Reviews (page 6 of 8)
Easy listening, didn’t feel moved by it or find it memorable. Beautiful vocals
7/10
Surprisingly good.
I mean...I'm starting to think this album generator gets stuck in a groove sometimes. Here's PJ Harvey, a moody alternative 90s British female artist, and here's Beth Orton a moody alternative 90s British female artist. Tomorrow, I'm looking forward to Adele, perhaps the Spice Girls? Anyway, this is more poppy than PJ Harvey for sure. Reminds me of Jewel. There's a "Who Will Save Your Soul" sound to her. And some Sarah McLaughlin in there too.
I've been getting a lot of folk-rock from this list lately. I don't normally like that genre very much, but Beth Orton has a great voice - good storytelling voice. It's an interesting take on the genre too, and clearly influential on other artists. Plus - Dr. John and Ben Harper collaboration = pretty cool.
Easy to listen to and the "-tronica" in "folktronica" makes it a bit more interesting for me than if it were only "folk". However, as it goes on, near the end, it start to become a bit bland and kind of same-sounding. 3-stars anyhow.
Strong Fiona, Alanis, Lilith Fair 90's vibes. Not bad
Harmless, easy listening, but nothing outstanding.
2.5
The comedown queen. I dunno, I tried her when she came out, expecting to relate. Didn’t. Still don’t. Great vocalist for sure, just missed the mark for me.
"You said you stood for every known abuse That was ever Promised To anyone like you Don't you wish you knew better by now When you're old enough not to?" (Stolen car) "I can feel my heart Especially now it's on the roof of my mouth" (Couldn't cause me harm) El disco se me hizo un poco monotemático, y es una pena porque empieza súper arriba pero no vuelve a alcanzar ese nivel. Muy buena voz, todo muy late 90s.
Obviously good but somehow didn't strike very deeply for me. I wasn't attending particularly to the lyrics and maybe am giving this less than it's due.
Pretty chill
Yeah fine, not hugely memorable
Yeah was alright
An ok album of singer-songwriter Beth Orton. A bit bland and nothing sticks.
Great song writing. Very 90s. Pretty cool.
Liked it better than I thought I would. Used to hear Beth Orton dance remixes.
This was awesome! Really enjoyed it.
I think I've heard something from Beth Orton before, but I'm not sure what it is. I don't think it was on this album. "Stolen Car" was the closest to sounding familiar. This album sounds like it would have been played by some of the radio stations I listened to in the late 90s, but it also sounds like stuff from the late 90s. I didn't find any new favorite tracks, but there wasn't anything that I definitely disliked either. (3 stars.)
Неплохо поёт.
What an incredible voice, and a beautiful album. Some really brilliant tracks on this. I would happily dip my toe into this again
Solid but wouldn't listen again.
Not bad
Gorgeous voice but all a little dull really
Pretty middle of the road
Some really beautiful tracks and some very mundane. Was going to give this a 4 but the later parts of the album really let it down
Standaard 90's vibes. Was de perfecte soundtrack voor een sneeuwochtend met zon. Op gelijk wel ander moment van de dag zou ik dit maar meh vinden. Favoriet lied: Pass in Time
Niets speciaals, maar ook niet slecht
Easy listening, maar geen hoogvlieger. Aangenaam als achtergrondmuziek, maar zou het niet snel nog eens opzetten.
Nothing excellingly good, but nothing really bad either. Very good to put up in the background, quite relaxing.
Very generic 90's singer songer writer album.
I like her songwriting and she has a distinctive voice that has a certain amount of vulnerability that works well with her folky songs. The single Stolen Car has a very different sound and feel than the rest of the LP. It sounds like they knew they needed a single and pulled out all the stops and production expertise to get the guitars to sound just right for the airwaves. I'm not saying it's contrived. Ok maybe it's a little contrived but it's still a really good tune. Her LP kinda reminds me of PJ Harvey and early Sinead 'O'connor in that they all put their hearts out there for all to see. (Sinead's first album also had Mandinka which was produced to sound the way a single is supposed to sound.)
