Reviews (page 3 of 8)
Ok
Normally I listen to an album from this list when I’m in a position to focus on it, like commuting. As I listened to this one at Easter, when staying with family, I didn’t have time to do so and listened to it whilst spending time with them. The wonder of headphones. I’m very glad I did. If I gave this album my undivided attention it might have gotten a 1 star. In an hour-long runtime I cannot pluck out any specific tune, lyric, or feeling. It’s like sticking your hand into the ocean; the water brushes past you. This album to me was entirely forgettable, it simply didn’t do anything with its time. I am not opposed to this sort of music inherently, a lyricist and a guitar have done wonders before, looking at someone like Nick Drake, but here it feels very hollow. Slim this album down, put some more energy into a song or two to break it up. Not an album as much as a single stretched out over an hour, and I don’t think it will chart.
I’ve been on vacation with the family for spring break so maybe I didn’t give this the full attention it deserve but nothing here grabbed. Got my hopes up for some trip-hop but that never played out.
A soft, folky album, with a few electronic elements, and a great sound!
Type of music you'd hear at a college town coffee shop
I like her voice a lot and the album was solid. Really fits perfectly, sound-wise, into the time period that it was released.
Singer songwriter
Kinda boring, maybe need another listen.
Average as it comes. It's laid back, nothing truly stands out.
Really good. I love her vocals but a little long
im a feminist but i think we can do better than this. indie rock shoe gaze sounds best in a k hole
I personally enjoyed her earlier album, "Trailer Park", a bit more. This album features a more traditional Singer-Songwriter aesthetic, as opposed to "Trailer Park"s more uptempo (edging towards Trip-Hop) vibe. Still, a worthwhile effort.
This is at least the third time I've given this album a chance and it still does nothing for me. Stolen Car is really good, but everything else is just blah.
I would have given this a 1 but she did at one point collaborate with my arch enemy, Nick Cave. So that will bring her rating down to a -423513. The providing rating system is much more limiting than that so I'll have to go with a 1
I went into this totally blind having never heard of Beth Orton or knowing what kind of music she performed. Early on I was thinking a 3 but this album grew on me and I enjoyed it. I'd listen to this again.
Dit is oprecht het meest achtergrondmuziekachtige album ooit.
Ok so this one grew on me. Started out thinking this was gonna be boring but the lyricism and her voice are really nice. Pass in time and Blood red river were the standouts
Not terrible, not for me. Maybe with a couple more listens it would resonate.
To co-opt a line from the Rifleman’s creed: THIS IS TODAYS ALBUM. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS JUST LIKE THIS ALBUM, BUT THIS ONE IS TODAYS. WITHOUT ANOTHER 90s COFFEE SHOP ALBUM I AM USELESS, WITHOUT ME JUST ANOTHER 90s COFFEE SHOP ALBUM IS USELESS.
Really, really lovely. This is one I'll probably come back to a lot. I struggle with albums like this, wanting to give them 5s simply because I see nothing wrong with them and I enjoyed them so much. But, there is something to be said when an album is completely inoffensive. Not a lot of pushing the envelope going on here. Still so solid though. Why Beth Orton isn't talked about in the same breath as Norah Jones and Natalie Merchant, I have no clue.
weird little ladies are my favorite kind
Between Beth Orton and Dido I feel as if folksy sounding women singing beaitifully over lo-fi beats was having a bit of a moment in 1999 That said I do think Dido is better if you're into this type of music, but I did enjoy Central Reservation and will probably listen to it more
Notes of REM on this folky electronic album. I liked it a lot, but nothing is a hit single for me. I can definitely see putting this on when I have to kill 7 hours in the car and don’t want to try to convince my wife to listen to Pup’s the dream is over again.
Chill, nice, really good. I love this and will definitely listen to more by Beth Orton.
I’ve already had this album. I thought there weren’t supposed to be any repeats!
Wouldn't have listened on my own. It was mellow and worth the listen.
This one and Trailer Park are my favorite of her albums.
I don't even need to re-listen to this album. One of my faves of all time. Memories flood back... 2 in a row: 5 "I can't get enough of great music" stars.
Kinda dug it, very of the moment style album though
Good voice, but songs a bit same-y.
Like walking through quicksand.
Beth Orton’s voice is a bit of an acquired taste, I guess. But I’ve acquired it. I probably haven’t kept up, but her first three albums at least are downright excellent—smart and engaging.
No my cuppa. I'm not a fan of the style - vocal and musical, embraced in this album. The songs don't feel strong enough, and it's very down tempo, with little reward.
Pretty good. Stolen Car and Stars All Seem To Weep were my favorites. Very atmospheric even with just a few instruments. However, most of the album didn't stick with me that much. 5.2/10
Not bad!
Pretty enjoyable. Some weak tracks. Wouldn't really revisit the album as a whole but don't regret listening
Surprisingly amazing.
#883. This is the kind of music they play at the mall. 3/5: acceptable
Kind of music Wendy puts on in the car and you never hear again.
Enjoyed this. Gentle ride, some cool instrumentation and timbres, great voice, mix of genres/influences. Did taper a bit for the 2nd half tho 7 / 10 Best track/s: Central Reservation, Stolen Car, Couldn't Cause Me Harm
Another one that slipped past me in the 90s. Very enjoyable listen overall. Melancholy and breezy vocals throughout
This was a really enjoyable listen - strong songs with an interesting sound. The 2nd half of the album (excluding the last song) did get a little “same-y” sounding and was more traditional folk vs the really interesting “folktronica” from the earlier part of the album, but they were still good songs with strong writing.
