Suzanne Vega

I like Suzanne Vega just fine. She's a great songwriter and performer. But...why this album? Either "Solitude Standing" or "99.9 F" would have been much better choices. Once again, the author shows a bias towards the "first" album by an artist over the "best" one.

I love her voice, but this collection is really boring.

Poetic singer

oo

3+

Day197 - a suzanne vega album with none of the three songs i know, but after listening this is a worthy album full of really good songs

Not bad, but not something I'd come back to.

I’m a fan of Suzanne Vega for “Luka” and “Tom’s Diner” but I haven’t heard much else from her. I wasn’t feeling this album at first, but it really grew on me as I listened. “Marlene On The Wall,” “Some Journey,” and “The Queen And The Soldier” are my favorite songs from it. It’s a little hit or miss for me in places, but overall I liked it. It’s basically a 3.5 from me but I’m rounding up.

The first few minutes of this album made me think we were just going to get another Joni Mitchel-esque album: a downtuned, mostly guitar driven, decent melancholic singer songwriter album. And while that is still partially true, this album took that concept and added in more effects and backing bits of instrumentation that added so much texture to the album entirely. The songs felt still very intimate, but they almost felt more cinematic and engaging. You'd think that a reverbed-to-death flute for example, would detract from a singer-songwriter acoustic album, but not so. It added such a rich, subtle extra layer to enjoy losing yourself to. Overall I really enjoyed this album. I wasn't the biggest fan of the intro and closing tracks, but aside from those two, this was a great listen.

This was playing out loud from PC speakers for a solid 2 minutes before I realized why it sounded so muted on my noise cancelling headphones. At least it's not the cringiest thing one could play out loud in the office. This is very meh, unclear why it's here, maybe unique for its time. Waiting room music these days. 2*

A noble effort, but it doesn't belong on this list. It just doesn't.

Svo þægileg rödd, góðir textar. Gott stöff.

Good but not as good as you might think

Well aware of Suzanne Vega but never took much notice of her releases apart from the big hits she has had. One of them, Marlene On The Wall is on here and it is a very strong composition. Giving it a listen I was very pleasantly surprised and concluded that I have missed a good album so another win from following this list. As an admirer of Laura Marling and Sandy Denny etc it’s no surprise that this album appeals to me. Now on the lookout to purchase this album. 3/5 16/7/24

Not a lot of dynamic range to work with here.

I was excited to hear more from this Tom’s Diner one-hit-wonder but I was swiftly let down. This album is boring! So boring! Every song sounded the same. Nothing was cool or catchy like I’d hoped. What a disappointment.

OK

Wow! This was a great album to start my day with, and it definitely caught me by surprise. First off, Suzanne Vega is a great storyteller, and I really like the sound of her voice. This was a fantastic singer-songwriter album, but it also had a very atmospheric and ambient feel to it. It was ethereal and dreamy. The album is driven by the acoustic guitar with excellent fingerpicking. The use of percussion is minimal and subtle, so you might not even notice it unless you’re paying close attention. Another standout element is the use of keyboards and synths. While the guitar is the prominent instrument, the synths play a crucial role in the background, adding to the album’s atmosphere and ambiance. After hearing this album, I’m definitely curious to check out more of her work and see how she progressed in her career.

Sounds like a lot of single female artists. Nice and safe nothing risky

Suzanne Vega is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega, originally released in 1985. I was fearing the worst 80s pop imaginable when I saw this album, but it wasn't bad at all. This record really recalls the massively popular Laurel Canyon singer-songwriter craze of the decade prior. Vega shows shades of Joni Mitchell and is reminiscent of English folk groups such as Pentangle. Although her songwriting isn't the strongest, most of these songs are pretty enjoyable. She somehow dodged most of the 80s production clichés that plagued 90% of releases at this time. Pretty cool folky record. Probably would've done numbers in the early 70s.

Lovely

Not the Suzanne Vega album I would have choosen.

I haven't puked like that since I got food poisoning in '09

Vega has an interesting style that more than spoken word but not quite traditional singing. Decent storytelling.

Good debut, where the biggest power lies in the story -telling and a little less in the music.

I don't really get anything out of this one. It's very simple which is pretty pleasant but not particularly moving for me. By the looks of some of these reviews I need to look at the lyrics more, so maybe I'll do that eventually. For now I think a 3 is fair.

This was a chill album.

Beautiful and soft melodies. Her voice is as delicate as the touch of a silk sheet. All of this added to the beautiful harmonies that invite you to sit, rest your back and enjoy the winds of a Wednesday afternoon.

It was aight I liked a few tracks and have liked other songs of her in the past but was not crazy about the album.

Hm… ya know there’s definitely some cool stuff happening here with the chords and the guitar parts. But not rly for me. No real standout tracks imo. Don’t love her voice either.

mid

I enjoyed the way the lyrics were put together but for me the music was lacking. High 2.

Nice album and lyrics

Oh yeah Lilith fair, and Subarus. I know her name from Toms Diner (with DNA) which was a nice little track. This one is a little too folky for me for sure.

I’ve seen Suzanne Vega live but actually kind of forgot about her until this came up. She’s really good, but she’s got better albums than this.

Pretty voice and guitar. Sweet and gentle vibe.

1.5 not my favorite

Should have been the album with Tom’s Diner on it

She, sings, like, all, of, her, words, have, a, comma, after, them,

"Suzanne Vega" is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega. The music is in a folk style with string back arrangements and has been attributed to ushering in a new era of singer-songwriters. The album was recorded in NYC and produced by Steve Addabbo and Lenny Kaye (famed guitarist of the Patti Smith Group). Commercially, the album reached #11 in the UK and #91 in the US and, critically, received mostly favorable reviews. A melodic strumming guitar opens the album with "Cracking." Actually, that's just about all these songs. A synth background with Vega talking and then singing. She's afraid of being frozen in a situation. Her first single "Marlene on the Wall" adds an idiosyncratic drum beat. Vega singing fast. An electric guitar solo and a jazzy outro. She has a poster of Marlene Dietrich watching as she brings through various men. Vega brings a strong voice in her second single "Small Blue Thing." More melodic. Someone makes her feel very small and she's turning in his hand. "Undertow" is an emotional song where I think Vega is talking about anorexia. A noticeable drums and bass. Some of her best lyrics are in "The Queen and the Soldier" and "Knight Moves." The main character is a queen in both and, in one, the queen ends up killing the soldier for insubordination (I think a reference to maturity) and in the other the pawn flips the table and turns the queen into the pawn. Suzanne Vega has a nice voice and is emotional in spots. Her lyrics are mostly very clever. The music is fairly stark with an acoustic and electric guitar with minimal accompaniment (piano, synth, drums, bass). There's very nice production. This is an enjoyable album. Solid. I don't know if this album motivates me to listen to more Suzanne Vega but I wouldn't hesitate to do so.

