Vanessa Carlton: Heroes & Thieves Album Review

 While I wait for Vanessa Carlton's "Liberman" album to be release, I'll review her third album "Heroes & Thieves".  Vanessa started recording the album when she went into the studio to work with Linda Perry and The Matrix for a re-release of her second album, "Harmonium".  The re-release didn't happen as she left the label after promotion for the album ended.  She would later sign a new record deal with "The Inc. Records" and release "Heroes & Thieves".  She worked on the album with Linda Perry and her ex-boyfriend Stephan Jenkins, the lead singer of "Third Eye Blind".  Here's my track by track review:

1) Nolita Fairytale: The first single from the album.  The song was originally just called "Fairytale" and talked Vanessa's life in Nolita.  The video showed a few fairytale characters as well as Vanessa paying homage to her first video "A Thousand Miles" in the beginning of the video where she sits down to play the piano and it begins to move.  The difference is the she does since for a few short seconds before she stops playing, gets up and leaves while the piano is destroyed by a car.  Great song and video.  10/10

2) Hands on Me: The second and unfortunately final single from the album.  It was originally titled "Put Your Hands on Me" but the titled was shorted because "Joss Stone" had a song with the exact same title on her album, "Introducing Joss Stone".  It's a beautiful love song and it had a simple, but great, music video.  10/10

3) Spring Street: This song is a little bit more serious than the first two songs.  In the song, the narrator talks about their life throughout the years.  For example in the first verse she goes to spring street with a suitcase as she leaves her mother, while in the third verse the narrator is now a mother with child of her own.  It took a couple listens to like it.  I can relate to the lyric, "And everything changes and friends become strangers", which makes me wanna cry sometimes.  10/10

4) My Best: This song is about the aftermath of a relationship.  In this one the narrator says that while they didn't work out, the narrator wishes them well.  A real departure from how Vanessa was when she released "C'est la Vie".  The song is pretty good but it doesn't stand out as much as the other songs on the album do.  8/10

5) Come Undone: This song about being in love with someone who makes you feel comfortable to tell them everything without feeling judged.  Loved the song from the first listen, I especially love the instrumental parts in the beginning and the end of the song.  10/10

6) The One (featuring Stevie Nicks): This was the first song I had heard that had Stevie Nicks on it.  Keep in mind I listened to mainly mainstream music at the time.  Anyway, the song was inspired by a conversation Vanessa had with Stevie about relationships and the search for "the one".  Stevie sings background on this song and it would've been cool to see a video for it.  10/10

7) Heroes & Thieves: The title track track and my favorite song on the album.  Because the song was performed as much as the singles from this album were, it makes me believe that this would've been the third single had Vanessa not left the label after promotion for the album was done.  The song is about not being able to tell who the heroes are and who the thieves are.  Very relatable song.  Wish it was a single.  10/10

8) This Time: This song took me awhile to like it.  The song is about trying to keep a relationship going when it's not working but you don't want to give up on it.  I like it but sometimes I feel it's a little too long.  9/10

9) Fools Like Me: I love this song.  The song talks about loving someone despite knowing it'll end badly.  I think everyone can relate to this song.  I wish it was a single!  10/10

10) Home: This was almost the second single from the album before "Hands on Me" was chosen instead.  The song is a beautiful ballad about how someone makes you feel like you're home when you're with them.  I love the song, especially the instrumental part at the end.  10/10

11) More Than This: I went through a couple years of ignoring this song before I listened to it.  I feel bad for ignoring it when it's a great song.  The verses made me sad at first but I like it a lot more now.  Her dog also barks at the end of the song, which was very surprising.  Vanessa also performed a stripped down version of the song for the album "Songs for Tibet".  10/10

 Like I mentioned for the review of the song, "Heroes & Thieves" Vanessa left "The Inc. Records" after promotion for the album ended.  It's a shame because the album is amazing and is my favorite album from her.  I love all the songs on the album.  Out of 110 points I give the album 107 which 97%, an A+.  Vanessa Carlton's fifth album, "Liberman", will be released later this year.  Thank for reading this review and I hope you liked it!

