Album of the day: Vanessa Carlton

Most people remember Vanessa Carlton for her massively successful track ‘A thousand miles’ but I have to say I’m in love with her 2nd album more than the first and I constantly go back to it and fall in love with it all over again.

It’s funny how an album that fell flat on it’s face could evoke such a strong response; I have no doubt I’m not the only one. Sadly I think that the only reason her career went from mainstream to indie (yes, she’s still going; yes you should listen to her later stuff because WOW) is due to the sexist music industry. She was censored due to her lyrics; filled with many poetic references to sex (Shock! Horror! A woman talking about sex), MTV didn’t like it, the record label didn’t like it. Bad day for everyone needing to cash a pay cheque.

The track listing is as follows:

Standard edition

“White Houses” (Vanessa Carlton, Stephan Jenkins) – 3:45
“Who’s to Say” (Carlton, Jenkins) – 4:51
“Annie” (Carlton, Jenkins) – 4:48
“San Francisco” (Carlton) – 4:12
“Afterglow” (Carlton) – 3:56
“Private Radio” (Carlton, Jenkins) – 2:59
“Half a Week Before the Winter” (Carlton) – 3:27
“C’est La Vie” (Carlton) – 2:34
“Papa” (Carlton) – 2:39
“She Floats” (Carlton) – 5:00
“The Wreckage” (Carlton) (Hidden track) – 2:17

Personally, if I were making a suggestion (Hint; I am) I’m say listen to 1, 5 and 10 as they may be the most commercial and melodically delicious and then every single song after that because this album is lyrically, melodically and thematically diverse and intricate. I listen to the piano and I’m blown away.

Like many albums I have intertwined this with memories; for me this album reminds me of reading Twilight. It must have been in 2005 when it was first published and all of the songs just take me back to all the feeeeels. Yes, I think Twilight is a great book, I’m not ashamed – YA fantasy romance fiction is what I’m all about.

So take this as a recommendation and listen to her other albums as well if you like ethereal singing and piano stuffs!

Sam