Top positive review
4.0 out of 5 starsSubtle....
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 January 2004
OK, let's be clear from the start. Dido could have chosen a more challenging path to take her career after the phenomenal success of No Angel. She's chosen to go the safe route, probably to the relief of the majority of her fanbase.
Most of these tracks could be out-takes from the No Angel sessions, only very few would have made it to that collection. Dido has chosen to start with the first single, White Flag, which is competent but doesn't have the melodic impact or chorus hook of Here With Me. Several following tracks seem very undistinctive: Stoned belies its mellow title with over 5 minutes of bland, tinkly Euro-pop.
However, keep listening because Life for Rent matures as it goes on. There's a golden period starting with Who Makes You Feel, going through Sand in My Shoes, and finishing with the hypnotic Do You Have a Little Time. Easily the best song here, this song weaves a spell and demonstrates how Dido can use lyrical ambiguity and subtle vocal inflections to create a soft emotional distress - as she did to great effect on tracks such as Isobel.
Not her greatest, but worth a listen. I hope next time she tries to take on new influences, takes a few risks, and crafts an album worthy of her pedigree.