Vanessa Carlton: Harmonium Album Review

 In 2004 Vanessa Carlton released her second album, "Harmonium".  The album was darker than her first album "Be Not Nobody", in fact the album was almost called "Pleased to Meet You: Vanessa Carlton, the New American Goth".  Wow that's a mouthful.  Here is my track by track review:

1) White Houses: The first single from the album and the only single to be released in the U.S.  The song only peaked at number 86 though, this was due to the song not being played on radio much because it was a "coming of age" song about a girl losing her virginity.  They played songs like "Slow Motion" and "Lean Back" during those days but "White Houses barely got any airplay?  What has this world come to?  The song was the only single to have a video.  10/10

2) Who's to Say: Many people don't know this, but this was the third and final single from the album.  It was only released in Asia though.  The song is about being in a relationship that everyone disapproves of.  Many people can relate to this, especially teenagers.  Wish it had a video.  10/10

3) Annie: Vanessa wrote this song after she met a girl on tour who had leukemia.  It is a beautiful song but it's hard to listen to sometimes because it's sad.  A beautifully sad song.  9/10

4) San Francisco: I still find it hard to believe that her label at the time felt that there wasn't a song on this album that could be a hit on radio, when this amazing song is on the album.  If it was a single then it would've put the album back in the charts.  This song feels like it could've been on "Be Not Nobody" and it makes me cry sometimes.  10/10

5) Afterglow: I usually ignore this song.  Not because it's bad or anything like that, it just doesn't jump out to me.  Oddly enough this was one of Vanessa's favorites on the album.  The song is about letting go of your anger.  8/10

6) Private Radio: The second single from the album.  It was initially set to be the first single from the album but it was changed for unknown reasons.  When I first heard it I instantly loved it.  I was surprised when I found it was about insomnia.  Great song that should've been a hit!  10/10

7) Half a Week Before the Winter: This is my favorite song on the album.  It's also a very dark song.  Anyone can relate to this for example the lyric "the unicorns are riding high, powerful in coats of white" are the entertainers, actors, jocks, etc. and lyric later "the vampires are growing tired, the coats of white will turn to red", the vampires being the people that want to see them fail.  The song is basically about survival of the fittest.  While the it's strange to have the song be called "Half a Week Before the Winter" when it doesn't really represent the song, I still love the song and wish it had a video.  10/10

8) C'est la Vie: No this isn't a cover of "B*Witched's" song.  Vanessa wrote the song after being dumped and to her the term "c'est la vie" at the time meant "f*** it".  It actually means "that's life" but the song is great so doesn't matter.  10/10

9) Papa: I thought the song was called "Plastic Love" for awhile.  Vanessa has said that the song isn't about her father and it was about, in her words, "a different kind of daddy".  Hmmmm.  Interesting.  The song is good but I wish it was longer.  10/10

10) She Floats: This song is another dark song.  Both musically and lyrically.  I read someone that Vanessa wrote it from the perspective of someone who has passed away.  Very creepy.  The screams also freaked me out when I first heard it.  The song is the longest song on the album at 5 whole minutes.  8/10

11) Where the Streets Have No Name: From a dark song to a more upbeat song.  If you bought the Japanese version of this album, then you got this song as a bonus track.  It is cover that was originally performed by "U2".  It's very uplifting and positive and a great rendition of the song.  10/10

12) The Wreckage: This song is a hidden track on the album.  Vanessa wrote this song about wanting to start a car crash.  Well if does that I hope she's able to pay for the damages.  Yes that was a bad attempt to be funny when the song is a little dark.  8/10

 While Vanessa had more control on this album then the last one, her label wasn't happy with it.  This led to the label barely promoting it which in turn led to poor album sales.  After this, her then label, A&M Records, told her to go back to the studio to write some "hit songs for radio so they could release a re-release of the album.  She initially did go and wrote songs with Linda Perry (who's written for Christina Aguilera and P!nk) and The Matrix (who worked with Avril  Lavigne) she later had a "revelation" and left the label after promotion for the album.  It's an amazing and it's a shame it didn't get the attention it deserved.  I love all the songs and the album.  Out of 120 points I give the album 113 points which is 94%, an A.  Thank you for reading this review and I hope you like it!