Good album. I usually like female singer/songwriters. This is no exception.
meh for an album, but the songs could fit into some of my shuffled playslists
Quite mellow, not outstanding hence ***
Fijne plaat voor een rustige ochtend. Lekker dat ie een beetje trippy is. Duurt wel een beetje te lang waardoor de zang wat gaat zeuren.
Pretty bored. Didn't think I knew who this was, but it all sounded very familiar. Pretty sure Mum had this album. I remember the first song, which is pretty good. Cool voice, but otherwise, pretty bland. Songs are far too long for how uneventful they are. Kinda nice, but also pretty meh Update: gets better at the end. Love like Laughter and blood red river are stand outs. I'm confused.
Moet het misschien nog eens met meer aandacht luisteren want volgens mij is het wel een mooi album.
Sounds a little like Dido. Her voice is just okay. Too feely for me.
not great but decent background music
good music with nice lyrics and decent backing. not quite to my taste but enjoyable nonetheless
It was OK. Nothing stood out and blew me away
Moody, good songwriting & lyrics, nice voice. I owned a compilation she put out a few years after this that included a bunch of these songs. Pleasant enough. I prefer the slightly more produced pieces like Stars all Seem to Weep.
Bella voz. Acompasado. Fácil de escuchar
Excellent songwriting and impassioned singing. I can hear how she influenced female singers that followed her eg Sarah McLachlan with her soulful, wavering singing style.
Ca secoute bien un genre d’electropo 3*
I actually took a nap when the album was playing #true story
Not too much to say, it was a sappy album that was so sad
Never heard of her before, but it was a cool album! I'm trying to think of who she reminds me of. Maybe Joni Mitchell was a big influence?
breathy 90's girl voice
Nothing ground breaking but nice enough. Couldn't cause me harm is my highlight
Got a little repetitive.
Kind of moody and folk-sy. Average.
Would listen again, liked Stolen Car
Pleasant enough. Bit like Dido or Emma Rugg. Not what I’m really into at the moment.
Well produced and well Written just not to my taste
I like her voice but didn’t find the music itself very interesting. Not something I’ll rush to revisit
lindo, muy chill
3 stars, -1 for being extremely forgettable. Turn this on in any Starbucks in America and it wouldn’t sound out of place
Instantly forgettable.
2 stars
No notes
I really like the opening track but this is a standout track compared to the tedium that follows.
I just finished listening to Central Reservation and I can’t remember a single part of it.
In no way a hate two star. On par with Alanis. I have been unfair to Alanis.
ack...
Nothing to object to, but also nothing to move me.
"Stars All Seem to Weep" standout song, maybe because does not sing a lot? Rest of the album is mid. Low 3*, nevermind: 2* 2/5
Fine. Sofr rock boring
Not bad
its very nineties. too nineties. it started out strong, wasnt as empty with clean easy riffs. didnt have that open chord note picking feel. back half lost me completely. cheesy keyboard synths, airy and breathless, and so much clean nineties guitar. yuck. shes got a lovely voice to pair with the music, though.
I'm sure it's very nice but I just found it a bit boring. Sorry Beth
I got my license the summer 99. As such I heard Central Reservation too many times to count as I listened to the alt radio station and drove through the wilds of Western New York. Now I want to smoke a Camel Red and think about a pre-9/11 proto paradise.
Un album somme toute très répétitif, sauf pour le passage expéditif de Dido, qu'on salue. Quelques moments mélodieux et beaux, des mélodies sympa au début, mais finalement assez redondantes. Une voix assez agaçante à force, et je dois avouer que comme pour beaucoup d'albums jusqu'à présent, je me réjouissais que ça se termine.
