Vanessa Carlton - Liberman

Vanessa Carlton
Liberman
2015

"A Thousand Miles" was a gigantic smash pop hit for Vanessa Carlton (prepare to feel old) over 14 years ago. That kind of pop success can lead to follow ups that attempt to re-create that magic and more often than not fall flat. Following the same formula however is not what Carlton is about and clearly not what Liberman is either. This album is much more ethereal than anything Carlton has done in the past. It resides much more on the Indie side of things than pop, there really is not even a "real" pop song on the record. The song writing is also much more Of Monsters and Men than it is Taylor Swift. While her Indie cred may not be on super solid ground, this album should greatly help that. It has a light quality, consisting of Carlton's voice echoed almost throughout like singing into an empty room. The record also is very bare, there is very little in terms of instrumentation of production, but it never sounds acoustic of coffee house-esque, quite a feat for a record like this. On songs like "Unlock the Lock" we can hear her struggling with who she has become and what she wants to do, we are bearing witness to a person's development as a artist rather than their struggle to remain relevant.

The one issue with the album is perhaps it's just how slow it is. There is really no point except maybe on "River" where the album really kicks into any gear other than easy. There are times where a crescendo or some change of pace would be nice, but that moment never really comes. Also the effect on Carlton's voice (echo) is the exact same on each track which does create a nice tone, but you lose a richness and real power that we know her voice can have. You want her to let something lose, to break the dower nature of this record if only for a moment but you never get it. That constraint is quite pleasing for awhile but 10 tracks of it is a bit much. This is probably one of those really great albums that no one will listen to, which is quite unfortunate. Buck the trend and go listen to the musician that Vanessa Carlton has become, you'll be better for it.

7.2 out of 10