Search - Charlotte Martin :: Veins

Veins Is Different But Great

Kevenn T. Smith | Lakewood, OH USA | 01/11/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am familiar with Charlotte Martin's other music - On Your Shore, Mystery, Magic & Seeds, In Parenthesis, Test-Drive Girl, One Girl Army. I thought Veins had a very different sound from those, while still retaining some familiar elements. A friend of mine bought a copy of it for me at a show of hers. It has 8 Tracks: Veins, Bones, Under the Gravel Skies, Four Walls, Cars on Crescent, Days of the Week, and On Your Shore (Live Bonus Track).



Veins, the song, has a lot of emphasis on the percussion, which is definitely different, yet there is still piano and other instrumentation. It's a somewhat lively song, and I like it. I'm told the "hallelujah" part in the song is much more elaborated on in live performances, which I can definitely see.



Bones has a Bjork, glockespiel sound to it, which gives it a very fairytale, lullabye quality. It a very beautiful song.



Under the Gravel Skies really through me on the first listen. It's more non-melodic than anything I've heard by Charlotte Martin, but successive listens have really turned me onto this track. There's something about it that reminds of an a 80's alternative band quality in the music - in a good way, maybe it's the electric guitar used and the drum machine beat. It's definitely not a formulaic sounding piece, and I think that's what wins me over about it.



Four Walls is a real highlight track on the CD. It's got a driving beat to it, and the chorus is just really energizing. There are a lot more electronic sounds on the instrumentation as well. The lyrics bespeak of confidence in one's self. It's definitely my favorite on the CD.



Cars On Crescent is an instrumental piece, combining piano with orchestration and electronic sounds and sounds of cars driving by on a road. It's a strikingly haunting and beautiful piece. I like it much better than "The Flood", an instrumental from "The Darkest Hour" EP.



Days of the Week is a more "traditional" Charlotte Martin piece, with piano instrumentation, and later guitar added. I think any fan of Charlotte's work would enjoy this piece and its poingant lyrics.



Root is another mostly piano piece, a little more lively than Days of the Week. I especially like the backing vocals that get added on as the song progresses. I like how more "layers" are added to the instrumentation as the song progresses.



The final track is a live performance of the title song of her On Your Shore album. I loved that the recording stayed a little longer after the song was over, to hear Charlotte's gratitude for the audience's reaction to the song, and asking them not to make her cry.



So - Great CD. I love it."

The Introduction To What Sounds Like A Promising Full Album:

Rocky | Iowa, USA | 11/17/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Veins is the introduction to female pianist Charlotte Martin's upcoming full album called Stromata and I must say it sounds like her other full album On Your Shore may have some healthy competition.

I always highly recommend Charlotte Martin ever since coming across On Your Shore which is an amazing album as well. I think, from what I hear on Veins, she's getting even better and cannot wait to hear the mysterious full album coming soon.



Here is a short review of Veins and what it offers-



1)Veins- A- Very good song. The way Charlotte's sings and the music itself in the background just make it an electrifying song. A great introduction to the c.d.



2)Bones- A- The direction changes into a slow, but overall gorgeous song here called Bones. This is one of Charlotte's best songs she ever made in my opinion.



3)Under Gravel Skies- A- What a scary feel this song has to it. This songs has a slow pace with some great background music. Charlotte sings it very powerfully.



4)Four Walls- A- This song the first time you hear it may make you wonder how much you'll love it, but after a few more times it grew on me. I absolutely love the song now, especially the chorus. She sings this song well with a quicker pace.



5)Cars on the Crescent- A- A very beautiful solo piano Charlotte plays. No singing but that doesn't mean it isn't enjoyable.



6)Days of the Week- A- Another song that had to grow on me but I really grew to like it. I love the lyrics. One of softer, reflective songs.



7)Root- B- The only song I do not care too much for on here. I love the piano but the song itself is ntohing amazing. I don't listen to this song as much as the rest.



8)On your Shore (live)- B+- I still prefer the studio version to her live- but it is still nice to hear her live!



Overall she gets a solid 4.5/ 5. A very moving and exciting introduction to Stormata. I cannot wait to hear what more her full album will present!"

Deeply lyrical and Deeply Rhythmic

Bethany | Iowa | 01/17/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Charlotte Martin - Veins

January 14th, 2006

Four and a Half/Five Stars





If Sarah McLachlan and Sam Beam (AKA Iron and Wine) could give birth through music, Charlotte Martin would be the result. "Veins" is a stunning work of art as piano runs through each song effortlessly and Martin's innocent voice goes through sorrow and joy just as naturally as curve balls are thrown into the rhythms left and right.



Martin has her own stamp on this album as well as its sound-a-likes: bringing in Celtic beats on such songs as "Veins" and "Under the Gravel Skies" as well as bringing in a slight "Annie" sounding dance beat on "Four Walls." The rest of the songs heavily showcase Martin's piano skills.



Many of her lyrics are jaw-dropping, as through her child-like voice she sings "...We might be out of soap or real communication/and all the tricks my little brain plays on my nerves" in the "Top 40 potential" ballad "Days of the Week."



Another jaw-dropping experience is when Martin opens her mouth at the beginning of "Veins"`s stand-out song "Root": "Bring me back to the time again when the fire is wild and the summer's red/and you walk through weeds just to make a garden."



In the tradition of her artistic blend of words and piano melodies, "Bones," "Cars on Concrete" [instrumental track], and the Bonus track of a live version of "At Your Shore" shines in another light as Martin's story-telling of great feminine strength.



"Veins" is what should be in the Top-40 right now as lyrics seem to be top priority on this album.

"