- Normally I don't like the slower singer-songwriter stuff but this was really good - Marlene on the Wall was incredible - Great storytelling

- started off like a female Leonard Cohen but got better - kinda in the Fiona apple female singer/songwriter vibe

A really solid singer songwriter album that feels like it bridges the gap between artists like Laura Nyro and more contemporary artists like Tori Amos and Fiona Apple. Nothing stood out too much on this record but it was definitely worth a listen

Not her best album but some great songs

It was smooth but truely I just wanted it to end.

Mid

There has been a good run of excellent albums in recent days and this is no exception. Another artist I have been only peripherally aware of and I am glad I have been introduced to through this project. An album is the singer-songwriter tradition. Vegas is an articulate lyricist and a unique engaging singing style. Notable songs include "Straight Lines", "Marlene on the Wall", "The Queen and the Soldier" and "Neighborhood Girls".

Good album. Great voice

okay I guess?

Pretentious but curious

I enjoyed "Straight Lines," which is the 8th most popular song on this album. I'm not sure if that tells you whether I am the target audience for this album or not but it could be a hint. This is not the Suzanne Vega that I have heard prior, as it is more folk-y and acoustic, but I did enjoy it. I can't decide if I would come back to this record at some point, as I tend to prefer albums with a little more instrumentation and the songs don't all sound similar. I think this album is remarkable because it is one of the more "modern" albums that has an artist which writes/performs mostly acoustic songs. If a person enjoys acoustic music then I would recommend the album. It's not too bad.

Album 436 of 1001 Suzanne Vega - Suzanne Vega Rating : 5 / 5 An old favorite. Came across this a year or so after it's release, during college. Wish I could recall who introduced me to it as it was a bit of a turn from what I was listening to, at the time. I've since shared it with several others who also claim it to be one they still enjoy. Extra point just for being connected with good memories.

Gentle. Interesting lyrics

1.5

cool

I really like Susanne Vega, her voice is so pleasant. No heavy hitters on this album, but I enjoyed listening to it.

Very average and boring singer-songwriter music. Nothing really stands out and there is nothing I will listen to again. 2/5

I was first introduced to Suzanne Vega from her pop hit, Tom’s Diner. I was excited to hear this album. Her speak/sing voice reminds me of Joni Mitchell.

She was initially compared to Joni? I didn’t get that, at least from this release. She’s tamer than Joni. Nice melodies and storytelling but it didn’t click for me, though I’m likely not the target audience.

Was okay

Charming background music, with wonderful vocals and gentle music and arrangements. Doesn't grab your ears lome some on the list, but would probably stand up well to regular repeat listens - maybe after the list!

And then he was alone, last man standing just a fool talking to himself. That being said I like this album

You do not walk alone. Reports of my missingness was merely exaggerated. That being said this was middle of the road for me

Good jazz voice. Some good songs. Nice change from the typical music.

This album is. Not very good. I'd rate it. Two out of five.

It is impressive how Suzanne did something like this almost 40 years ago. Her style—the melancholic, boheme femme fatale—has been utterly reproduced over the decades. You may not have listened to these songs before, but you are pretty familiar with the vibe. The production has stood the test of time. Lovely arrangements and dreamy harmonies flood the album. The only drawback is that it sounds like a straight line. It does not have spikes, ups and downs, extasis and release. dynamics. 8/10

Terrific song writing and interesting vocal cadence.

Surprisingly good. Reminded me a bit of Fiona Apple. 3/4*

Not a fan of this one. Female sing song writer. Too mellow of a vibe for me, but slam poetry for me 2**

Surprisingly enjoyed this one - some nice chill songs

The lyrics are so odd: obvious, simple vocabulary, lots of basic nouns (love, king, Princess, bar, soldier, wall), little concrete, but assembled such that it confused me, which I decided I liked after two gos. The vocal themselves have a ticklish rhythm to them, and Marlene on the Wall has hook and tempo mostly missing from the rest, though the last song was fun. Weird, unlikely to return to, but glad to have paid attention.

One of a very few contemporary albums I was aware of through my Dad's record collection. I thought this was quite boring back then, and it appears my original assessment still stands. Somewhere between Joni Mitchell and Laurie Anderson, but without the boldness of either. What's on here is fine (could have sworn "Left of Center" was included?) but doesn't really stick around (cf. my Dad, who didn't make it to "Solitude Standing", a much better album I recall)

Sweet album, some great tracks, very easy to listen to Marlene... is one of my favourites

Smooth… a nice thing to put on

Nå8 brazy

not as catchy as i was expecting. she like the original swift.

Le début de l'album ne m'a pas tellement mis en confiance, mais plus ça allait et plus j'appréciais. Ça vaudrait la peine de le réessayer du début. Pas un album parfait mais ça se laissait écouter. 6/10

cool

liked it more than i thought i would

More interesting than expected. Forgot about Marlena on the Wall. Such a good one to sing along with. Forgot how good Vega was. Her stuff was always a different kind of tempo and style from everyone else. Small Blue Thing is good. Don’t love the narrative folky bits, but overall this album is very good.

Not good, not bad, not much to say

Singer/songwriter is boring

Boring

Not Suzanne Vega's best. But it was fine.

I am oscillating between 5 stars and 1 star. I have no idea.

Really eh, a Suzanne Vega album but not the one with "Tom's Diner" on it. Huh. Anyways, it's a fairly pleasant singer-songwriter record, but it's also boring. Lyrically strong, but would be just as effective as a book of poetry. It gives me visions of someone playing in a coffee shop, but no one's paying all that much attention.

"Suzanne Vega" by Suzanne Vega is a captivating debut album that showcases Vega's unique songwriting and vocal style. Released in 1985, the album features Vega's intimate storytelling and folk-inspired melodies, creating a compelling and introspective listening experience. Songs like "Marlene on the Wall" and "Small Blue Thing" highlight Vega's ability to craft vivid narratives and evoke complex emotions with simple yet evocative lyrics. Her distinctive voice, often accompanied by just an acoustic guitar, draws the listener in, creating a sense of intimacy and connection. While "Suzanne Vega" may not have achieved mainstream success upon its release, it has since been regarded as a classic album that helped define the singer-songwriter genre of the 1980s. Vega's debut remains a timeless and introspective journey into her world, inviting listeners to join her on a poetic exploration of life and love. 4/5

Somewhat odd choice, as its her second album that has the only tracks the wider public will remember (Luka and Tom's Diner). So is Solitude Standing also on this list, as 2 Suzanne Vega seems very generous. Anyway. Fey is a very underused word but absolutely describes Vega's delicate, at times whimsical vibe. Marlene on the Wall is a top track, and the album a good listen. Not so sure about the The Queen and the Soldier which is a valiant attempt to update the seventies singer-songwriter love for getting medieval on yo song (thinking Mr Stevens and his Lady D'Arbanville or Lindisfarne's Lady Eleanor. Not mentioning the full Rick Wakeman. So at times four, but overlal three.

