Search - Barbara Manning :: One Perfect Green Blanket

A Must-Own Album

alg99 | Chicago, USA | 10/07/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Barbara Manning has her quirks. She worships baseball (her non-solo act band is named after defunct minor league San Francisco Seals), is excessively fond of semi-obscure New Zealand bands like The Bats, and as a previous reviewer pointed out, doesn't have the best self esteem. Still, I'll take her any day over the hoards of angry, self-obsessed, art school dropout female singer-songwriters currently populating the scene (and you know who you are).



This beautiful album (actually two packaged together) is loaded with great pop songs sung in Manning's sweet, occasionally bitter voice. As a songwriter, she favors pop hooks ("Straw Man," "Sympathy Wreath," "Scissors," "Somewhere Soon") but isn't afraid to explore the less obvious in songs like "Make It Go Away" and "Mark E. Smith & Brix." The latter gives you some idea of her influences which include The Fall, along with Brian Eno, The Clean and, oddly enough, Hoagy Carmichael.



Manning likes to pay tribute to these influences and this CD features several covers--a nice version of Smoking Her Wings by The Bats' Robert Scott and several by former 28th Day bandmate Cole Marquis. But her own songs are the standouts, particularly Scissors, a song that reels between self-blame and good-riddance anger--all against an infectious beat. "Someone Wants You Dead" is a mystery of a song that reminds me in its eerie meaning of Freedy Johnston's "This Perfect World." Finally, "Talk All Night" is a gorgeous acoustic number that you'll want to play well, all night.



This is a great introduction to Barbara Manning and an essential American indie-rock album. Listeners interested in more of Manning should also check out her solo 1212 and the S.F. Seals album Truth Walks in Sleepy Shadows."

Part of my rotation for 10 years (often on 3 days rest!)

R. Edward Poole | Washington, DC | 12/05/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"(...) In what I believe are her first 2 "solo" albums (after World of Pooh, which you should definitely check out if you can find it in an antique store that carries vinyl), Barbara Manning proved herself to be a clever songwriter, bursting with catchy hooks, well-crafted indie pop sensibilities, and moody (yet melodic) soundscapes. I first heard this disc as a college DJ in 1991 (which, unfortunately, is where much of Barbara's fan base is located), and I've played it at least once a week for the last 10 years. It's just superb. (...)"

18 songs: all hits, no errors

John L Murphy | Los Angeles | 01/16/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"While it lacks the epic scope of what I think's her best album, "1212," this double-header of a disc sounds satisfyingly consistent and, considering a probably miniscule budget, strong in both the guitar and the vocal departments. Barbara Manning's singing style may leave the uninitiated rather nonplussed. Like Mary Timony, she offers her musings in an unadorned, straightforward approach; but Manning is less willful or idiosyncratic. She lacks any attitude but her own, and in refusing to play into whatever hipness could have anointed her the latest singer-songwriter, she keeps my and her respect.



The tunes, while direct, have that wonderful hint of New Zealand-Flying Nun undertow that moves them along winningly. These tunes, especially "Sympathy Wreath"--which merits two at-bats here--hold up well and the pace does not slacken over 18 songs, a rarity for any artist. It's good to see that this is still in print, and I urge you to support her and the label with your purchase of a sadly under-promoted talent."