To be honest, just sounded like every other singer songwriter, but not as good
Pretty vanilla singer/songwriter naughties music. Can't say it's drawn me in really.
ze begon als een vrouwelijke Neil Young, maar dat veranderde rap in de vrouwelijke Tom Yorke... jammer
172. ok
Not a fan
Oh not sure? That makes me nervous, honestly… Man, this album took me on a ride. It opened and I thought “wow, I might have been judgy going in. Shit, this may be a 4.” Then it went on and I started to get bored and I was “no, 3, not higher than a 3.” But I had to admit the percussion was well layered. So maybe a 4…But… then I began to feel in that layering -overproduction. And by the time the dub came in I was fully convinced it was overproduced. And my rating was heading toward a 2. By the end I was solid in my 2. And fully asking the eternal question: What the f* is this- Mercury Prize Finalist -doing on the damn list? She did not even win the Mercury Prize for 2000. So even by British standards- what, what is this doing here?!? Time wasting! Boolean- NO! I did not need to hear this before I died, thank you.
😴
Mildly pleasant to listen to, but pretty forgettable.
don't really have anythiung to say about it
I mean it is not as bad as I thought it was going to be. But not great either 4/10 Top song Stolen car
got bored, good background music tho. all kinda just sound the same.
Deadly dull.
2.5 Started off fine, got boring
Periaatteessa ihan ok, mutta taas liian iisiä musaa mulle. Tää sopis johonkin rauhalliseen hetkeen taustalle.
When it first came on I thought I knew this album. As I listened more, I realized I was mistaking her for Natalie Merchant/10K Maniacs with a touch of Suzanne Vega style song writing mixed in. This fact made it hard for me to rate because I am so familiar with those other artists who predated her. There are good songs here such as Central Reservation, the title track, and Stolen Car, but they lack the original sound, and seem kind of copy cat-ish. The biggest difference is the other two artists are more staccato and less legato, which makes the lyrics easier to hear. If there was a 2.5, she would probably sit in that pocket.
This has a certain groove in some tracks. Others I struggle with, they just don't grab me. I liked "Couldn't Cause me Harm," For example. Pretty slow acoustic whiney for me. 2/5
Mundane. Lovely voice, but the song choices were crap.
I didn't know her at all. She has got a beautiful voice. I liked the first and last song but found the rest so unremarkable that I couldn't focus on it (basically I didn't hear it)
eh.
Crikey that was dull.
I'm sure this has value to others. I found it boring. Pretty, but dull.
Музыкально исполнено неплохо, но вокально очень скучно
mmmm good
Not for me
Not really my thing.
The most beige generic coffee shop music. Very background music-y and never gained my interest
Nice start. Njöt ändå en del, men andra halvan var mindre bra alltså. Hade riktigt svårt för några av låtarna där.
Very background music. Nothing particularly special.
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.
Kinda boring, maybe need another listen.
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.
Good voice, but songs a bit same-y.
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.
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 thing
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.
Good first song.
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.
I was feeling the first half but then it kind of fell off for me
There’s parts of this I liked but it dragged on
not bad. has some good numbers. very lilith faire. some production is pretty dated. ultimately not my thing.
not for me
Uptempo songs are good, but I'm not a fan of the more folky ballads.
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
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
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
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???
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 blooooooows, music I would hear playing at that cafe I hate
no annoying
niente male, niente che ricorderò
Pleasant but not very interesting.
Eh, not one that’s memorable to me.
Sounds generic
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
A bit too folky for me but I did enjoy some of the electronic elements.
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
I'm not a great fan of the voice. Put me off listening to the lyrics.
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
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.
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
Mom rock
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.
2.0 so boring and long too
2.5
Great album to fall asleep to.
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
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.
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.
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
Это как-то ну скучно что ли, хотя голос у певицы очень красивый. Ей бы какие-нибудь песни подрайвовее
Not bad. Some of it can be catchy enough. But all in all, this singer/songwriter vibe isn’t for me.
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.
Mega dreary. Not a fan of her voice, unfortunately. Wanted to like it so much more than I did. Devil Song is absolutely fine.
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.
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
Boring coffee shop ass music. 4/10
Dry white toast. Unenthusiastic OTPHJ. Unlike many albums on this list that give you some hope that it will pick up, this one just didn’t.