Why her and why this album? This isn’t even her popular album.

2.75

I'm familiar with a couple of Suzanne Vega songs: "Luka" and "Tom's Diner." Fun fact: some classmates of mine did a kickass lip sync of "Tom's Diner" at speech competitions in middle school. I'm pretty sure they won some trophies at some of these competitions with this performance, and rightfully so, because they crushed it. This was in the late 90's too, so I have no idea where they came up with the idea to do this particular song. By the way, did anyone else go to competitions like this in middle school? We'd compete in lip sync, prose, poetry, reader's theater, improv... maybe this was just a regional thing. I digress. I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this album since I only know a couple of Suzanne Vega songs, but I was really impressed by this album. The lyrics were really great, and Vega did a great job alternating between singing and sing-speaking on these songs. These lyrics cover a wide range of topics, from loss of childhood innocence to suicide, and all of these topics are covered with a poetic beauty. I really liked that there was a theme of winter and coldness throughout the lyrics too, and a lot of the musical elements matched that theme. Musically, this album was beautiful as well. I loved the guitar parts and the synthesizers and how they sounded together; it dates the music in a sense, but in a way that really sounds great. This album sounded like a folk singer from the sixties hopped in a time machine and went to 1984, and I think it's a really unique sound that I've never heard before. I loved the cold sound of the instrumentals as well. The acoustic guitar had an almost metallic quality to it at times, and it coupled well with the high-range synthesizer parts. The bass blends perfectly into the background to allow those higher-range instrumentals to be front and center. A lot of those 'colder' sounds remind me of what I love about Cocteau Twins albums. I thought this album was really good, and I had a good time listening to it. I would have never expected this from Suzanne Vega, but this was incredibly unique, and I hope future reviewers give it a fair shake.

This album genuinely surprised me. Never heard of her before, but the emotional and introspective lyrics and delivery were very touching, loved the guitar picking, well produced.

she speaks to me

Delicate and sweet and not a single song grabbed me. The vocals and guitar alone would’ve been better without all the studio BS. Did not like this much if at all.

I found this a bit boring.

Never heard of Suzanne Vega before, but I liked this, really good singer song writer album good voice and music. Deserves to be on the list.

I know the name, but how do I not remember any of these songs?

did not expect how much i'd love this

A pretty non-consequential singer-songwriter album, in my view in the Lilith-Fair style. Not much stands out to me. I guess she's talented lyrically but I wasn't sufficiently interested, musically to delve into them. Marlene on the Wall and Straight Lines stood out above the rest nothing very inspiring here 2.5 stars

I love the simple instrumentation, like a conversation between the bass, guitar, and drums. Her writing is all so poetic, and though she doesn’t have an incredibly powerful voice/delivery, it sounds so correct in the context of what she is saying and how the instruments play. An extra voice in the conversation.

When I saw this I thought oh good I like Suzanne Vega but hadn't listened to this debut. When Marlene On The Wall kicked in I immediately when to my music collection to see why I knew this song and it turns out that the two Suzanne Vega albums I have are 99.9F and Tried and True (which is a best of). The three tracks I already knew are fantastic songs, Marlene On The Wall, Small Blue Thing, The Queen And The Soldier. Overall it's a great album and certainly deserves more listens.

Last.fm tells me I listened to this once in 2013 and not since, so I guess it didn't make much of an impression, or I wasn't paying much attention. 🤷 Really liked it this time around, and definitely plan to revisit! It's got that mellow dreamy vibe I value in singer songwriters. Fave tracks - I liked the flow of "The Queen and the Soldier" going into "Knight Moves"

Итс окэй. Лучшая песня - The Queen and the Soldier.

This was weird. There’s some pretty good storytelling there but that’s about it. 2.5/5 stars.

Good stuff

Poetic and slow

This is a real echo of my personal history. I was leaving high school and going to Boston for college. I ended up dating a woman from Wellesley College and my freshman year the winter concert was Suzanne Vega. Everyone on campus was thrilled to have her -- they signed her up to do the concert on the basis of this record, and then she came out with Solitude Standing shortly after that. The concert was great, and folks had been playing the album in the dorms for months at that point. I think she brings a unique female voice to her songwriting, and that was unusual for the time. I'd put Tracy Chapman in the same general category, both amazing singer songwriters that speak of their own experiences -- and represent underrepresented voices. They really were trailblazers in every sense.

I first became familiar with Vega via “Tom’s Diner” and bought “Solitude Standing,” only to be surprised that the hit I knew was a DNA remix. But then I realized that she falls very much into the singer/songwriter domain I enjoy. Still, I never branched out in her catalog until this album showed up on the list. I really enjoyed it, and think she’s a fantastic storyteller.

It’s a perfectly fine album that seems to lean towards poetry that is sung. I’m not sure any of these songs rise to the level of Luca or Toms Diner and most are forgettable for me.

This is my jam. I knew the name but never listened. Right in the sweet spot for me in terms of music. Definitely going to check out others from her catalogue

When i got into it there were some good tunes in a coffee shop on the beach type. "marlene on the wall" was particularly good. overall could have been a thousand different artists though. 2.4

a very beautiful soft folk album. compared to vega's more experimental ventures later in her discography, her debut is somber, sweet, and just... it's a very relaxing album for a rainy day. listening to the album made me just long for better days.

I liked this more with each listen. I guess I like department-store-core. A lot of these songs go hard in a really soft way; if Freeze Tag and Small Blue Thing had drum drops, they would unironically pop off. It’s giving Cranberries, it’s giving 90s, it’s giving Tarzan soundtrack, it’s giving Schoolhouse Rock. I apologize for all the Gen Zed slang in this review

Mid and 😴. My sister says it sounds like something that would play at Kohls between Kohls Cash ads. Department-store-core

This is troll that this album popped up bc i recently discovered Toms Diner and I absolutely love it. So how you gonna give us the Suzanne Vega album without Toms Diner! Cmon now list. But i actually enjoyed this album but nothing revolutionary IMHO. Marlene on the wall slaps but Undertow was freaky 🥴

5/10 very neutral

Sounds like a kid wrote these songs.

