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Track Listings
| 1. Oh My God |
| 2. Drive Away My Heart |
| 3. Louie |
| 4. I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked |
| 5. Keep Me Warm |
| 6. Forgive Me |
| 7. Stella |
| 8. Morning Light |
| 9. Queen Of The World |
| 10. See Me Through |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk
If you hadn’t already twigged by the title of her breakout hit, “I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked”, Norwegian songstress Ida Maria is a feisty sort. Fortress Round My Heart finds her serenading a string of lovers and romantic conquests with a raucous energy, crooning that “you know I’m always as drunk as can be” on the skittering “Louie”, begging “Bring me whisky please” on “Queen of the World”, or on “Oh My God”, just cracking up in some histrionic nervous breakdown. For all Maria’s plain charisma and sense of fun, this could all be a bit much, so luckily keeping Maria’s taste for histrionics in check is a whip-smart band who veer between energetic punk rock and chugging pop conducted with a Strokes-esque minimalism. Tucked away in the corners of Fortress Round My Heart, meanwhile, are a handful of beautiful miniatures like “See Me Through”, a gentle lullaby conducted with dainty acoustic string plucks and shimmering cymbals--proof there’s more to this girl than what she throws out up front. --Louis Pattison
Review
Not in any way your typical Scandinavian pop starlet, Ida Maria is a bundle of anti-stereotypes. She's not blonde, she's not got a whispy voice filtering softly over some synth pop and she's not afraid to show emotion.
Emotion is what defines this album. Sounding like a throaty alcoholic, 23-year-old Norwegian, Ida Maria Sivertsen, has managed to find in a niche in the market and a way through to UK success. She doesn't sound like anything else out there and, with song titles like the joyous I Love You So Much Better When You're Naked, is happily making her own path in the world.
Clocking in at just over a slender 30 minutes in total, Fortress Around My Heart is a rollicking, high energy ride through the life of Ida. Oh My God opens the album with a subtle verse before raging into a foot-stomping punky chorus; while the cute girl groupy Louie giggles with drunken love. Slowing down only for the twinkly See Me Through And Keep Me Warm, an ode to 'nicotine and coffee' that's already popped up a Grey's Anatomy finale; it's one turbulent frenzy after another. The mighty Stella is probably the standout track, telling the tale of a hooker in New York, and slyly borrowing the hook from Martha & The Vandella's Jimmy Mack.
A spunky and captivating debut: There's nothing about this album that doesn't make us want to leap about with a wide grin. --Talia Kraines
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Jerms
Format:Audio CD
This album came before the American Fortress Round My Heart. The tracks are the same except the order of tracks are different and the American version has In The End while this version has See Me Through. I feel the this version's order is better for listening. This is fast, fast, and then the tracks slow down. The American starts of fast, fast, slows down, speeds up, then is slow. This is Ida Maria's first album and is one of my favorite Punk Rock (or any) Album. Hopefully she will release a second album soon.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Lincman
Format:Audio CD
I caught Ida Maria live in London a few months back having no idea who she was and was very impressed with the gig. This album does capture their/her live feel to a degree and has a number of great catchy tunes with a few more less exciting numbers amongst them.
Musically its not rocket science - but I gather thats not the point.
Great album for a first up - hope the catchy tunes keep on coming and the strained vocals continue........
Musically its not rocket science - but I gather thats not the point.
Great album for a first up - hope the catchy tunes keep on coming and the strained vocals continue........
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I'm too old to take any notice of the blurb they print on the front of CD cases and too old to take any notice of the hype or otherwise of the NME et al. I go on my own reaction to performers, and having seen these guys live, I love them. Yes there's a few clunky lyrics and a couple of fillers, but "Oh My God" really hits the mark for me. Pop should be fun, and this is.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This album's got so many good songs it sounds more like a greatest hits than a debut. I've had this for a few weeks now and just can't stop playing it. Raw, genuine, honest, passionate, funny...can't really recommend this highly enough.
1 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
It's a long time since I've heard an album that has excited me as much as this.
Her vocals are great and partner the guitars superbly. The lyrics are good fun, particularly for a foreign band writing in English.
There is not one track that is bad. I am happy that at last this year we have a fantastic debut album, and indeed a guitar based band, where every song is not just a re-incarnation of the famous chart song that made the band famous.
I love it; make this a 'Must Listen' and you'll be hooked after one listen.
Dave Hargraves, Bolton, England
Her vocals are great and partner the guitars superbly. The lyrics are good fun, particularly for a foreign band writing in English.
There is not one track that is bad. I am happy that at last this year we have a fantastic debut album, and indeed a guitar based band, where every song is not just a re-incarnation of the famous chart song that made the band famous.
I love it; make this a 'Must Listen' and you'll be hooked after one listen.
Dave Hargraves, Bolton, England
1 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By R. Dickens
Format:Audio CD
I love this album! It has not ben out of my cd player since i bought it! It is quirky lively and original! Can't wait to see her live! :D
2 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By George Cline
Format:Audio CD
This is absolutely fab. Ida has the x factor that makes her stand out from the crowd. Really original tunes, great lyrics and performed with raw energy and attitude. This years best album?
9 of 30 people found the following review helpful
By IWFIcon
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Audio CD
Well Ida Maria fans, get your mouses (mice?) hovering over the "no" button...
Someone I know, mentioning no names, picked up this album in a local music shop, took one look at the "missing link between The Strokes and Amy Winehouse" sticker on the front and put it straight back on the rack. As far as I'm concerned he had a very lucky escape.
First time around all I could stomach was 30 seconds each of the opening four tracks. But I'm nothing if not fair so in the interests of, well, this review I tried again and made it all the way through. Again I was far from impressed.
Make no bones about it, it's the "funny" lyrics to I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked that have got Ida Maria any mainstream attention at all.
Derivative, unoriginal and, frankly, not very good at all. One reviewer suggested she's almost the "female Jack Penate". And to be honest, I would tend to agree. Yes, she is THAT bad.
Someone I know, mentioning no names, picked up this album in a local music shop, took one look at the "missing link between The Strokes and Amy Winehouse" sticker on the front and put it straight back on the rack. As far as I'm concerned he had a very lucky escape.
First time around all I could stomach was 30 seconds each of the opening four tracks. But I'm nothing if not fair so in the interests of, well, this review I tried again and made it all the way through. Again I was far from impressed.
Make no bones about it, it's the "funny" lyrics to I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked that have got Ida Maria any mainstream attention at all.
Derivative, unoriginal and, frankly, not very good at all. One reviewer suggested she's almost the "female Jack Penate". And to be honest, I would tend to agree. Yes, she is THAT bad.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
premature denunciation
Premature Denuciation ? - guilty. How can anybody post a review before they've even heard the album ? Read more
Published on 21 July 2008 by half man half biscuit
5.0 out of 5 stars
unheard, unseen, unbelievable
Update : And now that I've heard it, I'll describe my feelings on the album in a way that probably is no use to you but a few will know what I mean. Read more
Published on 14 Jun 2008 by J. Mcdonald
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