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Post by dillwyn on Jul 3, 2016 20:39:01 GMT
After talking over the months with Helmut, I was going to post 6-tracks from one of my albums. I even set up a youtube channel but at the last moment I remembered this. For me personally such an important album. I have listened and listened to the quality of the songwriting and production of this album. Listening to it tonight, it still stands as a wonderful piece of work which for me is timeless is so many ways. Hope you enjoy it enough to listen to more of her work
wiki blurb says A Few Small Repairs is a concept album about divorce, as Shawn Colvin's marriage was ending. At the time of the album's release, she had relocated to Austin, Texas.[4] The Album's biggest single, released in 1997, was "Sunny Came Home". The album cover consists of a painting by Colvin's friend Julie Speed[5] of a three-eyed woman with a lit match, which inspired Colvin to write the song. The single peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 7,[6] and topped the Adult Contemporary,[7] Adult Top 40,[8] and Top 40 Adult Recurrents[9] charts the same year. Album got to 39 on billboard chart
1. "Sunny Came Home"
2. "Get Out of This House"
3. "The Facts About Jimmy"
4. "You and The Mona Lisa"
12.new thing now
13. got nothing on me
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Post by jrmugz on Jul 3, 2016 23:09:39 GMT
Cool biz, dillwyn, looking forward to checking out and sending my thoughts. Look to hear from me in a few days!
Jim
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Post by jrmugz on Jul 4, 2016 2:42:19 GMT
So far heard the first three songs, and they are great. Will keep playing them and working on the review as time permits. Very clear voice, easy to understand the words, which are abstract yet very engaging. Great stuff so far.
Jim
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Post by jrmugz on Jul 4, 2016 3:03:31 GMT
OK, here is my review of Shawn Colvin "A Few Small Repairs".
01. "Get Out of This House" - Very very cool, kind of country but with a really unique rocky edge. Voice is very clear. The overall feel reminds me of Mellencamp on
his "Scarecrow" and "Lonesome Jubilee" albums.
02. "Sunny Came Home" - A nice metaphor to burning down the past, with the character in the song burning down their house. Like The Beatles "Norwegian Wood", where the
character "lit a fire" to symbolize burning down the house, it's hard to know the concept without reading up on it first. ha ha
03. "The Facts About Jimmy" - Really love the abstractness of the lyrics, and the soothing yet engaging musical arrangements.
04. "You and the Mona Lisa" - Engaging lyric, and just love the vocals. Very tasteful guitar solo.
05. "New Thing Now" - Love it! very reminiscent of the Joni Mitchell "Clouds" era, and Simon and Garfunkel "Parsely, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme" era. Would definitely
fit in on either one of those albums. Really love the finger-picking.
06. "Got Nothing on Me" - Great anthem to leavnig a bad situation with a clear conscience.
Star Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Prime Cuts: "Get Out of this House", "The Facts About Jimmy", "You and the Mona Lisa", "Nothing on Me" Bottom Line: Authentic work by a dynamic singer with a very natural voice, and fueled by strong craft and depth in lyrical and musical songwriting and arrangements.
Thanks for introducing me to the world of Shawn Colvin beyond "Sunny Came Home", dillwyn. I very much enjoyed it.
Feel free to add any more of your favorites of hers from this album or others, in this thread, so I can check those out as well!
In the meantime, will have you marked down for the next available opening.
Jim
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Post by dillwyn on Jul 4, 2016 15:10:11 GMT
Thanks Jim. I'm glad you enjoyed it I first came across her watching a songwriters series where she performed acoustically one of her tracks and explained it.
her next studio album whole new you was also terrific.
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Post by dillwyn on Jul 4, 2016 15:23:46 GMT
one I meant to add but my computer is doing odd things
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Post by jrmugz on Jul 8, 2016 2:13:07 GMT
Those are three very good songs dillwyn, the last one is a great ballad, though unusually short; and "Matter of Minutes" is my fave of those three. Great artist, feel free if you want to post any others, seems like her "Polaroids: Greatest Hits" is a great start for anyone, seems to have most of the ones you put from "A Few Small Repairs". Jim
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Post by unomusette on Jul 9, 2016 11:43:03 GMT
I've not heard much by Shawn Colvin but I'm always up for a new experience so here goes: Get out of this house - Well, we already know this is an album about divorce so this song kicks things off nicely. I like the punchy sound and it's the rocky side of modern country which appeals to me most. Neat lyrics and very easy on the ear. Sunny Came Home - I remember this as a single, it has a warm sound to it and an easygoing rhythm. She does have a nice pure voice, I like the quiet-ish bit towards the end which builds back up to "strike a match, go on and do it" The Facts about Jimmy - More nice vocals right up against your ear, twangy and atmospheric. Nice bit of harmony with the male singer too, and the call/response bit at the end works well. You and the Mona Lisa - Same easy rhythm as Sunny Came Home, it's nice but not as good for me. New Thing Now - Bit of a repetitive melody but the lyrics lift it out of the ordinary. Got nothing on me - This is a cheery and positive way to sign off, both lyrically and musically. I like the gutsy vocal here too, this is probably my favourite out of all six songs. I'm sure she used to have a higher profile on the radio station I listen to, but I've not heard much from her lately. I think the country-style stuff has been tidied away into a once-weekly evening programme apart from a few mainstream acts like Lady Antebellum. I've enjoyed being introduced to more Shawn Colvin songs, she has a great voice and a handy knack with lyrics. I'd give this collection 7 out of 10, thanks for sharing dillwyn
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Post by Chippa on Jul 10, 2016 5:28:20 GMT
"Sunny Came Home" is a great song. Love the imagery. "Get Out Of this House" is the only other song that really stands out as special. Too bad that one wasn't a bigger hit single.
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Post by queenofthehours on Jul 14, 2016 17:07:19 GMT
Get out of this house - I like the opening guitar, everything is nice and bright. It has bit of an early 90s feel. I like the harmonica bit. It's country pop and I like it. Sunny Came Home – I know this one. I've never really considered, though, if I like it or not. But hearing it now I realise it is a great song. The production is very clean.
The Facts about Jimmy – It sounds a bit like downbeat version of the last track. I might have to listen a few times to get into it properly.
You and the Mona Lisa - Another good opening. The same kind of style as 'Sunny'. Other than that track this is my favourite.
New Thing Now – Anything solo and acoustic I'm interested in. Sounds a bit like Mazzy Star.
Got nothing on me – Maybe my favourite. I love the opening and the percussion, it's a very country song.
After only knowing one Colvin track I now know a few more. I'm glad to have learnt that she is just as good on every track she sings.
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