I saw the genre being stated as "Folktronica", I was intrigued and excited. Largely lived up to the expectations. Enjoyed it, might return!
Stolen car is a great opening track
Album that likes to genre hop a bit, but sticks the landing really well for the most part. Fan of the more rock oriented tracks which have great hooks. 8/10.
Pretty strong standouts, stays good throughout and the variety is much appreciated. Favourite track: Central Reservation
8.5/10 This is my first time listening to Beth Orton and I'm really loving it. Her vocals really shine over the simple quiet instrumentals, especially the last few songs. Also I have to mention the beautiful singing on Pass In Time (with guest vocals by Terry Callier), definitely my favorite song on the album.
i LIKE HER VOICE
✨ Fine.
Nice surprise this one, not heard her much before, enjoyed this album, beautiful voice, I’ll listen again.
I had never heard of Beth Orton before, but I instantly loved this album. It was very Natalie Merchant/Suzanne Vega/Bjork, and I love all of them. Orton has a really unique way of singing and the writing, arrangement and production were are spot on. I listened to this album twice and probably would have gone for a third go-round if I hadn't run out of time to listen. Five stars.
light folk pop informed by the trip hop of the 90s. fairly dull at times but overall, a nice vibe for a rainy morning. i like Orton's voice, which stands nicely against the artificial production. production that honestly doesn't flatter the folk pop palette. now, going for folktronica is fine, i just wish this committed more to either side. ends up just kind of bland and middling. deserves to be one of the 1001? Terry Callier's on it. it'd be cool if What Color is Love was included. i'll shoutout Modal Soul too since it's one of my favorite albums of all time. but this? this i could live without hearing.
Not my kind of music, but how not to fall in love with this voice? 4 stars.
Not my thing
Pretty music but her voice got really obnoxious. Like Dido type of obnoxious. A lot of it sounded the same but worked for the album since it felt like a story I couldn’t really read well.
Lowkey contemplative.
I enjoyed it, would maybe listen to a couple of tracks again. 3/5
Sounded good but the vocals were a bit hard to hear/understand.
I liked this quite a bit. 3.5
So, the generator allowed me to go from oh no, another 1990s indie artist I couldn’t be bothered with to amazing, sounds like Joni Mitchell, what lovely songs. Cheers generator!
Reading a little around Orton's album before embarking on the listening journey, it appeared that her music would be up my street (with that 'folktronica' label that springs to mind Joan Baez, Boygenius, Bess Atwell). Yet, the first few songs almost felt disappointing in the face of this expectation I had set up in my head. As the album progressed, though, I found myself relaxing into it, enjoying Orton's voice and the calming guitar melodies. Rating: 3.5.
2.5, not my style but she has a beautiful voice
Muito bom, até incorporei no meu acervo pessoal
very chill. just ok
Good but quite samey
Me gusto bastante este album para el dia lluvioso que tuvimos. Su voz se siente bien familiar en ese Y2K femme singer kind of way. Me gustaron mucho mas los arreglos musicales especialmente el piano y las cuerdas de Sweetest Decline que es mi favorita del album. Despues de un rato el album kind of blends out in more of the same sounds sin mucho que resaltar. 3/5
That was nice. Great voice. Enjoyed my time with this one. Actually listened to another of hers, will be back for more.
Didn’t finish it but it was somewhere between Norah jones and Joni Mitchell. Could be just right a chill morning. 7/10
A polished mix of folk, jazz and dance-inflected astral tweaks that won Beth Orton a Brit award and solidified her a role of the queen of post-club wind-down playlists. Enjoyable, but a quick second listen was less engaging.
Скучная шняга
British country? UK Folk? I'm not sure what it is. Sadly it missed me and I probably won't be listening to more of her.
Stars all seem to weep the highlight of a very good record
music I imagine a character would listen to late at night in a period film
It was fine, I recognised a few of the songs.
Me gusto mucho el estilo del disco. Muy tranquilo pero al mismo tiempo profundo y con un sonido con mucho carácter. La voz de Beth Orton es increíble y su trabajo lírico es muy bueno, me gustaron las letras. Los arreglos instrumentales en cada pista hacen toda la diferencia, definitivamente un disco muy bien hecho y sincero. La verdad no lo sentí tan memorable pero lo disfrute mucho y seguro lo escuchare de nuevo completo en algún mood relax. Buen disco.
Eh.
love this. never heard of her before, great discovery. learned from ana she is in a band called heavenly. also fire. fav songs: pass in time, stolen car
Good Lilith fair vibes. Might need another pass through. Feel like the words carry a lot of the significance and that's hard on a first listen
a keening, haunting voice, and some lovely melodies and arrangements
I keep trying to find redeeming qualities in this album but this was just not for me at all. Voice was grating, folky style did not hit today, just everything worked against Beth Orton for me today. Hard to finish, rare 1 star
I had never heard of Beth Orton before, but I really like her voice. It’s fragile and expressive without being overly sweet. That said, the album feels a bit too consistent in tone, with many of the songs sharing a similar dark and restrained mood. I found myself wishing there were more tracks like Stolen Car or Couldn’t Cause Me Harm, where the guitar and rhythm stand out more clearly. Her voice carries much of the atmosphere, but as a full album it feels a little too uniform for me.
Good first song.
I really connected with the soft, soothing Beth Orton's voice and her mellow melodies. I will want to come back to this, for sure.