There's nothing really wrong with this but it's just doesn't do anything for me. I can see why people do though
I didn’t hate any of it, but it all sounding like the exact same song kept me from liking any of it.
I remember seeing her face on the CD cover at the music shop I used to work at and being intrigued by the type of music she would play. I never got around to listening back in those days though. Which I’m perfectly ok about because I didn’t miss anything special.
Decent.
How did this mid-level album that sounds like every other Album get on this list. I only listened to the first two songs.
Definitely an album of all time.
I liked #2 I think. By track 6 I was like well at least I haven’t turned it off yet and then by 8 Live Laugh Love I had had enough
Basically just a Joni Mitchell tribute band.
Não ouvi tudo não
Traff meg ikkje
Beth is an English singer, so as is tradition, she gets added to this list by default. The album is pretty decent, and Orton has a fairly unique voice. Vocal style seems to be a throwback to Joni Mitchell.
I agree with most of the popular sentiments here: fine voice but very beige-sounding. Some of the tracks are just devoid of any valuable substance and don't need to run that long.
This is beautiful in parts but it really drags on and sounds similar to… couldn’t really love the album but a few tracks are added
Did not receive much from this (mentally)
Was never a big Fan of her but this was good probably enough to listen to more of her.
Nah.
Just fine, pleasant enough but no standout tracks for me. As others have said, quite beige.
go girl! give us nothing
I fell asleep at my desk :(
høfligt nej tak
It was just okay. Nothing really stands out to me
a great instantly forgettable album. wish I could remember anything about it but its been a couple of hours since I listened
Stolen Car
Es tranqui, agradable, pero se torna aburrido y no es realmente la gran cosa.
this just didn’t work for me today. it’s so long and so slow and “boring”. the first song is an absolute banger tho, but it isn’t enough to save the 2 star rating. if it had stayed at about 35 mins i would’ve probably had more patience with it but at an hour long i just can’t manage this. the last half of the album is painfully slow. ⭐️⭐️
Its alright. Kind of Joni Mitchell-esque in quite a few places which made me wonder why i should just be listening to Joni Mitchell.
Eh.
Standard singer songwriter fare. There was a time in my life I was far more into this type of music. That time isn't now. 2/5
Honestly this site should be called A Load of Solid 3s, Nothing Special, Barely Moving the Needle, with the Occasional Banger Triggering Happy Memories and Pile of Steaming Shite Just Triggering, You Know, to Keep You Interested. This wasn't one of those Solid 3s...
It's ok. But if I am going to listen to this type of music give me PJ Harvey or Fiona Apple
Started strong and fizzled.
Upon listening I said: "Hmm...this is some Lillith Fair stuff...or maybe soundtrack to WB shows from the 90s". Turns out it was both those things.
Meh just not my style, weird vibes
didnt like her voice enough for the songwriting to shine
She can’t sing very well. It reminded me of Dido
She sounds like she laughs in the middle of singing her lyrics. Example: the second song has a line “sweetest decline”, her version is pronounced “sweetest declihihahine”. This persistent throughout the whole album. 4/10
I listened to this yesterday, but I can’t even really remember anything that stood out. It’s about as vanilla as one can get. First track was the “best,” but it was all downhill from there.
