Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Minnie's Sonic Seascape, 4 Sep 2007
The prospect of a 37 year old, London born, Barbados and Hampshire raised Hollywood actress, making an alt country album with an impressive array of Americana luminaries might seem unlikely. What might be more unlikely is to discover that she has crafted such an impressively authentic alt country album with her powerful alto voice proving that she possesses a warm, mature and interpretative instrument.
In this, her second album, she is accompanied by Ryan Adams and The Cardinals (on four tracks), Neil Casal, Jon Graboff and Rami Jaffee (of The Wallflowers, who also co-produced the album). There is also an appearance by Liz Phair.
Ms Driver has written all of the songs on the album herself and there are enough catchy hooks to satisfy even the most jaded ear with a sonic seascape of pedal steel, piano, Hammond organ, drums, violin and cello swirling around her.
Her lyrics speak of love and she gives them the emotional reading that they deserve. Given her day job this is scarcely surprising but it does make for a rich, intimate experience that delights the heart and the soul.
With this release Minnie Driver has enriched the 21st Century music scene.
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13 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Surprisingly accomplished, 14 Aug 2007
Quite randomly, I've never liked Minnie Driver as an actress. Don't ask me to explain as I wouldn't really know how to. And whilst her first album Everything I've Got In My Pocket didn't exactly reinvent the wheel it was shockingly competent in terms of an actress branching out into a musical career.
And that vein continues with Seastories.
Once again I doubt it is going to sonically astound most listeners, and indeed the gentle lilting alt-country vibe (it is not for nothing that Ryan Adams' Cardinals pop up on a handful of songs) is nothing new; there is however the sense that Driver is good at what she chooses to do.
Mockingbird ramps up the bluesy kind of rock that KT Tunstall could do very well, whilst the more gentle, piano driven ballad How To Be Good shows that Driver is just as adept at that side of things as well.
Granted, lyrically Driver's efforts are a little weak, but this isn't necessarily a death knell for the album as a whole. There is a kind of earnest simplicity on this collection that works really well. Go on, give it a go. You might be pleasantly surprised.
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Minnie hits a sour note, 11 Aug 2008
I must say I was really looking forward to listening to Minnie's new album because I genuinely enjoyed her first album. I would like to say I was blown away by her latest attempt but I wasn't. I was disappointed for the most part although there are a few redeeming songs on the album, namely Mockingbird, London Skies and Love is Love. These songs are magnificent, a triumph on an otherwise befuddled, lackluster album. Minnie can't seem to decide whether she wants to sing country, folk or pop and combining all three, sometimes all in one song, is painful to listen to and just downright frustrating because we all know how talented she is. While some of her lyrics are simply divine others seem like the non-sensical ravings of a drugged up teenager. I would like to believe that she is still experimenting with her sound and that she will eventually settle on one that is best suited to her abilities, but since she's been singing for years that seems unlikely. All we can do is patiently wait for her to discover what we already know, that she doesn't have to try so hard. Just do what you do best Minnie and the rest will fall into place. She has the ability to blow singers like Sarah MacLachlan and Bird York out of the water...if only she'd find her niche and stay there. The album is worth buying if only for the three songs I mentioned above, they are the kind of songs you can listen to over and over again and never tire of them. Minnie if you're reading this please record more songs like those!
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~ Minnie Driver
~ Beth Rowley
~ Martha Wainwright
~ Sharleen Spiteri
~ Duffy
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