Search - Carmen Consoli :: Stato Di Necessita

In a state of needing to listen to this album

Todd Chaffee | Highland Park, NJ USA | 09/23/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although I mostly listen to indie rock from the US, this album is one of my favs for the year. Excellent song writing, great lyrics (even though I'm not always sure of my translation abilities), and she really puts a lot of feeling into her singing. Some of the songs are surprising (such as "Orfeo" and "Parole di Burro") in that they start out VERY mellow but then Carmen really let's loose and the passion in her singing just brings the song away from any kind of mellowness and into an unexpected intensity (don't miss the rougher, less produced version of "Orfeo" 20 some minutes into track 12). The other thing I like about this album is the range of song writing. "Bambina impertnente" has a very punky beginning with PJ Harvey-like distorted vocals. Compare this with "l'ultimo bacio" which is a sad and pretty song with a string orchestra that my parents could appreciate. A great album."

Good but not her best one

atv2k | 01/24/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Carmen Consoli wrote some of the best acoustic songs for guitar of the last decade, then she moved a step ahead towards electronic punk influences ("Mediamente Isterica", Averagely Hysterical, 1998) and again, she was so good in doing it.This year 2000 release consecrated her as one of Italians favourite artist, and "Stato di Necessità" (Condition of Need) had topped the chart, even though it's one of her poorest release. She composed 11 tracks out of 12, but this time she's just talented and not a outstanding. She stepped back into easy listening pop music, discovering some roots of the most traditional Italian melodies, especially in that nostalgic song that she performed at the Sanremo Festival, "In bianco e nero" (In black and white - Track #5).Some songs such as "Parole di burro" (Words of butter) will be crucial tracks in Carmen's career (that is: we will find them on her greatest hits album), but the rest of the album is not something to remember. Just quite material. On the other hand, we still have the acoustic Carmen that we love so much in "L'ultimo bacio" (The last kiss), an almost-coming-out song, with that ambiguous line "Thousands of violins played by the wind / the last kiss my sweet girl / in the light memory of a silver rain / the merciless feeling of a no-coming-back".A good CD, but not her best one."

Greater woman songwriter in the world

atv2k | 04/12/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Carmen Consoli is the greater surprise of the 90s: she plays the guitar in a sensual and wild way. If you like the great rock and the great ballads, this CD is for you!"