Search - Indigo Girls :: Despite Our Differences (Coll) (Dig)

Another Chapter In The Indigo Girls Story

Laura Ann | Westbury, NY | 01/09/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"When you stop to reflect and think about the fact that Amy Ray and Emily Saliers have been recording Indigo Girl albums since the mid 1980's you realize what a rich body of work they have given us and how sometimes many critics under value and overlook their new work.



Listening to "Despite Our Differences" will force long time Indigo Girl fans to think back through the years and various periods of the girls work and once again appreciate having a new age of Indigo Girls music to step into. After a long history at CBS/Sony, "Despite Our Differences" is the first release on the Hollywood Records label and a wonderful sign of an artist receiving a fresh welcome from a new home to continue to create in their own unique way.



"Pendulum Swinger" is an apt name for an opening track on an album that finds both Amy and Emily taking a fresh view at the current landscape of our world, our popular culture, our politics, and their own place inside of it. "Rock and Roll Heavens Gate" is an Amy Ray track that rocks with the punk rock fueled angst of her solo work and is an excellent song for many of us middle aged rebels who still believe in the power of music to be true and inspirational despite the way the corporate climate tries its best to stifle the life out of all of it. "Lay My Head Down" is Emily Sailers at her best. Her songs are always so emotionally powerful and she seems to lay out her heart and soul into all of her tracks on "Despite Our Differences."



It has been a long time since the Indigo Girls amazingly successful 1989 debut, but one should never overlook a new release from them as they consistently find a way to get under your skin with their sense of searching and always seeking to inspitre themselves and all of us with each new work."

Despite All Preconceived Notions

J. Brady | PAWLEYS ISLAND, SC United States | 01/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although it has roots in pop, folk, country and rock, "Despite Our Differences" is completely free of the pretention, posturing and empty sloganeering that usually fatally flaws those genres. Musically and lyrically honest, and incredibly resonant, this collection of songs is hook-filled and catchier than I ever thought possible. Hard to believe these ladies have been at it for the better part of twenty years and are still capable of writing such great songs. A mixture of full band arrangements and spare acoustics that are absolutely impeccably produced, this cd just plain SOUNDS good, with nothing added to the mix that doesn't belong. This is the antithesis of ( and the perfect antidote to ) prefab teen pop, precocious ( and pretentious ) art-rock and empty, bravado-filled rap. Standout tracks include "Little Perennials" ( thank you, Miss Ray, for giving me my newest favourite should-have-been-a-hit single ), "Money Made You Mean" ( which is even better in the live version featured on the bonus disc ), "Run",the gorgeous ballad "Fly Away" and the urgent, angry "Rock and Roll Heaven's Gate." This is the kind of pop album REM used to make before they disappeared up their own arses, that Let's Active made before they disappeared completely and that most of the new wave of young, sensitive singer-songwriters ( Mayer, Jones, Branch, et al ) only wish they could make. If ever an album was truly deserving of heaps of praise, this is it. Richly rewarding and very highly recommended."

Must have new CD from Indigo Girls - fantastic!!!

susan from atlanta | 10/24/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This new CD is really great, it is a finely tuned clean record, and you can just tell that Emily and Amy have been at this a while and really know what they are doing in studio. There is a good mix of songs, some fast, some slow, all new and different yet still familiar to long time fans. They are a timeless act - catch their live show if you can, they are fantastic in concert and these new songs live are even better and seem to slip seamlessly into their line up of older music. Get this one, you will not be disappointed."