I first heard Beth Orton when she provided vocals for The Chemical Brothers' "Where Do I Begin?" She has a singular phrasing and tone that does have echoes of Sinéad O'Connor, which is no small compliment. Beth Orton has a great voice, yes, but on too many tracks here the music sounds like what you'd hear inside a Starbucks at the turn of the century. This record is mostly a venti cup full of medium-roasted generic singer/songwriter boredom. We open with a sprawling and evocative road song, but the road kinda just stretches out without a lot of scenery. We're on I-5 south of Buttonwillow suddenly. There are some highlights, however: I remember "Stars All Seem To Weep", which is the total standout track here. The thermin-esque keyboard tag that runs throughout the trip-hoppy rhythms gives this a massive sense of what the last days of the millenium sounded like. "So Much More" offers an opportunity for Orton to wail out and stretch her vocal chords a bit in more instrumental ways, and the arrangement is less formulaic and little looser and more experimental than most of the other pieces. "Blood Red River" contains a gravitas and structure that sounds very compelling, rooted, and real. (Of course I gravitate towards the melancholy stuff as the strongest). Same goes for "Devil Song", which lends a sort of cinematic denouement feeling. Otherwise this is just background folksy/corporate barista-core. There are pieces that almost get there, but then just fall short. "Pass In Time" has a little more energy and picks it up a little, but still comes across as kinda stale. Overall, there are a few really good songs here, which is less a classic album and more a single or EP. Orton's unique voice grates on the tracks that don't work and soars on the tracks that do. It's an exercise in taking it or leaving it, and I'm pretty indifferent to doing either, really. The album art is pretty standard minimalist late 90s early 00s lo-fi design fare that kinda calls out to a cinematic presentation with the black bars suited for a digipak and jewel case release, but doesn't really do anything special. Feels rushed and unconsidered. Yawn. Where's the coffee?
p844. 1999. 2 stars. Lovely voice, but bland material. Not essential listening.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Nice instrumentation and vocals, but boring. Would not listen to this album again. Might be nice background shopping music or something.
Boring as shit. Not BAD, so not one star, according to my scoring. But boring as shit. I would never listen to this again. It is wallpaper.
My first impression of Central Reservation is that Beth Orton has a lovely voice — warm, natural, and easy to listen to. The album itself sits firmly in that late-90s wave of singer-songwriters experimenting with an electronic-folk blend. It’s pleasant enough, but never rises above that. There are a few nice moments scattered throughout, but equally as many forgettable ones. Overall, it feels safe, inoffensive, and firmly middle-of-the-road — nothing really grabs your attention or makes you stop and think wow. The biggest issue is that the songs often overstay their welcome. They meander on without a strong sense of direction or resolution, which makes parts of the album drag. Favourite track: Stolen Car and Pass in Time are genuinely nice listens. Least favourite track: Much of the record is too average to stand out, but the title track Central Reservation in particular feels like it doesn’t go anywhere. Album artwork: A standard cover that doesn’t leave much of an impression.
What, how is this good or notable?
Didn’t care for this one at all, proper samey all the way. Not a big fan of most singer-songwriter
Decent album. It felt more like background music.
Me laisse plutôt indifférent.
C'est assez monotone du Dido
Didn’t vibe with this one as much. I enjoyed the song Pass in Time but nothing else really captivated me.
This album is new to me and but for this list I would have been unaware of its existence. With that said this album is not great. It grew on me some but the lack of variety and maybe my bias against this style of music (folk/ electonica/ pop) leads me to give this a 2.
It was an okay album, my highest praise goes to the variety of backing sound scapes behind Beth's vocals. However her vocal style became a little stale after a number of songs in a row, there wasn't a whole lot of variation between them
Like the singer voice, and the album it's a nice listening. Not really one of my favorites but an respectable album 2/5
It was ok
Enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Her vocals are good, and some of the instrumentation is too. It’s all a little too safe though. Towards the end it dwindled into acoustic guitar and vocal tracks which tested my patience. Good for what it is. Did not add.
This album is a snoozefest of generic, boring ballad after generic, boring ballad. Twangy singing style from an English "folktronica" singer, heavy on the folk. Sometimes I hear echoes of Joni Mitchell, but Joni Mitchell does it better. Overall, I'd say the album is inoffensive to listen to, but boring as hell. Tracks that didn't completely put me to sleep: Stolen Car (good guitar solo at the end), Stars All Seem to Weep (both were generic, but at least had a little energy).
Was not a fan of this, sounded a lot like some 70’s easy listening which was surprising given the release date.
I had high hopes going into this one. Especially seeing that a few tracks were produced by Ben Watt from Everything But The Girl. Man was I wrong. I really wanted to like this. I just couldn’t get past the vocal delivery and overall cheesy feel that seems quite dated now.
