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EDIT INFOBeth Orton - Central Reservation
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Album Details
- Artist: Beth Orton
- Album: Central Reservation
- Label: Arista
- Year of Release: 1999
- ME Rating:
- Reviewed by: dscanland on 2003-03-31
RecommendBeth Orton is a bit of an anomoly for Arista. Amongst all their R&B stuff lies this beautiful songstress like a rose in rock garden. Maybe best known for her singing on Chemical Brothers' albums but should get recognized for her own talent instead. A few songs remind me very much of an Edie Brickell type of singer. She sounds a little more classy. Her songwriting is world class and her voice is calm and soothing. Achingly solemn songs provide the perfect soundtrack for a rainy day.
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on 2012-01-15 CharlesMartel Said:
Beth Orton hails from deepest Norfolk in the UK, not somewhere which has been noted for its production of great musicians. Too much farming going on I suspect. It would hardly come as a surprise then to find Beth Orton's music is identified very much with a folkish countrified sound, laid back and rather soothing. Thankfully, on " Central Reservation" , she has stuck to that sort of sound and all the better for it, I might add.
Her previous offering, " Trailer Park" was something which, in retrospect, seems a departure from the feeling and sense of most of her work. On " Central Reservation" she has dispensed with the synthesisers and the trip-hop beats and the other unnecessary appendages which detracted from her singing and her songwriting, and returned to a much simpler format, dominated by an acoustic guitar or piano. And all the better for it! For one thing it removes her from that awful label chick rock which is applied to so many others like Liz Phair or Alanis Morrissette.
Some of the songs on here are delightful, most notably "Stolen Car" . Orton's voice is mellow and soothing and perfectly suited to such a track. Other tracks, notably "Blood Red River" and " Stars All Seem to Weep " follow in creating a similar feeling. Orton has indeed a beautiful voice. Perhaps she needs to branch out a bit more with it because sometimes the songs on the album can all sound a little samey. This can be something of a problem, especially when you realise that some of the tracks on this album hang around for an awfully long time. If you are going to make something which lasts over seven minutes it had better be interesting or people are going to switch off.
"Central Reservation" is, then, an album which will chill you out and relax you, something in welcome contrast to her debut. Everyone needs an album like this in their collection and while it is never going to be top of anybody's list of favourite albums, it should always be there for those moments when relaxation is a priority. I have heard the term Starbucks music given to " Central Reservation" , something I am not familiar with but feel sure it is mildly derogagtory. If so, that is a shame for their nothing to dislike about this and if you enjoy listening to it with a warm cup of coffee then who cares?
Rating: 7/10
