Day 11: The Sounds of Writing Part 3

January 6, 2010

My original plan was to do this in two parts consisting of 10-6 and then 5-1. Well, as usual I need someone to edit for me as I do not know when to stop. Instead of that original plan, I will most likely be doing it in three segments. Though a forth segment is not out of the question. Without further adieu, here is 7-5.

7. Paula Cole:This Fire 1996

As I mentioned yesterday, not every album was going to be new. This album came out when I was a sophomore in high school and was actually given to me as a Christmas present in 1996. I had asked for the album, as I really liked "Where have all the cowboys gone?". It was a new song at the time and I really liked it. The only thing was that once I received it, I never actually listened to it. I don't know the reason for this, perhaps Fiona Apple and Tori Amos had taken up to much of my time that year. Regardless though, I never got around to putting it in my CD player. Throughout the years, I had always wanted to listen to it, but for some reason I never did.

Fast forward to last January. As I was in my basement trying to finish a project that I was working on, I decided to finally give it a chance. I was a bit weary, as it had been 12 years since I first had the desire to hear the album. Though ultimately, my musical taste had not wavered that much and I figured I had nothing to lose. As soon as I put it on I instantly felt like a teenager again. Then of course I cursed myself for not having this as part of my life for all this time. The album is a perfectly constructed time capsule of the early to mid-nineties. From the opening track it was very obvious what time period and what artists she had been listening to. "This Fire" is right out of the Tori Amos/Sarah McLachlan landscape, full of soul barring lyrics and vocals that will overpower you.

The album was written by Cole herself and from the opening track, it is obvious that she had her fair share of problems with men. Not so much in a relationship sort of way, as it is a "society is screwed up" kind of fashion. In her first single that I mentioned early, she talks about how marriage is basically just an institution to trap woman in. How the security of having a man take care of you, eventually leads to you running the man's life with no sense of freedom for yourself. The first track talks about her going against the conventions of what a woman should be as well. This philosophy is sprinkled throughout the album, which gives it a very distinct voice that is either going to alienate listeners or hook them in.

Though, on my favorite track on the album entitled "Feelin' Love", she talk's about how she can still on occasion, want to feel like a dumb blonde and just play the part. The song moves along with her almost whispering into the microphone over top of a slow drum beat and piano. The song goes down so smooth that even though it is the albums longest song(clocking in at just over five minutes and thirty seconds), I am bummed that it has to ever end. Now she did end up having a huge hit off of this album with "I Don't Want to Wait", the album's closing track. It was a big radio hit and ended up being the theme song for the immensely popular WB show, "Dawson's Creek". I mention that only because I don't want you to think I have discovered some diamond in the rough here. This was a popular album that has probably been reviewed a thousand times by more qualified people then me.

With that being said though, this album is great from beginning to end. A true treasure that was lying underneath my nose this entire time. I am bummed that it took me so long to listen to it, but maybe if I would have heard way back then, it wouldn't mean quite as much to me as it does now. For an album that reminded me of my past, it sure was refreshing to hear it for the first time.

Well, I said it was going to be writing about album's 7-5. I guess I lied. Next time I will try not the write the novelization of these albums and actually just write a review. I will be back tomorrow though, hopefully with less to say.