I put this on and my wife goes “oh babe, I didn’t know you’re a lesbian.” 😂 I look forward to seeing Beth at the next Lilith Fair. Wait, how do I know about Lilith Fair. Maybe I am a lesbian. 🤔
Adult contemporary BS. Dangerously close to Joni Mitchell vibes but doesn't go full Joni (ie her voice isn't fingernails on a chalkboard). That's about the only positive thing I can say about this album... 1.5/5
Nice voice but very vanilla. I couldn't tell you how one song goes after just listening to it. It is very forgettable
it's not bad but bland
Sin más, llegó un momento que me pareció un poco repetitivo.
sorry but this was bullshit
Definitely one of the albums of all time
Begin van het album vond ik wel cool maar de B-side interesteerde me niet echt.
Mwah niet zo bijzonder wat mij betreft, ook weinig tijd om te luisteren
2 - forgettable
A sleepier version of Sheryl Crow? Definitely a miss for me.
This album definitely does exist, that's for sure.
Z z z
It never seemed to get going, just cruising along being bland
This is not my type of music but there’s a variation between folk pop and downtempo that is kinda nice, I guess. This is way too long though abd ultimately way too nice for me
This album will put you to sleep.
Very very very gentle and mellow folk pop that won't hurt anybody.
Not for me
Bland
Pleasant singer-songwriter album with some interesting production touches.
Meh!
Just kinda washes over you pleasantly...
I like Britpop. I like folk. I like electronica. It wasn't terrible, but I didn't really like this. This feels like something that people who listen to Ani DeFranco would like. I don't like Ani DeFranco.
No, this is not an album for me.
Meh. Not for me.
2.08
This is good stuff. But I don't listen to stuff like this.. if I did listen to stuff like this, I would listen. Yeh 3 stars
There’s some interesting moments but the songs all kind of meander along. Need some structure or something with a little more pop
Nice little album, getting exposed to a genre you've never heard of in Folktronica is what keeps you coming back to a project like this. Unfortunately I found my mind wandering way too much while listening to this album. Blame the phones.
In a genre that is not my cup of tea, it alternates between surprisingly enjoyable (to me) and irritating (the majority);
Good songs, almost no range. I wouldn't mind listening to this again, but I also didn't get much from the full album. Any song off this could capture what the whole album is about.
Most of this album didn't do much for me, but I did find myself enjoying the songs that skewed more electronic better than the others. "Stars All Seem to Weep" had a nice 90s groove but songs like "Devil Song" dragged the album down for me.
Meh
I don't like this genre very much but I gave it a bit of a go before running out of time. From what I heard, I'm giving it a 2/5 but need to come back to give this another since it's not exactly fair to rate it so low
Nice but became very samey Found myself skipping through
Ganske dølt
Pretty Boring. Sounded like Norah Jones if she wasnt good.
Perfectly pleasant music but nothing I found too exciting or likely to pull me back for a repeat listen. Unusually for me I found I preferred the more more poppy tracks like 'Stars all seems to weep'. It still had some 90's vibes and I could imagine it being played in a cool coffee shop or art gallery-come-cocktail bar.
She sings well but I got so bored. Stand-out: Sweetest Decline
Boooooring
She's talented, I guess. Boring as hell though and generally unremarkable.
Almost put me to sleep ngl.
This was quite incredibly boring. This could be fine as background music, but honestly there's plenty of other albums that do the same thing better.
Rather bland folky pop without surprises, and the voice tires quickly
I don’t hate it. I don’t like it. Totally generic music. I’ve already forgotten her name.