Cool and chill

Most of this album falls flat with me. The instrumentation is basic and her vocals don’t carry much and often seem off balance. There is some redemption to be had with the intriguing narratives and mood of the Queen and Soldier and Night Moves.

Pleasant. Nice. ok.

Creative lyrics, though they did seem like the type I would have written in middle school. Some moments took me out of my comfort zone and I appreciate that. Probably won't return but glad I listened.

Way cooler than I even expected. The only Suzanne Vega songs I'd heard before were Tom's Diner and Luka, but this music was much more driving and acoustically folksy than I expected. Great bass sound on a lot of these tracks, awesome vocals throughout, of course, and some great acoustic guitar riffs. The lyrics are very expressive, imaginative and evocative. Such great storytelling in The Queen and the Soldier and Knight Moves. Such a pure and beautiful voice and lots of minor keys that sound really cool when she sings. Great recording quality and crisp sounding instruments, lovely ambience. All of the songs were so good I listened to the album twice. Five stars easily.

9 albums in and there's finally a woman represented

I had thought about rating this at two stars for the minimalism, but I kept going back to Vega’s simple voice and finding it too compelling to rate it lower. I prefer Vega’s sophomore album to this one (maybe that’ll be on this list too?) but I cannot fault this lovely disc more than 3 stars.

Ok, these songs not as good as hits from other albums

Should've listened to this before...nice.

some great vibes throughout

There’s some great instrumentation in this album, buried underneath her lackluster singing. It would be better without the vocals.

Good. Nothing special, but you can hear the early 90s sounds that would come out of this album.

Rating: 8/10 Best songs: Marlene on the wall, Undertow, Knight moves

Reminds me of Julia Holter’s “Have You in My Wilderness”. Really enjoyed the sound of the album and the lyrics were interesting. Favourite song on an initial listen is “The Queen and the Soldier”.

Very good songwriter. Odd that to start the album I like only the even numbered songs “Freeze tag” and “Small blue things” are pretty outstanding and she has a great voice. “Knight moves” is absolutely delightful and reminds me a bit of Ani Di Franco ( and yes I do know Suzanne was before Ani). It was nice to also see that her catalogue is deeper than "Tom's Diner."

This is fine. A couple pretty sweet songs, a lot of it blurs together. Pretty enough though.

i like it

This one takes me right back to my dorm room my first year in college, where I used to listen to it a lot. It's one I haven't listened to in years and years, yet it was so comfortably familiar. I love these songs and Vega's voice. It’s a little less polished than her later, more famous work, but I love that I was all in from the beginning.

First time listener for this album. That statement has me raising some questions about myself…

I remember thinking when this came out that the lyrics were super weird. I just thought they were lovely today. Top notch.

“It’s a one time thing it just happens a lot.” The first words I ever heard from Suzanne Vega hold a very special place for me, having first heard them in 1986 sitting alone in a dark room. Those words immediately became a permanent phrase in my library of self talk, still surfacing in my consciousness on a nearly weekly basis. I love this beautiful, understated album and the artist who created it. Every song on this is very special to me. I’m glad it’s here.

Suzanne Vega is a real singer/songwriter, not one of those many who claim to be one. She‘s a story teller, not a lyricist. The music fits the themes, so the delivery is nearly perfect. Fun to listen to, not just the music, but also the lyrics.

Not my cup of tea, but nice voice.

Easy to listen to. I felt like I was in a coffee shop or bar with a singer-songwriter.

Feels fresh and new with much potential.

Describing an artist as a 'singer-songwriter' sometimes feels like being served white bread. It's often comforting and familiar, and made by the right people, it can be amazing. But more often than not, it's sort of plain. Great for background music in a coffee shop, but it can all sort of sound the same after a while. I had heard of Suzanne Vega before but never knew her music. It was a nice surprise and had a bit more character than I imagined it would, with distinct different sounds to each song. The music seems both timeless but with subtle hints of 80s pop music. Really nice album.

There were some stand out songs ("The Queen and the Soldier"), but other songs weren't my cup of tea. The first song in particular was weak ("Cracking").

definitely from 1985. . . slow. . . spoken. . . word. . . opening song. oof... she reminds me of radio from 1985-1987, when pop was losing its way and record labels backed the wrong artists and were continuously pushing cheesy shit. I listened through this whole thing and did not find a reason to listen ever again. Maybe "Small Blue Thing" is a decent song, and I can hear the influence o later bands like the Throwing Muses.

Some decent tunes, but my God, is the mix awful, with her vocals so undefined and remote.

Cracking✅ Straightlines✅

Wasn't expecting much, but this was a fun little album.

Fabulously sweet

Another unexpected brilliant album. The story telling on this puts me in mind of Taylor Swift. I love a song that tells a tale.

An interesting subdued modern folk record.

I have a playlist where I add songs I like from this list. This is the first time, where I knew none of the songs and wanted to add almost every single one to the playlist. Suzanne Vega makes it all seem so easy, from the Joni Mitchell influenced unpredictable melodies to the almost British folktale outings on side 2. Delightful.

Instantly one of the best albums of 1985. Suzanne Vega’s debut is a work of pure beauty; the intricate lyrics, the Pastorius-like bass and flawless songwriting. As Joni Mitchell used the 80’s to dig into the trends of pop music, Vega stood ready to take over. I was getting ready to listen to some more albums today. I might just end up putting “Small Blue Thing” on repeat.

I'm pretty sure that how much a person appreciates music depends on their environment and mood, because I normally kind of like Suzanne Vega. However, today I switched it off because it was so dreary!

