Singer, songwriter, musician, and all-round cool lady Rosie Abbott has got some style. From the little business card she has enclosed with her CD featuring pics of herself in different outfits and poses, to the arty packaging of the album itself, it’s easy to tell that this is a girl who likes to do things right. Helpfully, she has also extended this to her weird and wonderful self-titled debut album.
Firstly, a disclaimer: there is such a thing as being too weird, and the second track on this album is just that – it’s a woodpigeon doing that god-awful repetitive cooing that they do. On repeat. While Rosie plays piano and sings over it. It is not good. While this does not spoil the rest of the great work that Ms. Abbott has done on this album, I have skipped this track almost every time I have listened to the album. Enough said.
So, on to the good stuff – and there is plenty of good stuff. Rosie knows a few things about music, and she’s not afraid to use ‘em. This album is as diverse as they come, and she manages all the different musical styles with both grace and aplomb. There’s the brilliantly spiky Victim of My Imagination, which calls to mind P.J. Harvey or Hole – there’s some cracking hoarse screaming, crunchy chords and off-beat rhythms on this track. I love the bumbly, Beatles-esque charm of If Everything Was Up To Me. Hard To Sleep is a great, soulful ballad with just a hint of sixties whimsy about it. There’s a big of ragtime joviality in If You’re Happy and You Don’t Know It, and there’s also some folky goodness sprinkled about the place. Rosie is obviously not afraid to give anything a go, and her great vocals and obvious musical skill combine with her infectious enthusiasm to make this album a unique little treat.
In short, Rosie Abbott has put together a strong selection of songs, really well sung, and really well played. This is a great little album, with something for everyone. So give it a go!
A nice review, but don’t let the unfair panning of Woodpigeon Translation put you off – it’s my second favourite track on the album (after Hard To Sleep)… an experimental idea sure, but also very clever and moving. It’s hardly Revolution #9 – in fact, it’s a catchy little ear-worm that you’ll be humming weeks.
Look it up on YouTube. It is VERY good.
well….i think this review is what’s ‘too weird’, if you ask me! at first i thought you gave the album a pretty decent review, over all, and was willing to overlook the comments about ‘Woodpigeon Translation’ simply as you just didn’t like that song. we all have songs we skip, even by our favourite bands, however, you probably shouldn’t start off a review of an album that you obviously seem to think is full of ‘plenty of good stuff’ and is ‘really well sung’ and ‘really well played’ with ‘infectious enthusiasm’ and ‘a unique treat’ by telling people that one of the songs is ‘too weird’ because it has a ‘god-awful’ sound on it that you just can’t tolerate so you skip it every time ypou play it!!! right away you have poisoned everyone’s mind against Rosie’s creativity! Rosie’s creativity is unique, and perhaps you were a little too hasty, and should have given all the praise you eluded to FIRST, and then maybe saved the Woodpigeon slagging for the end. maybe? weird.