Vanessa Carlton: Be Not Nobody Album Review

 Today I'll be reviewing Vanessa Carlton's first album, "Be Not Nobody".  It's strange to think it's been almost 13 years since the album was released.  It's also strange that I still have no idea why the album was titled "Be Not Nobody".  If anyone knows why then please let me know in the comments.  Anyway here's my track by track review:

1) Ordinary Day: The second single from the album.  I mentioned in my review for Vanessa Carlton's "Icon: Best of Vanessa Carlton" that the song was originally called "Divide and Conquer" because of a lyric that the song initially had before being changed.  The song is Vanessa's second, and to date last, single to reach the top 40 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.  One of my favorites on the album.  10/10

2) Unsung: From start to finish the song is amazing.  I wish it was released as the fourth single from the album.  It's about wanting to say what you feel without feeling judged.  I think we can all relate to that.  10/10

3) A Thousand Miles: The first single from the album and to date Vanessa's most successful single.  Like, "Ordinary Day", I reviewed this song on my review of Vanessa Carlton's "Icon: Best of Vanessa Carlton" and I mentioned there that the song was originally titled, "Interlude" but it was changed before it became a single.  10/10

4) Pretty Baby: The third and final single from the album.  The song was remixed for a single release.  Not sure why it was remixed but both versions are great.  The remixed version of the single was included on some versions of the album once it was released.  Like "Ordinary Day" and "A Thousand Miles" I reviewed this song when I reviewed Vanessa Carlton's "Icon: Best of Vanessa Carlton".  The song failed to hit the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, which is sad because it was a great choice for a single.  10/10

5) Rinse: When Vanessa was first signed to a record label, she recorded an album called, "Rinse".  The album was never released but five of the songs from "Be Not Nobody" (including this track, obviously) were originally on "Rinse".  This song is about not wanting but needing to "rinse away" a relationship that needs to be finished.  The song has a haunting sound to it.  9/10

6) Sway: I really like this song.  It took me awhile to figure out what the song was about though.  Apparently the song is about a person in a relationship saying one thing but then doing another and it upsets the other person.  And to think when I first heard it I thought it was a happy song.  Boy, was I wrong.  9/10

7) Paradise: I usually skip this song.  I'm listening to the song as I type this review and I have to say it' pretty good.  It's a sad ballad and hopefully it'll grow on me.  6/10

8) Prince: This song should've been called "Willing and Able" because the word, "Prince" is only heard once.  The song is okay, but it doesn't stand out to me on the album at all.  5/10

9) Paint It Black: This is the only song that Vanessa did not write.  This is because it is cover of "The Rolling Stones" song that was a hit back in the '60's.  Vanessa does a pretty good job of covering the song.  I heard her version of the song before I heard the original.  Great song.  10/10

10) Wanted: This song shows off Vanessa's amazing piano skills.  The song is also pretty good.  I wasn't a fan of the song at first but after a couple listens I liked it.  It's about wanting to be "more than wanted".  9/10

11) Twilight: Like "Ordinary Day", "A Thousand Miles", and "Pretty Baby" I reviewed this song in my review for Vanessa Carlton's "Icon: Best of Vanessa Carlton".  With that being said I still haven't listened to this track that much.  I do like the ending of the song though.  7/10

 To this day, "Be Not Nobody" is still Vanessa Carlton's most successful album.  Vanessa's fifth album, "Liberman" will be released later this year and I can not wait!  My favorite songs on the album are: "Unsung", "Ordinary Day", "A Thousand Miles", "Pretty Baby", "Paint It Black", "Sway", "Rinse", and "Wanted".  Out of 110 points I give the album 95 point which is 86%, a B+.  Thank you reading this review and I apologize for it coming so late at night.  I'll try to type one up earlier tomorrow.  Hope you liked this review!

Vanessa Carlton: Rabbits On the Run Album Review

 A month ago, I reviewed Vanessa Carlton's "Icon: Best of Vanessa Carlton".  Today I'll be reviewing her fourth album, "Rabbits on the Run".  "Rabbits on the Run" was released four years after Vanessa's third album, "Heroes & Thieves" and was musically a little different.  Here's my track by track review.

1) Carousel: The first single from the album.  Out of all the songs on the album, this song feels like it could've been on "Heroes & Thieves".  The album's title comes from a lyric in the song, "Time won't wait so don't be late, white rabbits on the run".  I think it was a perfect choice to be  the first single.  10/10

2) I Don't Want to Be a Bride: Kind of an ironic title for a song now that she's married.  In this song Vanessa talks about not wanting to be a bride and would rather skip to the ever after part.  Personally I feel the same way, except that I'm a guy.  It was released as the second single but a video was not made or released.  10/10

3) London: When I got the album i ignored this song.  And almost three years later I still ignore it sometimes.  The song has my favorite lyric on the album, "and I've never been so sure, that after all these years I'll never learn."  7/10