nu dziar stwo

Meh

Released in 1985, Suzanne Vega's self-titled debut album is a captivating introduction to an artist who would become known for her introspective lyrics, evocative storytelling, and unique blend of folk and rock influences. This review delves into the album's core elements, exploring its strengths and weaknesses while examining its lasting impact. Lyricism: Sharp Observations and Poetic Depth Vega's lyrics are the cornerstone of the album. With a keen eye for detail and a talent for vivid imagery, she paints intimate portraits of love, loss, loneliness, and urban living. In "Small Blue Thing," she uses the metaphor of a trinket to represent the fragility of a relationship, singing, "Like a marble/or an eye/made of china/made of glass." "Left of Center" showcases her observational skills as she paints a picture of a bustling city street, capturing the fleeting moments and interactions between strangers. However, her lyrics aren't simply descriptive. They often delve into the complexities of human emotions, like the longing in "Marlene" and the resignation in "Calypso." The poignant ballad "The Queen and I" critiques societal expectations surrounding female beauty, while "Night Vision" explores the anxieties of being a young woman in a big city. While some might find the constant focus on personal narratives introspective to the point of being isolating, Vega's ability to imbue personal experiences with universality is undeniable. Music: A Delicate Balance of Folk and Rock Musically, the album is a subtle blend of folk and rock influences. Vega's distinct, slightly husky voice and her masterful acoustic guitar playing form the core of the sound. The arrangements, primarily sparse and intimate, emphasize the emotional intensity of the lyrics. Tracks like "The Man Who Couldn't Cry" and "Cracking" rely solely on her voice and guitar, creating a raw and vulnerable atmosphere. However, the album isn't entirely devoid of dynamic instrumentation. Songs like "Calypso" and "Left of Center" incorporate subtle percussion and bass, adding a touch of rhythmic texture. The title track even features a brief but impactful saxophone solo, showcasing Vega's willingness to experiment within her established sound. While the minimalist approach might lack the sonic grandeur of some contemporary albums, it perfectly complements the introspective nature of the lyrics. Production: Clean and Uncluttered The production on the album is clean and uncluttered, allowing Vega's voice and songwriting to take center stage. Lenny Kaye, the album's co-producer and guitarist for The Patti Smith Group, ensures a polished yet organic sound, focusing on clarity and sonic fidelity rather than elaborate effects. This approach allows the emotional honesty of the music and lyrics to shine through. However, some critics might argue that the minimalist production lacks the depth and experimentation found in later works. The use of primarily acoustic instruments and relatively static arrangements can, at times, feel one-dimensional, particularly when compared to the more diverse sonic landscapes Vega explored in subsequent albums. Themes: Exploring the Human Condition The album grapples with themes that resonate deeply with the human experience. Loneliness, alienation, and the search for connection are recurring motifs. Songs like "Left of Center" and "Marlene" capture the isolating feeling of navigating a city as an outsider. "The Queen and I" challenges societal beauty standards, while "Small Blue Thing" explores the fragility of love. Additionally, gender dynamics and class struggles are subtly woven into the lyrics, offering glimpses into the social landscape of the 1980s. While these themes are universal and relatable, some listeners might find them overly personal and lacking in broader social commentary. However, Vega's ability to tell compelling stories through personal narratives contributes to the album's enduring appeal. Influence: A Pioneering Voice in Folk Music Suzanne Vega's self-titled debut was a critical and commercial success, establishing her as a distinct voice in the New York folk scene. Her blend of introspective lyrics, acoustic instrumentation, and storytelling resonated with audiences tired of the polished pop sound that dominated the airwaves. The album paved the way for a generation of female singer-songwriters who embraced vulnerability and social commentary in their work, artists like Ani DiFranco and Tori Amos. While its influence can be felt across various genres, its legacy is most prominent in the realm of folk music, where Vega continues to be recognized as a trailblazer. In Conclusion: A Powerful Debut with Enduring Appeal Suzanne Vega's self-titled album is a powerful debut that showcases her unique songwriting talents and captivating storytelling abilities. While its minimalist production and introspective lyrics might not appeal to everyone, its strength lies in its raw honesty and emotional authenticity. The album stands as a testament to the enduring power of personal narratives and its influence continues to be felt across different

Not my cup of tea honestly.

February 26, 2024 HL: “Cracking”, “Marlene on the Wall”, “Straight Lines”, “The Queen and the Soldier” It’s a little sophisti-pop (a la Everything But the Girl), and a little coffeehouse folk (a la Norah Jones), but I found this a more engaging listen than albums by those aforementioned artists. The synthy touches on songs like “Cracking” & “Small Blue Thing” don’t overwhelm the core songwriting & nice guitar work. And even though I often neglect lyrical content in these blurbs (perhaps making reviewing folk and hip-hop harder than it has to be), there’s a lot of rich imagery of nature, castles and vintage cinema here. Nice to finally remove my impression of Suzanne Vega from “do do doo do do do doo do”

Interesting songwriting. I found myself actually listening instead of just putting it on in the background.

Like slam poetry music. Very slow and wasn’t my vibe. She has a great voice tho when she’s actually singing. Reminded me a bit of jewel but the lyrics weren’t as impactful.

Easy listening. Nothing special, but not bad.

This is artsy, but not completely arrogantly pretentious. Can get boring, yet always remains beautiful. Original at parts, not so much at others. Good instrumentation, production is just fine. Pretty average. 3/5

Lovely voice, great guitar. An overall good time.

pretty 2.5

This album is a little boring. Carole King and Jewel do the "white girl plays acoustic guitar with heartfelt lyrics" way better. It's not bad perse, but I found nothing particularly memorable about this album.

Not too folky, not too 80s-cheesy, just right.

Neat and intricate lyrical Pop Folk album. Enjoyable, but I feel like I’d need to listen more to fully appreciate. Added to my library

No real feelings on this one, it was fine ig

Some nice musical ideas but something annoyed me in the vocals/lyrics but I can't put my finger on it. However, 35 mins long so can't complain.

Very mid-80s sound, bass is non-existant and everything sounds reverb-y. Now Suzanne Vega, I mean I like her next album that had Luka & Tom's Diner, but this one sounds like another artist I'm struggling to remember, maybe all mid-80s albums just sounded the same, you could tell me this was Carly Simon in her Coming Around Again era and I'd probably believe you

Lol wtf

Beautiful voice. Loved the vibe and feel of the album.

Ok tier, bien mais pas marquant. 2.5

Bof bof hein

Good album.

definitely some tunes 3.5

01) Cracking - 7,5 02) Freeze Tag - 7,0 03) Marlene on the Wall - 7,5 04) Small Blue Thing - 8,0 05) Straight Lines - 7,0 06) Undertow - 7,0 07) Some Journey - 6,5 08) The Queen and the Soldier - 6,5 09) Knight Moves - 7,0 10) Neighborhood Girls - 6,5 TOTAL: 7,05 (71/100) Her voice reminds me of Dolores O'Riordan in some places... The best song to me is "Small Blue Thing".

Familiar sound and voice. Enjoyed it because the lyrics were personal, and the narrative of each song reflects this. I would put this on a playlist..

Some good songs

The guitar of the intro gave me hope but then the song was pretty bad, thought the "speaking with rhythm" was gonna be a more prominent feature but thank got it wasn't. The songs from there ranged from ok to great with the latter half of the album being generally better. Funky ending too. 4 stars.

Incredibly lovely album. So many great hooks combined with great storytelling and impeccable guitar playing. An all time great

Liked some lyrics, didn’t like the sound

Pretty boring.

