Music : Sometimes a Circle

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Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0600445029026
Label: Dreamworks
Manufacturer: Dreamworks
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Dreamworks
Release Date: February 12, 2002
Sales Rank: 185353
Studio: Dreamworks

Editorial Review:

Amazon.com:
Sometimes a Circle captures moments of flux and uncertainty with a deft musical craft. Louise Goffin returned to recording after more than a decade's absence, and the album is thoroughly modern, grown-up pop with an open, airy sound built with producer Greg Wells. It layers loops, samples (the Kinks' "Phenomenal Cat"!), old-school keyboards from Jon Brion-style oddities to acoustic piano, and Goffin's vocals. Those move from cheery and girlish to plaintively beautiful--she can navigate sexy and wistful at once, as on the traveling-alone tale "What a Waste of a Perfectly Good Hotel Room." Her characters are often moving on the fly, with the title track empathetically observing a woman's married lover and the convenience store she drops into for makeup. Despite the loneliness that sits in the middle of some of these songs, Goffin also offers assurance (and even a glimpse of kittenishness on the knowing "Sleep with Me Instead"). Her name will forever be linked with those of parents Carole King and Gerry Goffin, but Circle is very much her own thing. --Rickey Wright

Average Rating:

Rating: - Same family, different sensibility ................
This review is to add some balance. I recognise that other reviewers really like this album. But if you like Carole King's music, it's odds on you won't like this. Her parents are great pop songwriters, but Louise has too many issues getting in the way of popular appeal.

Rating: - Excellent set
Having enjoyed the other three Louise Goffin albums, I was fairly confident that I'd like the songs on her new one. One listen confirmed not only that, but also the fact that Goffin has excelled herself with Sometimes A Circle. It's by far her strongest effort (at least to my ears). Her voice is really supple, and the production and instrumentation (which I didn't always favour so much on the earlier albums) is perfectly suited to her here. The songwriting is consistently great. Bravo

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Rating: - Why isn't Goffin a HUGE star?
Louise Goffin's new CD is a brilliant collection of great songs and great production from a songwriter who could have been handicapped by her pedigree. But Goffin is obviously not letting anything get in the way of her talent. She's written some truly inventive, and memorable songs, and produced surprising and original tracks with the help of Greg Wells.
The title track has a fun, busy, doubletime groove that breaks down to a contrastingly dreamy bridge. Both sections are are good but together ... Read More

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Rating: - Buy this haunting CD immediately
I wasn't sure I even liked this album when I first purchased it, but after the 3rd play of the CD, I was a born-again convert (as are about 6 of my friends who have heard it since its purchase).
I have 2 older vinyl albums but they are so far removed from this CD I wasn't sure what to expect.
Not only is Louise's voice wonderful (just like her mom's - Carole King), so is her backup band. The combination of the voice and the music are what make this CD so sensational. In the words of a friend ... Read More

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Rating: - Mascarra at the 7-11
Louise Goffin's return to CD works well. The title tune's breezy melody masks an intricate lyric, "Summertime comes; it's hotter than heaven; she picks up her mascarra at the 7-11; there's a lot going on but nothing is happening; make your acquaintance; she's high maintenance." "Instant Photo" opens with a scratchy old record sound and has a distinctive guitar part that's oddly addictive. "I Can't Remember Why" is an early memory song with a very simple kindergarten-like melody that works well. "Sleep ... Read More