Life for Rent [CD]

Life for Rent was always going to be a tough prospect for Dido--how to follow up the multi-million selling No Angel? On initial inspection, it sounds like she's decided to stick to the safe option--if it ain't broke, don't fix it. So, it's business as usual with down-tempo beats, lush orchestrations, the odd bit of acoustic guitar and her distinctive voice as the cherry on top. However, a closer examination of the lyrics shows that the sweet happy English Rose has a much darker side to her--the joyous revelations of tracks such as "Thank You" on her debut album have been replaced by the sound of her heart breaking. Dido writes from the heart, sharing her personal life with her audience, so Life for Rent tells the tales of her life away from the recording studio, in particular her public break-up with her long-term boyfriend and all the apparent mess that ensued. With tales of rows ("Stoned"), confusion following an ended love affair ("White Flag") and her inability to settle down ("Life for Rent"), it's insecurities, self doubt and despair all around.

There is hope, with one of the album's musical highlights "Sand in My Shoes", which sees her going off on holiday and embarking on a holiday romance--halfway between Club 18-30 and Shirley Valentine. It's impossible not to think of Bridget Jones when listening to the album, and this, in the first instance, is the audience for whom this album will reach out and touch. --Melanie Wilkin

Despite the multi-million sales of her debut solo album, No Angel it's difficult to describe Dido's second album Life For Rent as long-awaited. Like other artists in her field she treads a fine line between credibility and popularity, and one feels a step in either direction could alienate those who enjoyed her first effort. But, she hasn't put a foot wrong with this album. On the positive side that means more well-crafted folk-pop tunes, on the negative side she hasn'tmoved forward.

Although Dido played a significant part in older brother Rollo's band, Faithless (whose 1996 album Reverence sold over 5 million copies), it would be misleading to say that the groups success brought her fame. For that she had to wait for her solo album and in particular the song "Thank You" which reached the global pop consciousness via Eminem's peerless "Stan". From there the album No Angel went on to sell bucket-loads.

For one with such an auspicious past, it's difficult to describe Dido as a star. It's hard to imagine there being hardcore Dido fans following her every move, and yet she does what she does very well. Like her debut, Life For Rent blends effortless melodies with seamless backing tracks. The production is perfect -every song glistens with a carefully polished sheen.

The obvious singles "White Flag" and "Stoned" are engaging to the extent that you could easily be humming along without it registering in your brain. There's something unconscious, pleasantly innocuous about them. It's comfort food for the ears, one could pick any track off the album and place it in the sad, thoughtful scene about three quarters of the way through a Tom Hanks-Meg Ryan romantic comedy.

That's perhaps a little disparaging. Thereis good, listenable stuff here, especially the edgier "Who Makes You Feel" or the comparatively funky "Sand In My Shoes". You won't be ashamed to own this or play it at your next dinner party, but one can't help wishing that there were one or two tracks with a bit more balls. --Derryck Strachan

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DIDO Life For Rent (2003 UK 11-track CD album including the singles White Flag Life For Rent Dont Leave Home & Sand In My Shoes)