Music : Sometimes a Circle

In association with Amazon.com

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

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 they're great.
"Instant Photo", the second single, is so catchy, I don't know why it's not a top 40 hit.
"I Can't Remember Why" is my personal favorite. I love the key change from verse to chorus, which is both surprising and beautiful.
I could review each and every song but, somebody once said, "writing about music is like dancing about architecture." ...or something like that. The point is: Buy the record. I Loved IT. Maybe you will too.

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 that just heard it this weekend - "What a haunting album". After trying to fall asleep the other night, all that was going through my head were several of the songs from this album. Couldn't think of a word to describe it until my friend made that comment. You will not waste your money on the purchase of this superb CD.

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 With Me Instead" is a soft samba-like track punctuated with the trill of a clarinet, "With Frank Sinatra singing and you stretched out on my bed, like I said...sleep with me instead." Heavy bass thumps on the midtempo toe-tapper "What If I Were Talkin' To Me," "More than a little syncopated recreation just don't seem to give me what I need." Beautiful background vocals dress the pop track "Only Water." "Saved by the Bell" is a whimsical track where changing tempos give a rootless feel. "Just Bone & Breath" is a track with stops & starts. "Clicking to the Next Slide" is a dreamy track with the slightly disjointed song construction giving the feel like looking at different scenes in a slide show. "Light in Your Eyes" is one of my favorites on the CD with a pretty melody and a soft jazz feel. "What a Waste of a Perfectly Good Hotel Room" is sweet pop fluff, "I'm lonely with this loaded rental car." The CD concludes with a wispy mood piece "Quiet Anesthesia." Louise Goffin seems to be adventurously experimenting. It works more often than not. I hope Dreamworks sticks with her and allows us to hear more from this talented singer.

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