Eh

du bon folk ben beige. rien qui sort du lot 5/10

Guitarra y voz. Canciones melancólicas. Un 4.

A poet’s work. As that, it’s very good.

I really enjoyed this. A lot more than I thought I would. Her lyrics are great.

This was boring and inconsequential. It's not bad, but this should not be on this list.

If you didn't know the artist / album, you'd say this was released in the 80s. It absolutely ooooooooozes 80s.

My favourite singer-songwriter album on this list so far. She has a beautiful voice and it works great on this style of folk music. Stand-out: Marlene On The Wall

As expected but not bad for that. I actually quite enjoyed it. 3*

It was fine. I was hoping for more.

Nice voice, but very boring album.

I enjoyed this - lovely light album. Marlena is a great song. Folky and gentle.

Great lyrics and nice musicality

Singer? Sure. Songwriter? Please no. Even though Suzanne Vega has a nice enough voice, every track here sounds the same - and it’s not even that good.

Jeg vil give Suzanne at hendes lyd er lidt forud for hendes tid, for den her slags adult alternative blev kæmpestort i 90erne. Vældig fine sange men ikke lige et album jeg kommer til at finde frem igen tror jeg

Har aldrig hørt et Suzanne Vega album før, og det her pladecover er mega min-fars-cd-samling-core, men jeg var vild med det! Fede 80er vibes, gode tekster, flotte sange. Skriver lige bag øret at jeg skal vende tilbage til den her.

Fine sange, men det gjorde absolut intet for mig. Forstår ikke helt hvorfor den her plade er på listen 🤷

"Solitude Standing" is a great singer songwriter album. Really cool story telling. "Tom's Diner" is iconic!

Never heard of her before but i liked the album a lot!

Very cool. Early 90's female soft rock. Worth listening to other Suzanne Vega albums. I liked Knight Moves.

If released in 1995 I would have given just 3 stars. But knowing what mainstream music was like in ‘85 it’s easy to see how trailblazing this was and how incredible for Vega to have earned the following she did. Extra credit for context points!

Seeing the cover with the song titles on it, I scanned for "Tom's Diner" and it wasn't on there? That is to say, I may not have consciously heard any other song by Suzanne Vega, ever and: this is very nice! Thank You, 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Halfways in (skipping around a bit), favourite so far "Small Blue Thing"

Not really my record. But „Knight Moves“ is a gem. So it’s three stars. Maybe it will grow over time.

Nice, laid back again. Definitely can see how this started a bit of a trend. I like it. Marlene on the Wall is good,

Fun listen to the lyrics that are literal and metaphorical in a spoken type voice. Recognized the voice but didn’t connect til after.

1/5. Indie pop that could be a lot better, like it's not terrible but it's really not that good. Just pretty unforgettable songs, wish there was more here but it's just a bland record with not much to offer, not even a re-listen is worth it.

This passed me by without touching the sides. The voice doesn’t appeal and I can’t remember any of the songs. Bland.

There's some great songwriting here for a debut. Only Tracy Chapman pushes her close for the best debut release. This doesn't sound like a mid-80's record. The production serves the songs, not the times. Suzanne has such an understated voice. She makes grown men weep, almost 40 years later.

Suena a The Cranberries light.

Gefällt mir nicht.

I’ve known the name for awhile, but never listened. Like a lot of folky music, if the lyrics don’t speak to you there’s not much else super interesting. Good at times, but largely nondescript.

Played this over and over again when I first got it. Happy memories

Blind album, know the artist for the infamous Tom's Diner MP3 fiasco. Who knew she had other music to listen to? /s It was alright and not my style but glad I tried it of course.

3.5

Cracking: 6.8 Freeze Tag: 7.8 Marlene On The Wall: 8.3 Small Blue Thing: 6.5 Straight Lines: 8.5 Undertow: 7.3 Some Journey: 8.6 The Queen And The Soldier: 7.5 Knight Moves: 7.3 Neighborhood Girls: 8.3

This one's alright. I think the best way I can put this album is "It's nothing special, but it also doesn't give me any reason to dislike it." It is perfectly average. The singing was worrying at first since I didn't really like the talking style of the first song, but then she started actually singing in the second song which sounded good for the rest of the album. The sound was decent. I really liked the bass in the last song. The writing was a bit basic and it was somewhat repetitive in theming at first, but it got better in the second half. I do like how the royal imagery of "The Queen and the Soldier" carries into "Knight Moves". I just think that's a neat theming idea. Overall, this is a decent folk rock album. 3/5.

me re gustó jejeje 8/10

Nice folky/singer-songwriter stuff

Pleasant. Nothing really stood out, but was nice to have on in the background. Unlike most things from the mid-80s, it didn't sound dated at all. Not sure I would have placed it correctly if I didn't know beforehand. Album cover looked like it was knocked together by an 8-year old who's just got into MS Paint

I don't think I've listened to Suzanna Vega, but I liked this album. The guitar playing and songwriting was pretty unique, definitely something I want to listen to again.

Was ready for this to be lame, but I actually liked it decently. 80s folk is a strange thing, but I'm into it a bit. 3.49/5

Honestly kind of boring, nothing really stood out. D

Lepa muzika

I liked a few of the songs but the ones I don't I really don't.

9/10 absolutely wonderful poetry and beautiful instrumentals — a really really great album

Can't believe this is from 1985, sounds like it's from 97. She has a wonderful rythmn to her voice. Love the production Short and sweet, doesn't overstay its welcome Knight Moves is the highlight High 3

half listened to

p535. 1985. 2 stars. Average 80s singer-songwriter with teenage angst lyrics, shiny production and quality guitar work. One standout track, but otherwise it's nothing exceptional - too many tracks sound the same, and it hasn't dated well. On the plus side it's short.

I like this vibe.

Like the voice but these are musical doodles. There's better stuff from her.

Great sound but not many memorable songs.

I like it more than I thought I would. There was this energy that kept me engaged throughout the entire album even with the straight forward arrangements. Maybe it's the honesty I liked so much. 3.5

ok

Started off slow but grew on me.

