- Audio CD (17 Sep 2007)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: Universal / Island
- ASIN: B000UYT8O0
- Other Editions: Audio CD | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 108,952 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product Description
Review
When someone is described as a chanteuse, you sometimes wonder whether to bother listening to the album. In this case, the description is accurate, but to give the album a miss would be a shame, although not a crime.
Terra Naomi's debut album, Under The Influence, has a very North-American sound - think Sarah McLachlan, Tori Amos, Patty Griffin, et al. The most obvious comparison is Alanis Morissette, especially on 'Not Sorry', but unfortunately for Naomi, she comes off the worse for it.
The album only comes to life when 'Flesh For Bones' starts. It has a gorgeous acoustic sound, which lets Naomi's strong vocals come to the fore. The beautiful sound makes you want to close your eyes and sway away with the music in a dreamy reverie. It makes you wish the rest of the tracks here were as good.
"Million Ways" is sure to find its way onto the soundtrack of some American teen drama's moment of crisis or redemption, with its cracking power chorus. 'Something Good To Show You' shows more of Naomi's classical /operatic training with the kind of enunciation more normally heard in Aida rather than a pop record, far less an anti-war track.
The album's hidden track hints at Naomi's drug-affected past, with lyrics such as 'I've got Vicodin, do you want to come over/ I know it's a long drive from Malibu/ I've got a pocket full of pills/ And not one lover / And I'm feeling so bad and so good'. It's a long way from the less than hard-hitting sound of the rest of the album, such as "Jenny", which is best skipped.
The strength here is in Naomi's beautifully pure voice, and her skill at creating killer choruses. But this is not an album that is going to rock many people's worlds. Which is a shame, as some of the tracks hint that a tougher, more raw, more political and less conventional sound is buried somewhere. --Helen Groom
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Well, I have to admit that I have come across Terra's music relatively late, late enough not to find all of her previous and never realeased CDs and EPs and demos. So, after I had listened to them with some friends' help, I felt in love with Terra's enchanting world of music. I spent lot of time with her songs on my stereo and now I have a real CD in my hands. She had to reach the UK from the USA to see her songs produced but it's worth it. I don't mind if these songs wear different suits and arrangments on this album. I don't mind if some of them sound more radio friendly. Who cares about it after reaching such a great goal? If you never heard about Terra's music, about her story, take a look at her stuff on Myspace and on YouTube and you won't be disappointed. "Say it's possible" is a masterpiece as well as lots of these songs, such as "Not Sorry", "Up here", "I'm happy", "Something good to show you", etc. Well, it's hard to find my favourite song here and if you agree with me, spread the word to support Terra's music. Unfortunately, if you don't live in the UK you won't be allowed to access the exclusive online content.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I know. You're sat there thinking not another female singer-songwriter to digest...and another one who has taken the "overnight" route to success via the Internet, this time with Say It's possible causing quite a stir late last year. Of course that would be unkind, given that she's been releasing unheralded albums independently for quite some time and that's before we've even got to question what exactly is wrong with using all the tools available to make a name for yourself.
Under The Influence may well strike some as an ironic title; one presumes that it's a reference to strong substances (Naomi not having been shy about previous dependencies) but one might also see that title and immediately come up with a list of influences the length of your arm. And indeed whilst it may not be anything we've not heard before (I'm thinking Tori Amos, Sarah McLachlan and Alanis Morrisette) that's not to say that it isn't without merit.
Naomi has a strong and inviting voice and has a knack for creating very catchy choruses the problem seems to be one of record company pressure. Like a lot of artists these days, Naomi seems a little too intent on chasing the pop single (and I'm not blaming her for that by the way) when if somebody somewhere had the gumption to let her strike out completely then we could have ended up with something very special indeed.
So in the end we've an album that is half suited to sound tracking the next American teen drama and earning airplay from Terry Wogan on Radio 2 (evident on the likes of Million Ways) and one that hints at something a little more expressive and special (such as on New Song or Flesh For Bones). Here's hoping that someone lets her concentrate on the latter next time out.
Under The Influence may well strike some as an ironic title; one presumes that it's a reference to strong substances (Naomi not having been shy about previous dependencies) but one might also see that title and immediately come up with a list of influences the length of your arm. And indeed whilst it may not be anything we've not heard before (I'm thinking Tori Amos, Sarah McLachlan and Alanis Morrisette) that's not to say that it isn't without merit.
Naomi has a strong and inviting voice and has a knack for creating very catchy choruses the problem seems to be one of record company pressure. Like a lot of artists these days, Naomi seems a little too intent on chasing the pop single (and I'm not blaming her for that by the way) when if somebody somewhere had the gumption to let her strike out completely then we could have ended up with something very special indeed.
So in the end we've an album that is half suited to sound tracking the next American teen drama and earning airplay from Terry Wogan on Radio 2 (evident on the likes of Million Ways) and one that hints at something a little more expressive and special (such as on New Song or Flesh For Bones). Here's hoping that someone lets her concentrate on the latter next time out.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I first came across Terra Naomi on Youtube, I immediately liked her unique style and sound, and just had to have the album !
I ordered it before it was available, and boy was it worth the wait !
This young lady has an astounding voice, writes wonderful realworld songs unlike many of the plastic, manufactured artists of today.
If you want something different, sung by someone who has a classically trained voice but knows how to get the best from it singing main stream music then Terra is for you.
I can't wait for the next album, and her version of Umbrella :)
I ordered it before it was available, and boy was it worth the wait !
This young lady has an astounding voice, writes wonderful realworld songs unlike many of the plastic, manufactured artists of today.
If you want something different, sung by someone who has a classically trained voice but knows how to get the best from it singing main stream music then Terra is for you.
I can't wait for the next album, and her version of Umbrella :)
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Good album
Good album, some good songs.
Although, her 2011 album "to know I'm OK" is better to me (5 stars), especially the live at Yoshi tracks! Read more
Although, her 2011 album "to know I'm OK" is better to me (5 stars), especially the live at Yoshi tracks! Read more
Published 27 days ago by M. Owen
Very Talented Young Woman
Terra Naomi shot to fame in what almost seems over night thanks to YouTube. For a few years, this young woman with training in Opera singing, guitar and piano, had been trying to... Read more
Published on 12 Jan 2009 by Dismal Angel
"Let's pretend for a moment that we have never loved before"
Unlike many other reviewers of this album, I had not discovered Terra Naomi through YouTube; I stumbled across her whilst viewing a ListMania on Amazon. Read more
Published on 2 Dec 2007 by Brida
Amazing, fresh new talent.
I saw Terra Naomi live supporting the Fray and she caught our attention as soon as we walked through the door, which not many support bands do. Read more
Published on 29 Nov 2007 by L. Foster
Terra Naomi - amazing voice, great writing!
I came across Terra Naomi on MySpace and then YouTube. I bought her early album and loved it. I then heard she had been signed to a major label and worried that it would change... Read more
Published on 25 Oct 2007 by John Grubb
Fantastic album from a fantastic artist
Like a lot of people I first heard of Terra Naomi through YouTube, and I have to say that originally I much preferred her acoustic versions to the ones on this album, particularly... Read more
Published on 16 Oct 2007 by Bento Lover
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