Paula Cole - This Fire (11 tracks) +Album Reviews +Used CD available for Swap

Passionate, wistful, ethereal music

Aaron Blight | Westminster, Maryland United States | 12/22/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For years I have been about 80% committed to buying this album, but I never actually did. Recently a friend recommended it to me, and that was enough to finally get me off the fence and buy it. I'm glad I did; I really enjoy it.This is really an excellent album. Besides the hits, "I Don't Want to Wait", "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone", and "Me", Paula Cole presents a compelling collection of songs on This Fire. This is not music for the casual listener; you will hear Paula Cole passionately sing about her vulnerabilities, her problems, her sorrows. Some may find such material too heavy, but it's precisely that intense level of introspection and occasional outrage that makes the album compelling. A wonderful surprise is Peter Gabriel's cameo appearance on "Hush, Hush, Hush", which is a beautiful song in its own right but is even better with Peter's distinguished contribution. I would not hesitate to recommend this album to fans of Lillith Fair artists (such as Sarah McLachlan, Sheryl Crow, Shawn Colvin, etc.). If you like intelligent, passionate music and can handle heavy lyrics, then you will appreciate this album."

Unusual Style - Not for Everyone

Lonnie E. Holder | Columbus, Indiana, United States | 11/21/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

""This Fire" is one of the most interesting albums I own. I originally purchased this album for the pop hit "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone". Other than this song, I wasn't familiar with Paula Cole, but I was sufficiently impressed with the single that it convinced me to buy the album.I found that in addition to the above mentioned song, "I Don't Want to Wait", "Throwing Stones", "Carmen", and all the songs after "Me" all have a pop sound, albeit with a wide range of pop styles and themes.The other songs on this CD offer an interesting span of styles. "Tiger", "Mississippi", and "Nietzsche's Eyes" have some vocal sound effects that remind me of Bjork. "Road to Dead" also sticks out, sung angrily in a style that I associate with Alanis Morissette.There is a lot of art to this music, and I struggle giving it a high recommendation because it isn't the kind of music I usually like. I will say that if you like Fiona Apple, Alanis Morissette, or virtually anyone associated with the Lilith Fair, except Sarah McLachlan, then you may find this music enjoyable. While Paula Cole seems to have the vocal capability to sing in a style similar to Sarah McLachlan, she generally chooses to sing in a style all her own that is different from Sarah.I'm giving this CD four stars because of Paula Cole's talent and vocal capability. However, do not judge the album by "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone" and "I Don't Want to Wait". Much of the rest of the CD is very different from these two songs. This CD is one where I strongly recommend you borrow a copy and determine whether you want to have it forever before you buy it."

Outstanding!

Adrian | Ljubljana, Slovenia, Europe | 01/14/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"First, I have to admit that before hearing this album I haven't had the slightest idea who Paula Cole is. But then, a girlfriend of mine borrowed me this CD and suggested that I should listen to it. And I did. It was a whole new experience, as I am much fond of female singers like Kate Bush, Tori Amos, Sarah McLachlan and Madonna, but Paula's voice gave me something different.The album begins with a great song "The Tiger" and flows into "Where have all the Cowboys gone?", there is an outstanding ballad "Nietzhe's eyes" and the end of the album is also the top: "I don't wanna wait" with a reminiscent of "Me" at the very end of the song. There are few songs I could skip without any harm, but this CD didn't come off my CD-player for a very long time. I suggest you listen to lyrics very carefully, especially in "Where have all the cowboys gone", "Throwing stones" and "Carmen". Her language is honest, passionate, almost brutal, but this is the point - sometimes you just have to be agressive to people for they could see the real world we live in.Of course, I went to the store to hear out also her other two albums, debut one and "Amen", but they left me totaly without any impression, because, compared to this one, they're much too blend. A great CD!"

I thought it would grow on me if I gave it a couple tries...

Adrian | 12/02/1999

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I thought it would grow on me if I listened to the CD a couple times because there are a couple songs I find good, and one that I really enjoy. The problem was, the album didn't grow on me, it grated on my nerves to the point where I didn't enjoy the songs I knew I used to like. To much screaming for my taste... I liked the song "feelin' love" because I will always associate it with the movie City of Angels (it's on that soundtrack.) I also enjoy the song "Where have all the cowboys gone" and "I don't want to have to wait". Everything else on the CD is not worth my time to listen to. You'd be better off listening to the radio and keeping your money."

A rediscovery....

Clay Bacon | 01/07/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I hadn't thought about Paula Cole in quite a while until I found THIS FIRE buried at the bottom of a stack of CD's I had been collecting to get rid of. I put it back in my stereo and made the decision to keep it right then and there. In some respect, I felt like I had rediscovered her. I had forgotten how her voice awed me. Of the three singles from the album, "Where Have All The Cowboys Gone?" "I Don't Want to Wait," and "Me," I only one I really liked was "Me," but these songs are not entirely representative of the talent of Paula Cole.Some of the songs, like "I Don't Want to Wait," the intro to "Tiger," the screaming fits her voice reaches on "Throwing Stones" and "Nietzsche's Eyes," seem very self-indulgent, like Sting on estrogen, but if Ms. Cole wants to show us exactly what her voice can do, her song writing skills gave her a great backdrop to do just that. .... Sometimes over-operatic or over-restrained, Cole remains very intuitive and musical in her delivery of her unabashed lyrics. She knows no bars in songs like "Tiger," "Mississippi," and especially "Feelin' Love," where she discusses her sexual experiences without reserve."Tiger" is great for Cole's delivery of the main line, "I've left the girl I was supposed to be / and someday, I'll be born." "Mississippi" and "Road to Dead" both display a gothic intensity. Cole's abilities on the piano are shown on schizophrenic "Nietzsche's Eyes" and the pulsing drive of "Throwing Stones," but Cole is still no Tori Amos. I love "Me" for its lyrics, but who knew just how sexy Cole could be until you hear "Feelin' Love." She gives us every known sexual metaphor (pistils and stamens, the Amazon) and delivers it all with such longing and breathy awareness as to steam up a mirror. Listen to the vocal acrobatics during the last minute and a half of the song, and a vocal sparring between her and what sounds like Sophie B. Hawkins, although there is no mention of her in the album's liner notes. A theme in many of Cole's songs is leaving behind inhibitions to become liberated from religion, the trappings of abusive relationships, and the shackles we place upon ourselves; it just happens that Cole likes to explore the sexual aspects of these themes most often, much like Tori Amos. The guest appearance of Peter Gabriel in "Hush, Hush, Hush," both seems appropriate to the album yet very self-conscious for Cole, like she needed his appearance to ensure the success of the album. I feel the album would still have felt complete without Gabriel's cameo.I'm glad I didn't throw THIS FIRE away, and I have a feeling that I was supposed to find it in the bottom of that stack so I could discover the power of Cole's voice all over again."

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	Paula Cole This Fire Genres: Folk, Pop, Rock Track Listings (11) - Disc #1 Tiger Where Have All The Cowboys Gone Throwing Stones Carmen Mississipi Nietzsche's Eyes Road To Dead Me Feelin' Love Hush, Hush, Hush I Don't Want To Wait No Description Available. Genre: Popular Music Media Format: Compact Disk Rating: PA Release Date: 15-OCT-1996
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