Easy listening with thoughtful lyrics but got a bit samey

Ah esta mono para fondo por que tiene ese mood de los 80s pop pero no me atrapo.

really nice 70s folky-pop carole king/joni mitchell kinda vibes

“Marlene on the Wall” was probably the first song I can remember hearing from Suzanne Vega, which made a ripple on college radio shortly after this album came out. Interestingly enough, what made Suzanne Vega stand out in 1985-86 was all the things she wasn’t. ‘85-86 was all noise and bombast and hairspray and frippery and what looked good in a music video. This music stood out starkly because it was quiet - nuanced, thoughtful, minimalist, grown up. The lyrics are gorgeous- intimate, beautiful enough to read on their own, like poetry. This sound felt incredibly fresh, and was an early arrival in a wave of women singer songwriters who would appear in the late 80s into the 90s. For a young woman coming up in a time that didn’t make much space for young women’s voices, music like this was more meaningful than I can express. The worst thing you can say about this album is that its best qualities are kind of also its weakest qualities. If I say it’s thoughtful and minimalist, some might dismiss it as bland or boring. It all boils down to taste, but it’s worth a little patience. I will say that this album has aged really well, better than most of the music that overshadowed it at the time. Minus some of the backing instrumentation that feels a touch dated now, Vega could put these songs out today and they’d still sound incredibly fresh. Fave Songs: Marlene on the Wall, Knight Moves, Small Blue Thing, Undertow, The Queen and the Soldier

Vega has written several 5 star songs of course but not on this album, at least not for me, it is ultraboring.

Nice folky songs, Marlene stands out, the rest is adequate.

プロダクション、アレンジが物足りない。

Pretty nice

Very chill 80s vibes. Not the most exciting but I still liked it.

Cracking - Shape of My Heart by Sting. oh fuck me. please don't be a spoken fucking word. thank god. i really thought i was going to be listening to Taylor Swift x Cake. oh jk it is just Taylor Swift as Cake. (2/5 the instruments are good. i would listen to a audiobook if i didn't want to listen to music) Freeze Tag - okay this is music. this really doesn't sound like '85. this sounds like a pop album that would come out recently. i'm actually surprised. (3/5 this album is on thin ice for the first track so i'm putting this song in the middle) Marlene On The Wall - okay i am going to say something controversial but brave. there is an artist that i have a disdain for. they paid a significant amount of money to sound like this about 5 years ago and i would not be surprised at all if this is what their current album sounds like. (4/5 i like the slow pop/folk almost country twang. this actually sounds really good so far. kind of Cranberries-esque) Small Blue Thing - i am really getting a mix of sounds. this is very Sting but it's also Cranberries. the most interesting thing i think this sounds like is Nitin Sawhney. all three i really enjoy. (5/5 i might have to give this album a 4/5 because of the first track) Straight Lines - i think this reminds me of Tom's Diner? this isn't my favorite (3/5 oh my god i didn’t know she was the one that did Tom’s Diner holy shit.) Undertow - Glad you Came beat. there's so many modern references it's weird. (4/5 this is actually not bad. i like the Phil Collins drums.) Some Journey - i just found out that she is who did Tom’s Diner and that’s all i can hear now. i’m enjoying this but i can hear echos of that song. (4/5 chill easy background bop) The Queen And The Soldier - very european folk pop. this is meant to be played on a lute and harpsichord. (3/5 the story telling could be a bit better but i see what she’s putting down) Knight Moves - okay break out the TOOL. the contrast on the instruments with her vocals is going pretty hard. this is exactly what this song is called. the song picked the title on this one. it’s very psychedelic and progressive pop/rock. the music takes place in a forest at dusk while it’s raining. (5/5 idk this gets the imaginative senses going. i’m also a little high and i totally get why people listen to chill psychedelic music while high.) Neighborhood Girls - it sounds like Cake. 1/5 besides where this trails into a spoken word over a good beat, this album actually fucks. the last song isn't actually a 1/5, she does actually sing later in the song and it sounds good (the bass fucks). but because the spoken word stuff spoils it a little i gotta dip to a 4/5. that and some of the songs were stuff more to keep on in the background and not actualy pay attention to. very good album where it counted though.

Tykkään artistin toisesta levystä enemmän muttei tämäkään huono ollut. Kivan simppeli 3/5

Jännä levy. Kiva lauluääni ja aika siisti tunnelma. Mutta välillä vähän teennäistä lyriikoita myöten. Pari biisiä sai sen verran epämukavaksi, että täytyy jättää nyt kahteen.

Aluksin pidin levystä yllättävän paljon, mutta kun tänä aamuna kuuntelin osia uudestaan oli taika karissut. Ihan kelpoa kasaripoppista, mutta ei nouse erityisesti verrokkiensa yläpuolelle.

I found it hard to decide whether I liked this or not. I think it will take a few more tries to really have a true opinion, but I suppose for right now I can say that I found it more enjoyable than not. Don't want to do you dirty, Suzanne.

Like a coffee shop music night - not terrible but not good. 1.5 stars

not really my type

Meh

My first exposure to Suzanne Vega was in 6th grade when someone in my band class was singing a parody of Tom’s Diner involving eating Cheetos on a sofa. Shortly after, there was a Nick and Nite commercial for “I Dream of Genie” that used the same melody. Eventually I was able to trace it back to the hit song by Vega and DNA. I also really enjoyed that song, but I never listened to anything else of hers until now. Suzanne is a great example of that female singer songwriter genre that has been replicated and expanded over the years. It’s an enjoyable listen, but maybe one street over from my comfort zone. The production and “style” (lyrically, melodically) hold up very well and sound like something that could’ve been released 15 years later than it was. I also see small lyrical glimpses of what Taylor Swift became. While it doesn’t carry the same venom, I still can hear that practice where they both put themselves inside of an exaggerated fantasy and play it out. I may give this one another listen in due time, but I’m not itching to put it on repeat

I loved her voice and melodies.

Not my cup of tea. She has a nice voice but I don't relate to it personnally. I don't like this style of talk-singing song style.

J’aime beaucoup la voix, les mélodies. Me rappelle le premier album de Jewel, qui a sûrement été influencée

Never heard of her, but this is really pleasant. Very pretty voice! I've been in a mood for some singer songwriter these past few days, so I'm not even mad that this is the third album in the genre I've had this week. Goes hard as hell. 4/5, very much something I will be returning to a lot.

A lovely lil bit of folk pop, great lyricist

Haven’t heard of this artist - described as Pop from 1985. I do like the 80s so we’ll see… Not really enjoying it that much so far, don’t hate it just meh. 2/5.

Gear: DCA ÆON 2 Noire Mix: federleicht und fragil (lies: mager) Musik: schön - reicht aber jetzt auch erstmal wieder Wertung: 🪶🪶(🪶)/5

Pretty good. Like a straight ani defranco

Geht so bisschen zu 80s

Really like Suzanne Vega, especially hits like Tom's Diner and Luka... this album does have Marlene on the Wall, which is great, and reminds me of Three Malenas

It is really a stripped down singer-songwriter vibe, with the occasional talky delivery which doesn't work too well. I think Undertow is my favorite... Marlene and Small Blue Thing are fine, but don't have the catchiness of songs on her later releases, like Luka and Tom's Diner. Overall, it's a bit boring, but generally inoffensive.

