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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Crisp, clean and well produced., 22 Oct 2007
I have to admit that before seeing one of the tracks performed on MTV Dance, I was not aware of Roisin Murphy, so as far as this album goes I had no idea what to expect.
After about the first ten seconds of the first track (Overpowered) I knew I'd found something very special. As an audiophile I really appreciate music where the mastering engineer has thought long and hard about how to capture the artist and achieve an excellent recording. This is a prime example of an excellent recording; Roisin's vocals are super clean and cut clear above the mix (owing of course to her superb voice as well as the recording), the soundscape flourishes with detail and the whole sound hits hard and punchy without becoming too 'loud'.
As for the tracks, if you have a passion for dance, electronica and electro ballads, this is the album for you. All the songs are focused and lyrically sensible, well written and finely produced. Roisin's amazing voice shifts up and down the scale with ease and is really 'shown off' by these tracks. To present 'listenable' dance music is very tricky as it tends to be aimed at drunk clubbers, but this album can either drive a party, make for a good listening session or happily play in the background without becoming intrusive.
I love it, it's surprised me too, so much more than I thought it would be. Now all I have to do is buy her 2005 album too.
If you are a record producer / engineer, listen to this album and copy the recording/mastering style - it's genius!
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
From the primordial soup..., 30 Oct 2007
Actually, comparing Overpowered to Roisin's solo début, Ruby Blue, is a bit like comparing Moloko's polished, masterful Statues to the quirkier, more hit-and-miss Things To Make And Do - they are different projects and will appeal to different listeners in different ways.
I don't think this is her two fingers to those who ignored Ruby Blue (how many copies of Statues were sold, after all), but just the direction she wanted to go in, this time. Interesting that in interviews Roisin describes how Overpowered was "made in a pop way", rather than a "pop album," because they are mostly not pop songs, lyrically anyway. When they are, as on Let Me Know, they score the kind of direct hit they might have done had Curtis Mantronik worked with Moloko.
In fact, at time of writing, it's hard to fathom why this album isn't burning up the charts yet, considering the strength of the two singles that have already come off it. Other, lyrically diverting songs such as Primitive and Dear Miami really benefit from the slick "pop" treatment, but the one to really propel Overpowered into people's brains could be You Know Me Better, especially with some good mixes - although it's pretty much club-ready as it is. If only the clubs could still "break" an artist through. Oh well.
It's just a shame the two tracks reminiscent of Goldfrapp - Movie Star and Cry Baby - don't pursue a less marketable, and over-marketed, sound. But these are small quibbles - it still stuffs the creatively-blocked likes of Gwen Stefani. Five stars!
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Joy To Listen Too!, 12 Mar 2008
Róisín Murphy is a name that some of you will know as that woman who sang in Moloko, or in most cases wont even know at all. to say that she is underrated would'nt even be the tip of the iceberg. It really amazes me how somebody with as much talent as her can be so unrecognised.
Anyway, onto the album. In a word, it is AMAZING. Like a fine wine, it matures with age, the more you listen the more you will fall in love. I've read many comments saying that you will think you have a favourite and then it will change. I found this to be very true indeed... these are songs to suit any mood. All beautifully structured with great lyrics (mostly) and super catchy hooks.
It is alot more thumping than "Ruby Blue", and has a much faster pace, quite reminiscent of works by Goldfrapp or Ladytron. Each song here has its own quirky charm, and while they are deffintely not pop songs as such, they have a strange mainstream sound to them, which is why its so baffling they arnt charting as well as they deserve too. Standout tracks for me would have to be "Dear Miami", "You Know Me Better" & "Cry Baby". It still amazes me how demos and b-sides like "Sunshine" and "Off & On" did'nt make the final cut.
In short, if you like disco, electronica or quirky alternative pop, this is a must have!
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