Amazon Link

Much time passed between the previous album Nine Objects Of Desire and this one, during which a few things occurred, namely the divorce of Vega and Froom. Scars from that experience litter this album, and while sometimes it makes for poiniant listening, other times it’s taken a bit too literally - and I feel I have to look away. While a few songs I find stellar, there’s a slightly disjointed feeling as Vega is working with a new producer, who lends a complex (and at times too ornate for my tastes) but ultimately rather sterile sheen over some decent material.

Penitent

= 4 stars

Fairly guilt ridden, the narrator wonders what they can do to please someone. Whether or not you like the production of this song will indicate if you like the rest of the album. It’s still a bit overly ornate for me.

Widow’s Walk

= 4 stars

A confessional to an abandoned marriage, trying to figure out the why that isn’t there and looking to the future. The chorus is strong and recalls the shipfaring themes of earlier work.

(I’ll Never Be) Your Maggie May

= 5 stars

At this point it’s evident that Vega is much more personal here than she’s ever been, not singing about dusky actresses on her wall or other people’s lives. This is probably the most direct you can get, talking directly towards a former lover that she’ll never be what he wants her to be, and it tries to paint this rejection in a positive light - but other songs on this album make this positivity feel somewhat contrived. Other than that, it’s a catchy melody and one part where the ornate music drops away for a more sentimental thought (2:43) is quite exquisite.

It Makes Me Wonder

= 4 stars

A little bit of chunky keyboards, a repetitive melody, and a more forward groove recalls Days Of Open Hand and 99.9F. I like the simple keyboard chords on the chorus.

Soap And Water

= 3 stars

Washing awa the wedding band, and talking about how “daddy’s a dark riddle, mama’s a head full of bees” - it can be nothing else than an apology to the daughter that the family is collapsing.

Song In Red And Gray

= 2 stars

Simply voice and guitar, but the song itself is rather depressing, documenting (once again) the failing marriage and the effect on their daughter. The problem is the addition of all sorts of synthetic sounds that I don’t care for.

Last Year’s Troubles

= 5 stars

The most straightforward and pleasant song on this album - a few keyboard twiddles and odd sounds - but there’s a gypsy folk mandolin lick bearing a hooky melody, probably the best since Tom’s Diner. It comes in between verses, but voice is finally added (2:09) to great effect.

Priscilla

= 2 stars

The only item of note for me the clattering percussion.

If I Were A Weapon

= 3 stars

This is the type of song that I don’t really care for to but the sound definitely gets stuck in my mind.

Harbor Song

= 2 stars

Forgettable, but emotionally invested to the point of plodding. It’s kind of navel-gazing at this point.

Machine Ballerina

= 3 stars

How I wish there were a vocal melody to go along with the happy introductory chords.

Solitaire

= 5 stars

I’m fascinated by this song, from the chirpy keyboards to the dizzy pulsation near the end. It talks about a man playing solitaire late at night, while ignoring his lover. I can’t help but wonder if this game of solitaire isn’t some sort of more literal, personal late night pastime of the former lover, and the song No Cheap Thrill somehow a close cousin.

St. Claire

= 2 stars

There’s one chord that doesn’t sound quite right that has always hurt my listening of this song.

Intra Album Rank-O-Rama: 3.38

Categories: Music, Suzanne Vega :: Tags: Music, Songs In Red And Gray, Suzanne Vega :: Trackback URL
Front Page
Previous Post: There Is Definitely A Web 2.0 Bubble Going On
Next Post: Apple To Open Up The iPhone Come February
Related Posts: Music :: My Favorite Suzanne Vega Songs :: Music Notes: Suzanne Vega, Suzanne Vega :: Music Notes: Suzanne Vega, Nine Objects Of Desire ::