First time listening to Beth Orton. Excellent voice - harking back to the likes of Alanis Morissette and Dido from the same era - but with much more interesting music to back it up. Still a little too soft for my liking, but an enjoyable listen nonetheless.
Not a fan of it
Bland
I know I listened to this album. I have the records to prove it. I did, in fact, listen to Beth Orton's Central Reservation coming in at just under an hour. But honestly? I can't tell you a darn thing about it. Orton has a remarkabke voice with genuine range, I do remember that. A shame that she didn't really have anything to say here. I would absolutely give her another chance, though, as I should have liked this. Really disapppointed that it was so mid.
I spent this whole time trying to figure out what this sounded like and when the album finished and Fiona Apple started I had an answer. If Fiona Apple did an impression of Sarah McLaughlin with more rock and roll you might have this. It was yes and no for me mostly but when it was over I was disappointed because I had finally started enjoying it.
‘Central Reservation’ is a beautiful blend of folk and electronic textures, all wrapped around Beth Orton’s emotive, vulnerable, intimate voice. The record is further elevated by a stellar cast of collaborators, including Ben Harper, Ben Watt (of Everything But The Girl), Terry Callier, and Dr. John, among others. Hell, someone (Tedd Barnes) even plays bouzouki on track two, ‘Sweetest Decline’. It’s a super lovely, totally unexpected album.
I was feeling the first half but then it kind of fell off for me
Eh three, good songs! But long and pretty samey
There’s parts of this I liked but it dragged on
Highlights include "stolen car" and "all stars seem to weep"
not bad. has some good numbers. very lilith faire. some production is pretty dated. ultimately not my thing.
7/10
not for me
Nice Lilith Fair fare.
Good for chilling
Uptempo songs are good, but I'm not a fan of the more folky ballads.
Pleasant in the background. Nothing special. Just scrapes a 3.
Really enjoyed this, will listen in future.
Nice voice & catchy music. May listen again to focus on the lyrics.
This was better than I expected
I used to listen to this and Trailer Park on fairly heavy rotation a long time ago and have not listened again for a while. Unfortunately I am finding her voice a little whinny and annoying today and the electro backing a little muzacy and cheesy.
Central Reservation Trailer Park is irriguous with memories of Grey, She Cries Your Name in particular, but I’m not sure I’ve listened to this, which feels a bit strange considering how much I listened to TP. This feels very long at nearly an hour, and the ‘folktronica’ of it is so redolent of late 90s dinner party music, and although it sounds and feels different from Tracy Chapman it does share a similar unthreatening placidity to it, a slightly horizontal sense of somniferousness, so much so that I kept finding myself losing interest at points, and particularly over the last 10 or 20 minutes. It starts off brilliantly though with Stolen Car, an excellent track, a great melody and the guitar that sounds like a cello and morse code is fantastic. Sweetest Decline has a nice jazziness to it, even if it does carry the slight flatus of the cocktail bar, but Couldn’t Cause Me Harm is really good, more excellent guitar and another great melody. So Much More is one of the lulls, passing me by on each listen. However the next two songs don’t pass me by; Pass in Time is a lovely duet with a superb string arrangement and the title track is excellent, the pizzicato sounds, strings and guitars supporting the song beautifully. Stars All Seem to Weep is another dip, the whole sound of it feels spiritless and dated, its colourlessness is eye-catchingly mundane, and it’s not surprising that Ben Watt from EBTG produced it, as that is their stock in trade. However, a little like So Much More, it's followed up by a great song, in this case Love Like Laughter, which has a lovely flowing melody and organ line. I think Blood Red River and Devil Song suffer a little from being side by side, they seem to be thematically and sonically commutual, and although they are both good songs, they do contribute to that sense of drift over the back half. I wasn’t keen on the lo-fi sound of Feel to Believe on the first few listens, but it grew on me, the slightly raw and unpolished feel is welcome after the slumberousness of the preceding few tracks. Ben Watt then returns to spray some of his trademark hebetude all over the final track, and although this one fares better than Stars All Seem to Weep, it isn’t a patch on the original version earlier on the album. 10 or 15 minutes shorter (and without the Ben Watt produced tracks) I think it would be an easy 4, even pushing a 5, but at an hour the somnifacient sense of drift does creep in and vaguely diminishes the whole, perhaps even putting it on the threshold of 3 and 4. But, ultimately, there is too much great music on here, particularly in the first half, and her superbly charismatic, agreeably distinctive voice and songwriting skill makes it a 4. 🛣️🛣️🛣️🛣️ Playlist submission: Central Reservation
The album is well summarised by the opening track 'Stolen Car'. A feel of open chords, expansive driving through desert vibes, hypnagogic, and delivered with an unfussy vocal. And yet it doesn't actively capture the attention. There's not much to take issue with, and even less to get excited about. Nevertheless, the general slow-burn mood of the album makes it a pleasant enough listen to balance the scales.
very norah jonesy
Eh
While the music isn't my taste and quite boring in my opinion, her voice was very pleasant to listen to. The songs could have been a bit shorter if you ask me, some were dragging on a bit too long. 3/5
Holy return of divorced mom Pop/rock. Why am I slowly succumbing to the vibes? This is a huge step up from the last 90’s pop record I did on here (Fiona Apple) albeit even more depressing. Never a good look when I resonate with the sad ones. Oh well. This rocks. Blood red river is a banger!