4) Fairweather Friend: Out of all of the songs on this album, this one is the one I relate to the most.  Rumors are that the song is about her ex-boyfriend, Stephan Jenkins from the band Third Eye Blind, who co-wrote a lot of the songs on her "Harmonium" album.  10/10

5) Hear the Bells: When I first heard the song I thought it was an outtake from her "Harmonium" album since it sounded so dark.  It was released as the third and final single from the album.  Since Vanessa's label was unable to do a video for "I Don't Want to Be a Bride", "Hear the Bells" got a video instead.  This is also why "Hear the Bells" is seen as the second single from the album.  The video for the song didn't really match what the song was talking about though.  But I guess a weird video is better than no video.  10/10

6) Dear California: Before the album was released, this song was rumored to be the third single.  At that time I hated the song.  Nowadays I listen to it a lot and I love it.  It probably would've been a hit if it was released as a single.  10/10

7) Tall Tales for Spring: Before the album was titled "Rabbits on the Run", it was called "Tall Tales for Spring" which would've made this the title track.  The title was changed though in the end.  It's very different from the rest of the songs on the album, especially with it's hook being "madness, madness" which sums up what the track is.  7/10

8) Get Good: Unlike most of her songs, which are more piano driven, "Get Good" starts out on a guitar.  It's a great change and it's a good song to listen to if you're having a bad day or if you're depressed.  10/10

9) Marching Line: I used to love this song at first.  In fact when I got the album it was one of my five favorite songs on the album, but over the years it has gotten a little boring.  8/10

10 In the End: Like "The Last Song" on Hilary Duff's self-titled "Hilary Duff" album, "In the End serves more as an outro than a song.  It's a very dark and it's also hard to hear Vanessa's beautiful voice on this.  5/10

 Despite it getting positive reviews from critics, the singles from "Rabbits on the Run" failed to chart, which is a shame because it's a great album.  My favorite songs on the album are "Fairweather Friend", "Hear the Bells", "Get Good", "Dear California", and "Carousel".  Out of 100 points I give the album 87 which is 87%, a B+.  Vanessa's working on her fifth album and hopefully it'll be released this year!

Vanessa Carlton: Icon: Best of Vanessa Carlton Album Review

 In 2002, we introduced to the amazing, piano-playing, songstress Vanessa Carlton when she released her debut single, "A Thousand Miles".  The song became a huge hit and to date is Vanessa's best selling single.  Since then she's released many singles, a couple albums, and has signed to many different labels.  Today I'll be reviewing Vanessa Carlton's album, "Icon: Best of Vanessa Carlton".  Here's my track by track review of the album.

1) A Thousand Miles: The debut single by Vanessa Carlton from her first album "Be Not Nobody".  Before it was released as a single, the song was initially called "Interlude", until Ron Fair, the head of A&M Records (which was the label Vanessa Carlton was signed to at the time), told her to change the title.  Like I said earlier, the song became her biggest hit to date peaking at number 5 on the billboard hot 100.  The song's video involved Vanessa playing the piano while it moved around different parts of the world.  Still an amazing song to this day.  10/10

2) Ordinary Day: The second single from Vanessa's first album "Be Not Nobody".  The song was initially called "Divide and Conquer" and had a different lyrics at the end of the chorus.  The original ending lyrics of the chorus were "If we walk now, we will divide and conquer this land." (Hence the original title for the song).  The final version of the song has the ending lyrics of the chorus as "Don't you see your dreams lie right in the palm of you hand", but Vanessa has sang the "Divide and Conquer" part of the song in some live performances.  "Ordinary Day" is Vanessa's second best selling single as well as her second, and to date, only other single hitting the top 40 on the billboard hot 100 chart by peaking at number 30.  The video featured a solar eclipse while Vanessa played the piano in a field with many people hugging and kissing.  The song is my favorite on "Be Not Nobody".  10/10

3) White Houses: The first single from Vanessa's second album "Harmonium".  Unlike the previous songs, "White Houses" wasn't as successful.  This was attributed to her label, A&M, refusing to promote the single as well as the album because it was much darker in contrast to Vanessa's first record.  On top of that some radio stations censored the song's lyrics, not because of swear words (because there weren't any) but because the song talked about a woman losing her virginity.  I get it, not something people want to hear on radio but considering the songs that get played on radio these days and even back then I have to say it was unfair for the song.  The video showed Vanessa playing the piano as well as doing ballet dancing.  The song peaked at number 86 on the charts.  Sad because it was a great song.  10/10

