Search - Amel Larrieux :: Morning

One of Larrieux's best albums

silhouette_of_enchantment | USA | 04/03/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Morning" is one of Larrieux's best albums, in my opinion. I'm surprised that some reviewers called her a dime a dozen singer, and said this album is overproduced. She's one of the few singers I'd call an artist since she produces, writes and sings her own material. I just don't hear any overproduction on this album, since the music has such an abstract feel in some songs, and organic quality (favoring piano, drum, and guitar arrangements) on others. Plus, Amel doesn't get as much press as other singers (since her departure from Groove Theory.)



Music on "Morning" is more introspective, and isn't really meant to be danced to, in my opinion. (Some may disagree.) To me, this is a psychological exploration of the painful challenges (with self esteem, trust, relationships and dreams) facing women. The music is abstract, but good, in my opinion. I listen to this album whenever I'm facing challenges in my own life or relationships with others.



The reason why I like Larrieux is that not only is she a talented singer with a lovely voice; she's also a great songwriter, adept at creating imagery/allegories that explore deeper themes ("Gills and Tails" is one example). I can't overstate how rare that ability is these days for many songwriters.



"Trouble" is just a fun song about love at first sight. In "Unanswered Questions", she explores unrequited love, and what could have been if it fully matured. "Gills and Tails" is a beautiful song, one of my favorites on the album, along with "Earn my Affections" which should be an anthem for any woman entering into a relationship. "Magic" is about reconnecting with your inner spark to get your life and dreams back on track. (Others may disagree.)



Overall, a great effort."

Indie Soul

rmcrae | Houston, Texas | 05/21/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Amel Larrieux is the definition of criminally underrated. She's gotten plenty of love from the underground soul scene, but her flirtations with mainstream success have been fleeting. She signed with the major label Sony and released her first solo album Infinite Possibilities in 2000, but was dropped 2 years later. After forming her own label Blisslife, she released the 2004 follow-up Bravebird and the lead single For Real was a moderate success. Then nothing. You can't keep a good woman down though.



Amel's 2006 record Morning strips away the ethereal jazz of her solo debut and expands on the acoustic setting of Bravebird. Trouble is a girlish, fizzy song about finding "the one" and the solemn piano-led Unanswered Question addresses pondering if letting go of an ex was wise or a mistake. "Say you feel nothing when you see me/Say that where I walk flowers have grown/Say that I rocked your world/Say that I was never your girl/Just give me somethin'/Give me somethin' I can put in stone!", she pleads. No One Else is another tender dedication to her hubby Laru that was also featured on the Why Did I Get Married soundtrack.



The head bobber Earn My Affection calls for women to expect more from a man instead of accepting anything less than respect. "You got to earn my affection/Put your back into it/Before we get this show on the road/Don't make me/Lose all my self respect/I ain't desperate yet so/Come on now stop actin' out and act like you know." Having to go through life without a love to call her own, Amel is Weary of "singing this soldier song" and wants a man "to have my back and never do me wrong." "This woman is growing weary/Of having to be so strong/Of having to pretend I'm made of stone/So I won't end up with no broken bones/I can't fight every battle alone/I want someone to lift me/Heal my wounds and give me kisses on my head/Say words that should be said/Fear is not the matter/I would so much rather open up my heart/And lay down my guard." So relatable to anyone who's able to hold things together in their work life, but yearn "to go home to someone."



Amel has said that she suffered from insomnia as a child and Morning reflects on her feeling like she was the only person alive while everyone else slept. The acoustic guitar strummings and murmuring vocals recall Tracy Chapman and Joni Mitchell as they start off softly distant, but gain power as the song goes on. Like the sun rising over the horizon.



The imagery of Gills and Tails is original and captivating. Feeling like a "small fish" in a sea of sharks and other predators, Amel realizes she's made a big mistake in believing she could keep her originality intact in the company of "wannabes". "I look up with longing at the surface/Hypnotized by the way the sunlight seems to ride each ripple/And they do a dance/Every ray becomes a beckoning hand/I miss the sweet taste of oxygen/I mistook this for the promised land!" The beautifully layered vocals and ocean deep rhythm create an intoxicating production. The bizzarely executed Magic with it's random bleeps and buzzes advises those stressed out by lack of money and stacking bills to "tap into your magic" and boost your morale. Great advice during these times, econony wise.



The golden brown bliss of Just Once throws self-consciousness and insecurity to the wind and reminds us that "every hour/Every minute/Every moment, happens just once/Every human/Every being/Every lifetime, happens just once!" So don't feel down because you're not like everyone else. Bask in your individuality and go for your dreams. The last track Mountain of When sums up Amel's constant struggle for a chance to gain more exposure. God knows she deserves it!"