I think I am just tired of this late 90s early 2000s sound. There is a reason why the Cranberries, Boa and Sixpence all stood the test of the time. This is nice and it is well made but is really is bland and I think it starts well and is easy listening but doesn't feel monumental where other albums you can feel the grit. I heard a little of the first record and the Trip hop sound was so interesting why change. Meh will never visit this again
I don't think I registered a single lyric
I quite liked this! Saved a few songs. She sounds like Sinead O’Connor
I tried but this was a very boring album, her vocals are actually really nice and remind me a bit of dido, but all that does is annoy me because it lets me know that I can listen to a more exciting album with just as good vocals and not have to skip through songs.
Was ok, but nothing I would go back to probably.
Fine.
Man, forgot about this one. A nice throwback, beautiful voice and songs.
I liked it.
Meh 2.7
Day767 - a good indie album but i don’t think i’ll add any songs to my library
The Good: One place to take care of all! The Bad: My reservation got lost in the post… The Ugly: The blandness of everything getting centralized… Never heard of Beth before… listened to the album during a train ride… it wasn’t too bad. Yet, the only thing that I remember about this album is that her voice sounds like the cranberries singer to me, and I find that style annoying… There were several songs where she sang “normal” and I wish she’d stick to that style throughout the album. All in all, it is what it is… a central reservation which merits a central rating of 3*
This reminded me of Nora Jones? I think that's the right person I'm thinking of... #BarbaraHowardMoment
90s pop/folk with elements of soft rock. It wasn't terrible but also wasn't very interesting or exciting. Most of the songs felt a bit too long.
Kinda boring
Wow, should have listened to this long ago. Exactly my kind of thing.
2.5, rounded down. Stealing cars was good but the rest was not. Just too much of the same and the production just hurts my ears
It's an easy-listening soft rock kind of album. Reminds me of Dido. The title track (Central Reservation) is the best one, both versions of it. Stolen Car is also decent.
Maybe just a strong 3, but listened to it on a grey Winter day where I was feeling melancholy, and everything seemed both pretty and sad... and this allowed me to wallow in thst mood a bit. So, rounding up.
I know of this album but despite having been released squarely when I would have been all Lilith Fair all the time, and vague memories of this getting really talked up by critics, it ultimately leaves me cold. It's not bad but there's nothing memorable here.
I dug this for a little bit, but then it turned on me. Dig Beth, though. She's awesome. 3
This was a singer songwriter album something that I enjoy. I feel like I would warm upon a relisten to this but thought this was ok
I always mix her up with Beth Gibbons, but I like this better than Portishead. Mixing folk with slight electronics is a winning combination for me! (See also: Beth Gibbons' solo work)
3.5/5
Turns out England does have an answer to Alanis Morissette: Beth Orton. I had never heard of Beth Orton prior to pulling 'Central Reservation' on this list, and now that I've listened to it, I want to hear more! The first song, 'Stolen Car', had me hooked immediately with its trippy electric guitar riff weaving under the folky acoustic rhythm and Orton's incredibly unique vocals sitting nicely in between Morissette and Dolores O'Riordan of The Cranberries. Then things get quieter and folkier on 'Sweetest Decline' and I continue to be impressed by Orton's authenticity and rich musicianship. Apparently, Orton's genre of music has been dubbed 'folktronica' (a mix of folk and electronica), although I would say the folk sound is a bit stronger. I've already compared Orton to Morissette and O'Riordan, but 'Pass In Time' displays a rich Joni Mitchell influence. It could well be my favourite song on this record, and the backing vocals by Terry Callier are a treat too! I'm truly amazed that Beth Orton hasn't received greater attention outside the UK. If you like Alanis Morissette, Joni Mitchell and The Cranberries, I definitely recommend checking 'Central Reservation' out. Amazing record! Best songs: Stolen Car, Sweetest Decline, Pass In Time, Central Reservation, Stars All Seem to Weep
Good album. It's really well produced. Hers songs with other musicians and electroncia are really good. The ones with just her are good but sound similar to each other.
okay i actually listened to this album and i would say this is a great folk/folktronica album i love it a lot. it’s so warming but specifically winter warming if you know what i mean. it reminds of me of carole kings tapestry with a little bit of PJ harvey and it turns out well. i love the folk aspects of this album and the tronica aspects. i need to listen to more of this to be honest the whole album is great. 8/10
Sure. Sounds pretty good. Vibey folk ish thing. Easy to listen to. Not a ton stuck. Feels like music to go somewhere to. Nice voice. Feel to Believe showcases her well.
I'm not sure about the relevance compared to like a Sarah McLachlan album which is missing from the list. Pass in Time - caught my attention. I don't know it's fine, but give me some Julie Doiron or Feist instead.
it okay
Really great voice and sound, my wife owns this CD so there was a lot of nostalgia listening to this and it just matched my mood well today, 5 stars for me.
Hints of Dido and KT Tunstall, both of whom came after Beth Orton, but who I'd heard first. Opening track is probably my favorite with its crazy reverse guitars. Her voice fits everything perfectly, even if her tuning isn't always perfect. The tuning issues are probably the only thing keeping this from being 5 stars from me. 4 stars.
A good acoustic revival album. I love Orton's voice. The lyrics are pretty vague, but that actually makes it easier to focus on the rhythm and tone, the flow of the melody, and the interesting instrumentation moments that a few tracks have outside of guitar.