4) Heroes & Thieves: The title track from Vanessa's third album, "Heroes & Thieves".  The album was Vanessa's first, and only album, to be released through The Inc., a record company she signed to after leaving A&M Records.  The song was not released a single which makes it strange that it would be put on a "Best of" record, but it makes sense since she hadn't released many singles.  Plus the song was rumored to be the third single from the album since she performed it many times.  I love the lyrics and I wish it had a video.  10/10

5) Nolita Fairytale: The first single from Vanessa's third album, "Heroes & Thieves".  The song's initial title was just "Fairytale" but it was changed to "Nolita Fairytale instead.  It was Vaness's first single released through The Inc. and mentioned her leaving her previous record label A&M as well as thanking Stevie Nicks, who she went on tour with.  The video began almost exactly like "A Thousand Miles" except that she stopped playing the piano and the piano got destroyed by a moving car.  It also featured a man with butterfly wings, a wolf, and a policeman riding a unicorn.  This was also the song that got me listening to Vanessa Carlton.  10/10

6) Who's to Say: An album track from Vanessa's second album, "Harmonium".  Although "White Houses" was recognized as the only single from "Harmonium" in the U.S., "Who's to Say" was actually the third and final single from the album in Asia.  The song asks the question "who's to say we can or can't be together?".  I really wish her label at the time gave this song a chance because it's a beautiful song that would've been a hit on radio.  10/10

7) Home: An album track from Vanessa's third album, "Heroes & Thieves".  The song was one of two songs to be the second single from "Heroes & Thieves" along with "Hands on Me".  Eventually "Hands on Me" became the second single instead.  When I got the album "Heroes & Thieves", I ignored the song but these days I listen to almost all the time.  I love the piano part at the end of the song.  It's very uplifting and inspiring.  10/10

8) San Francisco: An album track from Vanessa's second album, "Harmonium".  After "White Houses" failed on the charts, Vanessa was told to write and record songs for a re-release of "Harmonium" because there apparently was a "radio hit" on the album.  I find that funny considering "San Francisco" was probably the one song from "Harmonium" that sounded the most like something that could've been on "Be Not Nobody", so it probably would've been a hit.  Instead of a re-release of "Harmonium" Vanessa left A&M records.  Shame the label didn't release this song.  10/10

9) Pretty Baby: The third and final single from Vanessa's first album, "Be Not Nobody".  The song was remixed for radio when it was released.  Unfortunately unlike "A Thousand Miles" and "Ordinary Day", the song failed to gain the same chart success.  The video also showed a different side of Vanessa by tying her boyfriend to a chair.  CRAZY!  The version that's included on this album is the original album version from "Be Not Nobody".  10/10

10) Hands On Me: The second and final single from Vanessa's third album, "Heroes & Thieves".  The song was originally called "Put Your Hands on Me" but was shorted to "Hands on Me" because Joss Stone had a song with the same title.  "Hands on Me" performed better than "Nolita Fairytale" but it also missed the billboard hot 100.  After promotion ended Vanessa left The Inc. and later signed onto Razor & Tie.  It's video was very simple.  10/10

11) Twilight: An album track from Vanessa's first album, "Be Not Nobody".  I question why this track was picked for the album instead of "Wanted", "Rinse," Sway", or her cover of The Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black."  The song was the last song on "Be Not Nobody" and was also the darkest (which may have been a clue to why "Harmonium" was so dark as well).  Although it has great lyrics I mainly ignore this track.  7/10

12) Private Radio: An album track from Vanessa's second album, "Harmonium".  "Private Radio" was supposed to be the lead single from "Harmonium" but for unknown reasons that was scrapped.  Instead "Private Radio" was released as the second single in Asia, but it didn't perform very well because of lack of promotion.  (No surprise since A&M barely promoted the album at all.)  The song was an upbeat song that talked about insomnia.  It's one of my favorite songs on "Harmonium" but it took me forever to figure out the lyrics she sings in between the chorus at the end of the song.  10/10

 Overall, Icon: Best of Vanessa Carlton gets 117 points out of 120 which is a 0.975 which rounded up to a 98% an A+.  Awesome job!  My favorite songs on the album are... well all of them!  Although the album its self doesn't offer anything new, it's still good to have if your a die-hard Vanessa Carlton fan.

 After this album was released, Vanessa released her fourth album, "Rabbits on the Run" and it ended up being another great album.  She's now working on her fifth album and I can't wait!  Vanessa you rule!