Album Review: Beth Waters by Beth Waters

Album Name: Beth Waters
Artist: Beth Waters
Year/Label: 2003 / Mermaid Mafia Records

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Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

This is another one of those CDs that you pop into the stereo and know within moments that it’s one you will be listening to over and over again for a long time. It feels like a staple in my music collection by the second song.

The production is high quality. The songs are thoughtful, emotional and well written. The voice matches the songs beautifully with power and feeling.

OK here’s where we talk about comparisons. Her Press Kit has her likened to Sarah McLachlan, Tori Amos and Norah Jones. I read that and thought, OK, she is a female who plays piano…that’s about all I can see that link those women together. They are all quite different from each other in my eyes.

For my money the comparison would be to Jonatha Brooke if any. I can certainly hear the Sarah M lilt that occasionally comes out in her voice, but she has that great pop sensibility that Ms. Brooke has (and that I so admire). Plain and simple, she knows how to write a pop song. I don’t mean cheesy-teen pop either, I mean good, solid, intelligent pop…Matthew Sweet/Ben Folds pop…like that…the good stuff.

The CD has some very touching songs. Namely “Mom” and “Dad” The former being a love letter to her mother saying she likes the way her mother raised her even though she had to do it alone. The latter being about her father who left the family. One of the nice touches here is that “Mom” is sung TO her mother, while “Dad” is sung mostly about him except for a few verses (as opposed to “to” him, as if she doesn’t speak to him but about him).

Other strong songs are the opening “Sweater” where she repeats the line, “But I believe I can change the world/Just give me time.”

Then in Spun Sugar there’s this great verse:

I don’t want to tell you I love you
And watch you wither away, wither away
Like a wildflower I picked and it died in an hour,
Like it knew I stole its freedom,
And it’d rather die than live that way.

Wow, pretty perceptive, and powerful.

Probably my favorite track is “Edge Of The Earth”. Everything comes together here. Her knack for melody and creating a feeling really shows here.

This CD has it all: outstanding vocals, exceptional musicianship, intelligent lyrics and gives the listener an all around wonderful feeling.

Posted on December 23, 2003

Track Listing
1. Sweaters
2. Spun Sugar
3. Philosophy
4. Down To Me
5. Blue and White
6. Mom
7. Slut Song
8. Edge Of The Earth
9. Finding Me
10. Bells
11. Surrealistic
12. Dad

[Beth Waters Official Site]

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Comments

Rating: 5 Stars
Comment: This was the best investment of the my life. It’s absolutely MIND blowing. Beautiful, tragic, dripping with delicious melodies and piano tunes. My favourites include ‘Down To You’, ‘Blue & White’, ‘Mom’, ‘Slut Song’, ‘Dad’ and ‘Finding Me’. Beth has a captivating, angelic voice and she is a superb songwriter. I am anxiously anticipating her next release!
name: Laura on Wednesday, January 5, 2005

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