I feel bad rating this one a two. She’s a competent singer/songwriter and has a beautiful voice but I just kept forgetting I was listening to it. Just couldn’t hold my attention. So for that I think it gets two stars.4/10
Sometimes I listen to an album on this list and think “why is this here?” It’s a frustrating feeling because the album isn’t bad, but surely there are better albums than this???
I thought "Folktronica" was an interesting description for her music - although this album seemed much more in line with the Folk side - being close to the Lilith Fair crowd. Solid effort and I would definitely listen again. 3.
There are a few very good moments here, and the overall listen is pleasant, but the album as a whole feels way too long and is extremely dull at points. There are songs that feel very one flavour, lacking any real interesting moments. I can’t say I’ll remember much from the album whatsoever, despite the fact that I really do like the opening track and some of the other songs are a nice listen.
This was a very good album. I knew one song and I know I've heard some of her other songs.
This blooooooows, music I would hear playing at that cafe I hate
Meget positiv overraskelse.
Not my favorite of the Lilith Fair gals, but still good (3.5)
Musically it's pretty good. Her voice wavers throughout which brings the album down a bit. I did like it more than I thought I would. I'm just not sure it's worthy of a spot on this list.
no annoying
niente male, niente che ricorderò
1/22 Pretty good
Pleasant enough
Almost a 5. I have a really affinity with this album
Pleasant but not very interesting.
This one was fine, if I being honest I liked it more than I expected. 2.5 rounded to 3 stars.
Eh, not one that’s memorable to me.
At first I didn't I was going to like this album, but it grew on me. Beth has a more than pleasant voice and the songwriting and the instrumentation were pretty solid for the genre.
I love Stolen Car so much that it's one of those songs I wish I could hear again for the first time, because I know how much I would fall in love with it every time. Such a simple chord progression, but so beautifully treated, and accompanied by haunting and affecting lyrics. I also absolutely love She Cries Your Name, from the previous album. Strangely, I don't think I've ever listened to this album before, although I've heard Trailer Park. Completely my fault for not making the time - I was quite busy with babies in 1999, and then I suppose I sort of forgot about it, despite Stolen Car being seared in there (it must have been; it's already on my Spotify playlist). Anyway, I'm burbling. I thoroughly enjoyed this - it was all well-crafted and beautifully paced, with spaces in the music. I wasn't sufficiently won over by every song to go to five stars, bit I think it's an album of real quality, and it finished strongly, I loved the simple meandering of the final track.
Thought this was really cool at the start and considered giving it a 4 but it started to drag by the end.
wack.
Don't know which is worse, this or Suzanne Vega's debut album. As bland as boiled chicken.
Un álbum insípido, monótono, aburrido, sin gracia, denso, repetitivo, sin chispa y olvidable. Se mantiene en una misma linea que no despega..
Liked what I heard
It's OK
Chill, beautiful voice, supringengly wide range of different styles, some almoust house-like, while others more rudimentary
Hipster McLachlan? Let a great singer sing. The Then Again Version of Central Reservation makes me think I better go listen to Trailer Park (assuming that's where more electronica is).
Enjoyed discovering all these songs. I recognized Stolen Car, but never connected it was Orton.
Good. But nothing special.
Sounds generic
I had some preconceived notions wandering into this one, and they turned out to be fairly accurate, but not totally. In the moments that the album wanders outside the boundaries of wistful adult contemporary (i.e., usually the songs with a more driving electronic-sounding, sometimes trip-hop beat), it’s awesome. “Stolen Car” and “Stars All Seem to Weep” are stellar songs. Most of the rest of the album is good by objective measures — emotionally impactful, incredibly well-performed, etc — but a little bland to me in the way a lot of these understated, earnest, weary 90s artists often seem. Also, as a personal gripe, she has a vocal affectation that’s pretty era-specific and grates on me…a little Alanis and a little Tori. (Instead of “The Sweetest Decline,” track 2 should be titled, “The Sway-hay-hate-ist Decline.”) Still, in an effort to make a spare and haunting album with a ton of atmosphere, it’s a total success.
Cooler than I thought it was going to be. There's maybe something here that reminds me of Sufjan Stevens.
Sehr nett, ein paar schöne Songs dabei, manchmal etwas seltsame Produktion.
it's ok!
Her voice is really lovely and gentle, and it's all entirely easy to listen to, but I guess therein lies the issue to a degree. It's just some music that happened. I would gladly put this on for something to avoid silence, and I'd probably recommend it to someone if I wasn't sure what their tastes were.
Favorite Songs: Stars All Seem to Weep, Stolen Car, Sweetest Decline, Central Reservation (Both Versions) Least Favorite Song: Feel to Believe Holy shit I think I just found the perfect album to listen to while walking to class in the winter. Beth Orton has the voice of an angel.
Unforgivably bland. The opening track is a 3, every other song is a 2. Frankly unacceptable that this is included on the list over a Thea Gilmore or Gemma Hayes.
Pleasing but not exceptionally noteworthy. Sits in the Alanise Morrisette register. The title track is great, then right after that the more electronic “Stars All Seem To Weep” was a stellar switch up to a more electronic sound. Other than that? Meh. The music is a 3/5, the inclusion of this album on a specific list is 2/5. Gotta be in one of the biggest slumps so far, but thats coming off the heels of a crazy good run of records
Byrja bra, men blei litt lei i lengden
Folktronica. Nice music overall, definitely worth a deeper dive.
