Search - Shannon Wright :: Maps of Tacit

Wright continues to astound and impress.

D. Mok | Los Angeles, CA | 05/09/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Some artists have it all -- songwriting ability, melodic instinct, an ear for arrangement, a flair for lyrics, instrumental chops, spontaneous inspiration.Shannon Wright is such an artist. After the quiet but commanding masterwork that was Flightsafety, Wright releases Maps of Tacit, a much more dynamic, intense, and strange kind of trip, on par with but different from its predecessor. In general Wright sings with much more abandon on this record, with much more stylistic and emotive diversity, ranging from a shattering howl to a seductive whisper. Eastern-flavoured scales, bits of organ, unswervingly eccentric instrumentation and pure, intelligent lyrical poetry only serve to make the mix more potent.Opening track "Absentee" is absolutely lovely, with its understated picked guitar pattern and sweepingly beautiful vocal; "Fences of Pales" starts off as a wry waltz but ends with a bleeding plead; "Ribbons of You" features Wright's trademark, twisty drum work and sparkling piano; "Emberdays" rumbles low and mysterious; "Heavy Crown" from Flightsafety is remade here, stripped of the haunting cello part but transformed by Wright's tortured vocal performance into a devastating cry for emancipation. And Wright tops it off with a trio of songs that rank among her best: "The Hover Is Ajar", coupling a persistent, lovely piano pattern with her willful voice; "Dirty Facade", one of her best vocal melodies ever and an indomitable tower of songwriting strength; and my personal favourite on this record, the one-minute "Pay No Mind", where Wright's bouncing piano line guides her through a sharp, self-deprecatory but witty lyric and where she picks an arrogant style of enunciation and a vocal quality that are simultaneously delicious and grand.Her songwriting remains sublime and her voice one of the most robust and tonally rich in popular music. If you missed Wright's music before, take this as a chance to include both Flightsafety and Maps of Tacit in your collection. Their pleasures are like intricate musical puzzles -- they take weeks, even months to unfold, and therein lies their immense value."

CMJ review of Maps Of Tacit

D. Mok | 01/20/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Both chillingly raw-nerved and hauntingly poetic, Shannon Wright's songs possess an elusive, strangely affecting quality belied by their simple construct. Elliptical, picked acoustic guitar, elegiac piano and organ, thudding snare -- all handled largely by Wright herself -- lend a baroque elegance to Maps Of Tacit's tattered waltzes and cryptic Southern ballads. At the same time, Wright's stark, obsessive arrangements, paired with her startling quaver of a voice, suggest anxiety, dread and vitriol as much as they do tenderness and beauty. Written on the road and recorded in part with Steve Albini, Maps Of Tacit also trades in some of its predecessor's restraint and grace for an almost frightening immediacy, showcasing Wright's impressive growth as both a songwriter and a vocalist. - Colin Helms: CMJ New Music Report Issue: 665 - May 08, 2000"

No thoughts on a title for this.

acid__burn | 7th circle of hell | 06/26/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What sucked me in about this cd is the ever lingering thoughts of doom and misfortune that plague every lyric. Self loathihg and lack of ability to grasp for reason also apply. I'm NOT saying that Shannon really feels this way..and I PRAY that she doesn't!!
But she hit a nerve here with me and maybe with a lot of people that can't be ignored.
There has NEVER in all my years has been a cd affect me in the way that this one has. I will never be the same. If you want a cd to change your life ...buy this one!!!!!!"