|
Amazon.co.uk allows you to pay for your items in your local currency. Restrictions apply. Learn More. |
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s
Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or
view the MP3 Album.
|
Product Description
Review
In pop terms Marina Diamandis is rather unusual. Not because she lacks the genuine weirdness and fearless invention of Micachu (although she does), or the songwriting ability of Florence Welch (although she does). No. She’s strange because she appears to have based her entire singing style on the odd rhythms and insane lurches of Sparks’ This Town Ain’t Big Enough for the Both Of Us.
In small doses Marina can be magnificent. Her first major label single, Mowgli’s Road, includes insane lyrics about cutlery (“Ten silver spoons coming after me”), the beats and pacing of Green Day’s Hitchin’ a Ride, and Tori Amos-ish baroque soundscapes and wild animal noises. It’s as much Lord of the Flies as The Jungle Book. Guilty is just as interesting: bursts of harpsichord, beats more at home on a Burial record, looped background vocal motifs and perhaps Marina’s best vocal performance on the album. And recent single Hollywood may sound as bombastic and ridiculous as Arnie driving a Humvee through a plate glass window, but it’s superbly enjoyable.
The consistently diverting changes in style across the album are fine – the wonky 80s shoulder-pad pop of The Outsider is nothing like anything else here, for example. But over 13 songs of Sparks-voice and many similar staccato piano riffs listeners may feel bludgeoned by Marina and her slightly overbearing presence. On Oh No! she sings, “Don’t do love, don’t do friends / I’m only after success, don’t need a relationship.” Then there’s the opener, Are You Satisfied: “It’s not my problem / is my problem / that I never am happy / my problem is my problem on how fast I will succeed.” Ambition and talent is useful, but a having a massive ego and being friendless is not. Hopefully she’s just singing in character.
Judging by the auspicious critical and commercial reception to Hollywood, there will be many who find a great deal to love about Marina and her whacky voice; but there will be just as many who despise her. A tiny minority may be indifferent, but like Mika, the male act whose songs sound most like those on The Family Jewels, the Abergavenny-born singer will mostly polarise opinion. --Lou Thomas
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
CD Description
The Family Jewels is the debut album from Welsh/Greek pop-songstress Marina Diamandis, more commonly known as Marina And The Diamonds. Her quirky songs show off both Marina's eccentric personality and her unique voice, which sets The Family Jewels apart from the other albums released by solo, female artists, which often don't have the depth of originality possessed by Marina.
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:MP3 Download|Amazon Verified Purchase
Thank you word of mouth because without you I would never had sought out the singles and then downloaded this album. This is one of the most catchy, carefree and enjoyable albums I've heard in a while and it's getting many plays on my CD player and iPod. With a voice like a Greco-Cymru Lily Allen fused with an updated Kate Bush and song writing talent to match, Marina's going to be big in 2010. Most of her songs, including the fantastic Mowgli's Road and Hermit The Frog demonstrate an exuberance and disregard for convention that show genius just on the knife edge of sanity, with lyrics that keep rushing at you like ants on a sugar rush, a verbal pile up looming should they trip. There are some great slower songs too, with I Am Not A Robot and Obsessions bound to get much airtime.
You really need to try this album. Rare that people say this and are right, but you will thank yourself you did.
You really need to try this album. Rare that people say this and are right, but you will thank yourself you did.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Quite simply, i think this is a very underated album. There isn't one track that is bad, with several exceptionally good and i think personally that is a rarity these days.
31 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is a great debut album, crammed full of instantly catchy pop hooks. I enjoyed this album the first time I heard it, and with repeated listening it just keeps getting better.
I only dip into pop music very occasionally, and it's rare that I find an entire album I enjoy, but you can't beat pop music for an instant sugary hit. This album is an excellent example of pop at it's best. Marina has a unique vocal style and large vocal range, the album is full of memorable tunes, and the production is excellent and rewards repeated listening.
If I manage to find just two more pop albums I enjoy this much within the next 12 months I'd be amazed and overjoyed.
I only dip into pop music very occasionally, and it's rare that I find an entire album I enjoy, but you can't beat pop music for an instant sugary hit. This album is an excellent example of pop at it's best. Marina has a unique vocal style and large vocal range, the album is full of memorable tunes, and the production is excellent and rewards repeated listening.
If I manage to find just two more pop albums I enjoy this much within the next 12 months I'd be amazed and overjoyed.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Pop as it should be
This is written with the benefit of "Electra Heart" to contrast it with. I wrote in my review for Electra Heart that if the Family Jewels wasn't pop, what was? Read more
Published 7 days ago by reviewingsomethingorother
My favourite album of 2010
Another reviewer suggested that "word of mouth" should be thanked for bringing this album to people's attention. I would go along with that! Read more
Published 10 days ago by Big G
Underrated by far
I actually bought this album when it originally came out and raved about it, unfortuately it appeared that after Hollywood she went under the radar. Read more
Published 26 days ago by Mona-Risa
Refreshing!
I contemplated purchasing this album for a long time, but finally gave in to temptation!
Each and every song has its own story and each amazing in their own right. Read more
Each and every song has its own story and each amazing in their own right. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Rachel
Now this is Brit Pop at it's best!
Pssst...Want some pop music that doesn't sound like that populist tripe RiRi, Perry et al deem fit for human consumption? Well this is it! Read more
Published 2 months ago by H. A. Davis
Outstanding album - all I can say!
I am so glad I bought this album. Back in January 2010, Marina Diamindis released her 4th single "Hollywood", which was from this album. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Stuart Milloy
Sparks?
This album could have been a new Sparks album at the time of release.Marina sounds like Russell Mael 90% of the time,and the music is Sparksish wacky innovation. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mr. Paul Timms
Marina and the Diamonds
First heard of Marina at a recent Coldplay concert she was the supporting group, I was instantly taken by her, she is a pure gem. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Linda
A staple of my music diet
I can't stop listening to this punchy and sassy album, it's like a drug. Love it! Next step, see her live.
Published 4 months ago by Heather Landy
POP AT IT'S BEST!
YES YES YES YES YES YES! Not 'NO NO NO NO NO'.
Well done to Marina for restoring my faith in pop music again. Read more
Well done to Marina for restoring my faith in pop music again. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Rayfer Jarndis
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192198663_.gif){kind=small}
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
