Solitude Standing.

Incredible
In fact, Suzanne herself said her record company was having a difficult time coming up with a single when it was released. I think one of the reasons this album was overlooked was because there are no obvious singles. However, taken as a whole, the album is simply magnificent. It's actually a better album listening to it from start to finish than listening to individual songs. There's not a bad song on the CD, although the poppy Book of Dreams is not stellar. Suzanne said that she wrote Book of Dreams to be a single, which is really never a good idea in my opinion. Men in a War is also not her greatest either, but if fits within the context of the album. My favorites would probably be Rusted Pipe and Pilgrimmage. I used to see this CD purely as transitional; she needed to make this CD after Solitude Standing in order to make 99. 9F, which has long been my favorite. However, I now realize this is a great work in and of itself. It took me several years to come to like it, but I now consider it one of her great albums. .

Lovable melancholy
Her style of singing delicately, tightly structured lyrically pleasing songs, possesss the power and charm to overpower your mind and inundate with tranquillity. Suzanne Vega is probably popular more for her hit 'Luka' and her feat featuring DNA on 'Tom's Diner'.

Days Of Open Hand is a pretty collection of mellow songs with a distinct melancholic feel. The most beautiful and gripping track is probably 'Fifty-Fifty' which I guess, is about someone having tried to commit suicide. The violins wind you in their agonising pain and sympathy. Simple yet moving and intelligent lines.

". . .
Fifty-fifty chance,
the doctor said
in the cardiac room
as she is lying in bed.
. . .
She's going home tomorrow at ten
The question is will she do it again
. . . "

'Room of the street' is a great number too, sung very timidly, very Suzanne Vega. 'In my book of dreams' and 'Men in a war' are cool numbers too where the latter picks up pace as it progresses.

'Tired of sleeping' and 'Big Space' are a treat to hear. The simplicity of the lyrics is what really spellbounds.

". . .
Oh mom. . .
The dreams are not so bad
I wonder when I'll be waking
It's just there is so much to do
and I'm tired of sleeping
. . . "

Men in a war--
". . .
Men in a war
If they've lost a limb
Still feel that limb
As they did before. .
He lay on a cot
He was drenched in a sweat
He was mute and staring
But feeling the thing
He had not
--
I know how it is
When something is gone
A piece of your eyesight
Or maybe your vision
A corner of sense
Goes blank on the screen
A piece of the scan
Gets filled in by hand
. . . "

Brilliant!

If you're looking to hear 'Luka' and 'Gypsy', try and get your hands on her previous offering, 'Solitude Standing'. Another pretty pleasing cool, calm and ear-friendly listening experience. Nice to listen to in the weary afternoons.

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.