A little too long but great tracks
Album started with some sauce, digging the strings, bongos are fun, some interesting electronic sections. The Terry Callier feature is great, his voice compliments Beth's very well, that track felt like something I'd slow dance with my girlfriend to. This album overall feels like something you'd hear in a combination coffee shop book store that does live music on Fridays, and I personally dig it. I feel like the album goes on slightly longer than it needs too, by track 10 I was ready for it to be over or do something else new and exciting. 3.25/5 give me an iced white mocha and a new book while Beth does her thing
I liked most of the songs on here, I was kind of distracted listening so I will definitely come back to this album for another listen in the future. More independent young lady music
Easy listening, fine but nothing special 1 - doesn't deserve to be on this list
being generous with the 3
The vocals sound very run-of-the-mill for this type of music, but I do like the harmonies and music. The arrangement is well done, and while the music is the beat part of this album for me, it isn't a style that I'd vibe on a regular occasion. It's chill, but I only give it a 3. It may be a 4 for some, but not for me.
This is unfortunate because the first song is really great and then everything else is kinda just there. Not bad by any means but it just kinda blends together after a while. Favorite songs were Stolen Car and Stars All Seem To Weep
Not as immediate or with the replay value as Portishead, but a pleasant album I was not familiar with. Have added some tracks to Spotify (love like laughter, stars all seem to weep)
Snooooooooooore
A bit too folky for me but I did enjoy some of the electronic elements.
Pretty good album. Kinda reminded me of a mix between Alanis Morisette and the lady from the Cranberries
I'm a low 3 or high 2. I think it's suffering for me as I really enjoy her 2012 sugaring season album and so this doesn't sound like it's fully reached that style yet. also, my favourite song is the first one on the album
Very pleasant without ever smashing me in the chops. Low 3
I'm not a great fan of the voice. Put me off listening to the lyrics.
There is clearly an interesting vibe, a robust, very full sound and excellent production on Central Reservation. I especially enjoyed the unexpected downtempo songs, which there could have been more of. However this record is also overlong and does not have a song power to match the gorgeous overall “feel.” You could slim down the tracklist to arrive at a more pleasing version, but even then it could do with a couple of singles, at points it gets a bit dreary without them.
Beth Orton is going to need some more listens and I think warrants it. I’m tentatively going a low 4 as I think the songwriting is interesting and she hits upon some beautiful melancholy. It’s a little long and sags in places but I’m engaged and intrigues and want to get deeper into it, hence the tentative low 4.
I really like this one! 5
I struggle to see why this in on the top 1000 of all time. Alas, I do like her voice, but the album is kind of all over the place. It's like rainy day puzzle music
It was fine
A lovely voice. Overly long songs, but to be contrary, my favourite was 'Pass in time' which is the longest on the album. An album that didn't wow me, but would be perfectly happy to have on in the background at pretty much any given time.
There were a few songs on here (namely the opening and closing tracks) that I really liked. Everything else kind of paled in comparison and was just ok. 3.5/5
Snoozer of an album. Only really got along with Blood Red River, but the rest was a bit of a chore. Sorry, Beth. 2.49/5
174 Pucha, tenía tantas ganas de que fuera como el Orton, pero no. Me gustó harto, como si Joni Mitchell hubiera sido full 90era. En mi cabeza es un 4.5
a quaint album by an artist who wears her influences quite proudly. while the joni mitchell and john martyn comparisons seem a bit overblown, you can certainly tell that orton has a deep appreciation for these singer/songwriters. this record is fine. certainly not bad, but not too memorable either. there are a lot of cool ideas and some definite moments of genius on central reservation, but nothing done consistently enough to reel me in. i’m right down the middle in this one, if i could give this album the score of “indifferent/5” i would.
I had never heard of Beth Orton before, so I was intrigued by what I would hear. This started out well with the lead track, but after that I found this relatively pedestrian. Orton has an interesting voice, but she never quite does enough with it to consistently be great. The songs are pretty much just there as well, hanging in the ether. It's pleasant, but nothing outstanding or anything I would come back to other than the first song.
Really good
Ok in small doses, though whole album starts to sound the same.
This was the perfect album to listen to on a walk in a cold January afternoon in England, after a night of snowfall.
First artist I had never listened to (I think) and I really liked the album. Her voice sometimes reminiscent of Dido. Can't really understand how this one stayed of my radar for so long.
I did enjoy this album and, though her voice can be a bit much at times, she has solid lyricism and good variance of theme. It's a nice relaxing listen for the morning.
Pretty easy listening. It’s fine.
I had never heard of Beth Orton. After the first couple of songs, I thought I was really going to like this album…but as it went on, I found her vocal style to be a bit too lazy at times, to the point of going flat. And a lot of the songs were just too long, making the whole album too long. What I thought was going to be a four star record for me, settled down to a disappointing ho-hum three. No need to hear it again.
There's some fine stuff here, I liked some production choices and she's a pretty good vocalist but there is so much stuff here that is pretty boring
“Folktronica”—never heard that term, but I like it. I listen frequently to female singer-songwriters and I enjoyed this. A few songs didn’t “speak” to me, but overall, a nice album for easy listening. I will check out more of Beth Orton since this is my first encounter. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Average 2.5/5
According to Wikipedia, this album is "folktronica," a genre I'd never heard of, and didn't really make sense in context apart from the tracks Stars Seem to Weep, and Central Reservation (then again version). For the most part, it was fairly unremarkable pop-rock -- a collection of songs that would have been right at home on a Starbucks playlist from the early 00s. Borderline offensively inoffensive from start to finish. Beth's beautiful voice is a highlight throughout, but unfortunately, that's not enough to save the album for me. Solid 2.