First couple of tracks I was worried that this was going to be pleasant but pedestrian forgettable folk. But then Marlene On The Wall really jumped out, grabbed my attention and gave me high hopes for the rest of the album… and then… settled back into pleasant pedestrian forgettable folk.

To the best of my knowledge, the only Suzanne Vega song I know is Tom’s Diner. Although that track won’t be found on this album, it does make me optimistic and eager to listen. Let’s find out if it’s any good! Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Marlene On The Wall, The Queen And The Soldier This was every bit as nice and cosy as I was expecting. It felt like a folly singer-songwriter album, perhaps inspired by the greats such as Joni Mitchell and Carol King, but with a more modern sound (well, slightly more - it was still released in 1985 after all). It was delightful to get comfy with a big jumper and even bigger headphones. I’d recommend this to people who like cosy music.

Cracking is too spoken word to me. Marlene On The Wall is very good. Neighborhood Girls has a very cool instrumental. Too bad a lot of the vocals are quite talky.

Was alright. 5/10

Nice singer songwriter album

Pretty boring

# 101 : Not bad, very 80's singer/songwriter style. Mostly acoustic fair with beautiful melodies. I can listen to it, but I wont rush back to it. Favourite Track : Marlene On The Wall Listened : 02/11/2023

I am going to tell my kids this was Taylor Swift.

Totes les cançons són més o menys iguals. M'ha agradat l'estil general però no és res de l'altre món. Té una veu bonica, això sí, i l'àlbum té la llargada justa per no fer-se pesat i ser una petita experiència bonica i agradable.

She…sings…like…this…which…isn’t …really…singing…it’s…just…talking…really…slowly…one…word…at…a…time. She kinda sounds like Jewel’s older stuff before she went full country. I rather listen to Jewel though. It wasn’t bad but I probably won’t go out of my way to listen to this album again. 4/10

These are not songs. This is slam poetry read with music in the background. She titled the album her name so you didn’t think it was Fiona Apple. The titanic is sinking, we’re not gunna make it. Sorry Suzanne no room for you on the door. I could fall asleep to “Small Blue Thing” Pretty relaxing. Other than that I’m glad it was a short album so I can go back to listening to music. 2/10

Definition of just meh. There isn't a single song on this album that stands out and most tracks are just basic lyrics that just play until they finish. I didn't really get the point of this album and for curiosity sake I listened to some of her other music and it was much better. Why did they pick this album when she has better music, I feel cheated. 4/10

Just a girl and her Taylor guitar. Teeters between music that would be featured in School House Rock and an emotional scene in an 80s movie where the teenage main character walks through a wooded road thinking about their mistakes and it is kind of a montage but not really. Suzanne Vegaina. Ok, it could also be a scene in a teenage drama movie where the main character is a misunderstood bullied girl and she has reached her last straw and turns to cutting, with a Taylor guitar perfectly placed in the background, it’s a montage. ‘Straight lines’ are the cuts from the montage girl. Hear me out, it’s a teenage drama movie based in a small town of Washington State and the main character is a quiet girl who hasn’t found her voice, there is a big school talent show and her single dad who is played by some generic B list white actor with a mustache, thinks that she really should sing a song for the show, so she builds up the courage throughout the 85 min run time and after a big fight with her dad she sings on the stage ‘Undertow’ by Suzanne Veganus, as she finishes the song she peers out into the audience to see the crowd crying with amazement and her dad is in the back smiling and does the head nod of approval with arms crossed thing, in the final scene she sets her guitar down on its stand as her mustached father calls her down for dinner, as the camera pans out it reveals the logo of the guitar, Taylor, credits role over a montage of pictures of Taylor guitars. 4/10

Singer songwriter stuff. Unremarkable without context, but not bad.

Some of the songs were a little soft for my liking, but overall really liked the songwriting of this album. My mom played a lot of her growing up so it was nostalgic and cozy listening back to this album this morning. Favorites: Neighborhood Girls and Marlene on the Wall. 4/5

This was fine, not rly my thing

Liked it a lot, good guitar work and really liked the spoken word stuff

Hardly an essential album. If we must include one of her albums in a "must hear" list, it would be Solitude Standing.

Starting with a spoken word coffee shop piece was a bold move. I love her voice when she's singing though. Dated arrangements and too many songs about knights/queens notwithstanding, it's a fun album.

Best Song: Small Blue Thing. Really like the self-reflective, almost ethereal vibe on this one. Worst Song: Neighborhood Girls. This song feels like it eschews the great lyrics, which are the highlight, in favour of some honkytonk guitar. Overall: Pleasant singer-songwriter stuff. The songs have a warm, simple poetry to them. Sonically it all sounds kind of the same, but the lyrics do a good job of carrying the weight here.

Great sounding album. What a voice. Really reminds of of Jewel singing on Pieces of You. Amazing. Standouts: Marlene on the Wall, Cracking The whole album is special. Really going to keep this one in my rotation!

- That is one COMPLETELY new album. Have never heard of this lady before. - There's a lot from her sound that makes me think of the 90's and early 00's female singers. There's some Cranberries and Alanis Morrissette in there. - Pretty damn cool!

I tried, but female singer songwriters are just not my jam.

3/5 not much to say very much a blend of 80s/90s pop. Lyrics are a little strange at time but enjoyable Melodie’s and vocals.

The first half of the album left me conflicted. I felt a primal urge to build an igloo. I wasn't sure if I liked it. The music, not the notion of igloo construction. Suzanne has a pretty voice, a talent at placing words after another in a way that imparts meaning as well imagery, without feeling hollow underneath the surface. Her songwriting style is quirky for the time, and even now, feels unique to her, although I can hear her influences in songwriters that came after her. I may not have appreciated the first half of the album as much as I had hoped. I did enjoy the second half of the album more. Undertow conveys images of an angry mermaid ensnaring her lover. The placement of the Queen and the Soldier and Knight Moves seems like it was intentionally meant to convey two parts of a greater story. I don't know if she ever continues that story but I would love to hear more of that world. Both songs are very good, and showcase her writing prowess and ability to write a catchy hook, respectively. The stories she tells are fascinating in a weird way, and I am finding myself drawn in by curiosity. I might find myself going deeper into her wordsmithing at a later date.

Not my thing.

It's fine for what it is. Which is nothing memorable.

Definitive coffee shop music.

Im bored

This was fine as background music, but it wasn't something I'd seek out to listen on my own

smooth. little rough at the end.

This album was interesting it was like singing but talking at the same time

Great vibes, really solid album 5/5