Really unique voice, but I found the album pretty ho-hum.
boring as shit
Beautiful voice, boring songs
loved a few tracks, but felt a bit too long and didn't connect with much of the middle section
Quite nice, not sure how often I'll go back to it
Felt a bit slow at points and lost my interest
2.75
4/10
# Album Name: Central Reservation # Artist: Beth Orton # Rating: 2/5 # Comments: I think i nearly died of boredom. First opening song was good. After that. pretty generic. She has a nice voice. But i didnt enjoy this album. Too long and boring. # Top Tunes: Stolen Car # Would I listen to it again? No
This was quite a slog. A longish album in a genre that's not really my thing. Sounds like Nick Drake but with some vocal idiosyncracies I found grating. All slow and mostly boring. Not actively bad though. I feel like if I listened to this a few times it might grow on me, but life is too short for that
He escuchado este álbum dos veces y casi ni lo recuerdo, creo que dice bastante del álbum en sí. Está bien pero es muy olvidable. Canción destacada: Stolen Cars
DNF, lost energy as I made my way through it.
Artiste inconnue. L'instrumentation est originale pour un album classé en folk, j'aime beaucoup le violoncelle, les chorus et le rythme enlevé sur le premier morceau (Stolen car ++). Par contre ça se gâte dès le second morceau, plutôt mou, long et peu intéressant. Les suivants sont dans la même veine, et l'album est terriblement long. J'ai zappé les derniers morceaux. Je ne le ré-écouterais pas. =>2/5
Amazone voice but the Café del Mar-like easy listening muzak doesn‘t tell me anything but getting another Mojito at noon.
Nej. Nu blev det så där Fiona Apple-aktigt. Det här är verkligen inte min kopp te. Har svårt att ta till mig. Det är medioker musik och sången är ju fin men så vansinnigt tråkig.
Dull, slow singer
This is one of those albums where I can recognize why people like it, but…I don’t. I guess it’s just not my style? There are some elements that I enjoy, but maybe there’s just something about her voice that doesn’t work for me? Still pondering this one, but for now? 2/5
Pleasant enough, but really nothing special. Didn't actively dislike it so can't give it a one.
Poetry backed with a simple guitar strum. Music that you expect to hear at urban coffee shop that proudly supports the feminist movement. I would, of course, love to patronize this coffee shop and support their cause, however I would not be one to ask them “what is this music you’re listening to?”
Standout Track: Feel to Believe
Definitely not one of the top 1001 albums. But I'll play it in my car.
This is another one that weirdly I liked less on second listen. Stolen Car is by far the best track, the rest is a bit meh. And I had Trailer Park back in the day. If this is on here then Laura Marling really should be too
I was excited for this (90s British lady "electro-folk"!) but it did not particularly resonate with me. Like a country-infused Alanis Morissette at times, a slightly cheerier Sarah McLachlan at others. Maybe my problem is with (a) the tempo and (b) the drums, such as they are? I dunno. Highlight: 'Couldn't Cause Me Harm' Lowlight: 'Stolen Car' (gave me a very bad first impression)
Not my preference but not crassly or poorly made. (4 known / 6 new)
Not for me unfortunately.
It's nice. Reminds me of Alanis Morrisette and Jewel with a bit of trip-hop thrown in. I can see this album being very important for the music that plays in shows like Grey's Anatomy lol. However, I probably won't ever listen to it again. The lyrics aren't punchy enough on first listen, a little too vague and adolescent for my liking, and all the songs kind of fade into each other. Nice melodies, but her voice isn't as interesting to me as the other trip-hop Beth (sorry). I can imagine being comforted by this as a teenager, but it doesn't touch me much right now. I find that I can't connect emotionally as much with the British folk music I've heard. It feels like there's a detachment there I don't usually notice in folk. I liked "Pass in Time"
The music is pretty, I guess, but her voice is so shrill, it makes it hard to listen to the full album. Again, deeply inessential. I had forgotten about this album completely, and, on re-listening, realized that I hadn’t missed it at all.
2.75
Fine and rather tedious late-90s singer-songwriter stuff. Insantly forgettable, I sort of feel sorry for anyone who has made this a part of their personality as it has none of its own.
Mmmeah
UOOOOOHHHHHHH Was gonna rate it 5/5, but then I looked at her other photos. Guess I'll have to listen to the album after all The first song was good, the rest is significantly worse