++: Stolen Car, Couldn't Cause Me Harm, Love Like Laughter +: Sweetest Decline, So Much More, Central Reservation +-: Pass in Time, Central Reservation, Stars All Seem To Weep, Blood Red River, Devil Song, Feel to Believe 4,6/10
01) Stolen Car - 7,5 02) Sweetest Decline - 7,0 03) Couldn't Cause Me Harm - 7,5 04) So Much More - 6,0 05) Pass in Time - 6,0 06) Central Reservation 6,0 07) Stars All Seem To Weep - 7,0 08) Love Like Laughter - 5,5 09) Blood Red River - 5,5 10) Devil Song - 5,5 11) Feel to Believe - 5,5 12) Central Reservation (The Then Again Version) - 7,5 TOTAL: 6,38 (64/100) Current ranking:
boring as hell
A lovely folky, emotionally rich album. It’s a mood piece, but a nice one for a chilled rainy Sunday afternoon. I enjoyed it.
лучше боба дулана
Easy listening for background music.
Liked this a lot more than I thought I would. While it is kind of simple, the emotional aspect really shined through
First time to hear this one as well. High points to me were Stolen Car, Stars All Seem to Weep, Feel to Believe and Central Reservation (The Then Again Version). Overall I’d score this a 3.3
Sort of vibey background music. Not great but also not bad.
No private session used for Spotify. I really liked Beth's voice and enjoyed this mellow album. Will have to remember to listen to it some more.
This was okay. You can’t go wrong with 90s mom music.
Mom rock
mixed feelings, i like the songs, they are quite powerful and feel good, but also not the kind of music i usually listen to... maybe i've just discovered new genre that i like?
The first track, Stolen Car, was wonderful but the rest of the album didn’t live up to it—a bit flat and samey. Between a 3 and a 4 bit rounding up because I’d like to listen more and explore her other albums.
Easy listening
Beth Orton assembled quite the team for Central Reservation, with Dr. John on piano and Ben Harper on guitar and about 15 others to round it out. What we get is a pleasant album that has enough interesting musical components happening to take it a step further than a standard singer songwriter album. It’s a subtle rock album but it would definitely get people bopping along at a Lilith Fair performance. The opener, Stolen Car stands out as my favourite with some really nice swirling guitar happening to accompany Orton’s great songwriting and vocals. It’s a pretty album that would fit slot perfectly in for a rainy morning while you put together breakfast, sipping a hot coffee. Cozy stuff, 3 stars
o álbum mais peito de frango sem sal e sem tempero que já veio pra mim no app
Solid listen. Not my typical style of music but I enjoyed the easy listen. Good for background music but not much else. Unlikely to listen to it again.
I listened to this a while ago, but seemingly forgot to rate it. I remember, though, that it was not very interesting
OK background music. Doesn't sound special at all to me. I don't understand how this got in the book.
5.5/10 Hard to really have an opinion about this one Highlights: Blood Red River Stolen Car
2.0 so boring and long too
Not bad
Beautiful voice
Good vocals, slow alt-pop
3 out of 5. Never heard of her before, but this is definitely a 90's rainy day album.
2.5
Couldn't Cause Me Harm pretty well has the same chord structure as Bad Time To Be Poor by The Rheostatics. This is a very well produced album, with some nice songwriting, but it dragged for me. Liked Songs Added: Pass In Time
Es ist ein feinfühliges Werk zwischen akustischem Folk und elektronischer Eleganz. Mit ihrer warmen, leicht brüchigen Stimme erzählt Orton von Verlust, Sehnsucht und Selbstfindung – mal introspektiv wie in „Pass in Time“, mal beschwingt wie im Titeltrack „Central Reservation“. Die Produktion ist detailverliebt, aber nie überladen, und lässt Raum für Emotionen und Atmosphäre. Besonders hervorzuheben ist die Balance zwischen organischen Instrumenten und subtilen elektronischen Elementen – ein Markenzeichen des „Folktronica“-Stils, den Orton mitgeprägt hat. Zwar fehlt dem Album stellenweise der letzte Funke Überraschung, doch seine melancholische Schönheit und lyrische Tiefe machen es zu einem bleibenden Hörerlebnis.
Really impressed with this, feels like she should be more well known
What an album and what a voice! From stolen car I was hooked and listened through a few times. After a few tough listens in a row, this was a welcome break.
Great album to fall asleep to.
Apparently, this is a Folktronica album - a mixture of Folk-Rock and Electronica. Her voice on a lot of the tracks reminded me of Judie Tzuke (from the late 1970s), although Beth Orton's muisc is a bit more Folky. I liked it.
This album starts out as a mediocre Brit-Pop version of Natalie Merchant and quickly descends into a very forgettable melange of meh. If the author(s) feel like dolling out a slot on this list to every UK artist that gets a Mercury Prize nomination waved in their direction this is going to be a very trying ordeal. 2/5
Beth Orton's Central Reservation makes me feel a number of ways. When listening to her, I imagine cozy afternoons lying on my spent watching the shadows climb the walls of my childhood home. I imagine nights cooking and drinking wine with a girl I liked in college. I imagine stepping outside for a cigarette at 2am on a brisk autumn night. Orton's singer-songwriter/folk-pop stylings reminds me of Joni Mitchell, Suzanne Vega, and Tracy Chapman, which is strong company to keep, and like them, I'm constantly blown away by Orton's lyricism. Her voice is smokey, full, and plaintive. The instrumentation is often beautiful, delicate, but veers Into slinkier territory reminiscent of her trip-hop past. Produced by one half of Everything But The Girl, you know the production on this will be fantastic, and it is; perfectly catching that late 90's cross section of sophisti-pop, trip-hop, and singer songwriter folk. I had never even heard of Beth Orton before this, but this was such a great surprise! Goddamn. Incredibly strong and consistent album.
Chill poetry. 3/5
Pretty decent, good sound
Right off the bat, the exaggerated style of singing on this album is off-putting - it just reads as melodramatic. Powering through that though, are there any decent songs here? "Couldn't Cause Me Harm" has a solid groove and decent melody. And that's about it.
Some good interesting bits on here. Though it dragged on a bit
Favorite Track: ...Stolen Car
An extremely late 90s pop album. I’m not sure why every female singer sang with that same weird affect but it makes an otherwise fine album almost unlistenable for me.
2.9 Shades of Joni Mitchell mixed with Jewel. Fine
Overall dug it, reminded me of the Garden State soundtrack at times in a good way.
Couldn’t get past the voice
Not sure I was quite in the mood for this one yesterday, so will come back to it.
i enjoyed it overall, bit of a drag
Неплохой поп
every song sounds basically the same and is almost always over 5 minutes long. why.
A flatmate of mine at uni loved Beth Orton and would play her frequently. He was a prick so it taints my view of this album. Beyond that it is inherently average. I find her singing voice quite nasal and grating, which means it moves beyond background music. After the fourth song I nearly turned it off, but persevered. Wished I hadn’t. It’s not the worst thing I’ve listened to so far as the electronica lifts it’s somewhat, but beyond that it’s not something I would seek out to listen to again.
Had to go and listen to fiona apple afterwards
Bueno, me gustó pero tardé una semana en acabarlo, por eso le doy un 3.
Это как-то ну скучно что ли, хотя голос у певицы очень красивый. Ей бы какие-нибудь песни подрайвовее
3.5/5 good album! would listen again! very joni mitchell coming up on alanis morissette
Not bad. Some of it can be catchy enough. But all in all, this singer/songwriter vibe isn’t for me.
Fiona Apple vibes. This is top-tier lyricism wrapped in a very chill package. It paints a picture of someone who knows exactly who they are: gentle, but impossible to trap. The emotional weight is there, balancing the pain of yesterday with the need to live right now. I just wanted the music to match the intensity of the words a bit more often. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions - Stolen Car - Sweetest Decline - Stars All Seem to Weep - Central Reservation - The Then Again Version
Whiny
Forgettable singer songwriter stuff
Fav: Feel To Believe Least Fav: Central Reservation Fun fact of the day: Folktronica is a genre that exists (and it’s good)
This was interesting
This was dreadfully boring. Very late 90s/early 00s singer songwriter where most songs sound the same and sung with almost no affect. There are instances where it works brilliantly, but most of the time it’s just dull. This album was mostly the latter. “Pass In Time” was truly a fantastic song, but the rest of the album was forgettable.
The first and last few songs of this were great, acoustically driven but a rocky tinge and Beth has a good voice for it. Middle was very insipid music and Beth changed to channeling her inner Dido. Huge swathes just passed me by that were quiet and dull. All in all I suppose it was okay. Some good songs but as an album won't be back.
Mega dreary. Not a fan of her voice, unfortunately. Wanted to like it so much more than I did. Devil Song is absolutely fine.
Her name sounds familiar to me but no idea why and I'm pretty sure I've never heard of her. This was all fairly ok, nice voice, but there's just no way I'm going to remember any of this. Interesting that some was produced by everything but the girl, because it does sound like them in parts. Also doesn't sound particularly English, I would've called it more country? Anyway, nice enough but 2.5
She literally named the album after the middle of the road! It might be nice but I'd need to hear a covers version of it because her voice is a bit grating. Damn, was hoping for a good one.
Really liked her style. 3.5 rating.
2/5 just kinda boring. fine, but boring and not my thing too much
2/5 - favourite part of the album was the first 30 seconds of the first track, the rest was pretty boring and inoffensive
Another album off the 1001 record-long bucket list. "Central Reservation" started great, but declined when it went more acoustic. My favourite track is the opening song "Stolen Car". The following two songs, after "Stolen Car", also rule. A nice album to end the week. 3 stars for "Central Reservation".
A great solid album.Have had this cd for years and always enjoyed her voice .The title track is a highlight .
i like it but its too long
90s femme rock feels, interesting vocals and melancholy charm. First I've heard of this artist, and it was a good first impression
Boring coffee shop ass music. 4/10
I really like some of this… I’m tempted to give it four stars and listen a few more times but with a new album each day it’s tough unless it’s reallllllyy good.
Chill, but excellent.
Don’t know the sound, but he has an interesting voice, not a standard delivery.
Generally just quite nice singer-songwriter stuff. Not sure why it’s on this list, but it’s pleasant enough.
Pretty nice tbf not particularly mind blowing
I like her voice and chill sound.
Beth has a nice voice and the songs were pleasant enough. Didn’t hate it, didn’t love it. Her vocalisations didn’t upset me as much as it did other reviewers. Ok for dinner parties or as background focus music but not one for my general listening rotation.
Nice voice and I like the indie folk rock sound.
Kinda groovy kinda dull
Inoffensively bland, somehow just about manages to transcend the hipster associations ('folktronica'? Grow up)