Search - Jann Arden :: Love Is the Only Soldier

Jann amazes

Tommy Hildebrand | Big Spring, Texas United States | 11/25/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Jann mentioned that the recording of this album was accompanied by many "firsts". The first time she was the sole producer, the first time she recorded an album in her basement, and the first time her touring band contributed to the tracks (as opposed to studio musicians). I can think of another couple of "firsts". Jann plays the piano on 3 tracks here and what a treat that turned out to be. "Anna Rebecca", "When You Left Me", and "Fighting for the World" feature Ms. Arden tickling the ivories and all three tunes are stirring and heartfelt. Her vocals are as strong as ever. Another first? I think Jann hits her highest note yet in "Ruby Red", and sustains it until you feel out of breath. This is a great song.Someone mentioned in another review that they felt Jann was drifting in the wrong direction. I think she got back on track with "Love is the Only Soldier". While I really liked "Blood Red Cherry", it will undoubtedly go down in history as Jann's "experimental" album.I don't think Jann is capable of writing a bad song. I've liked everything she's put out so far, and I see no signs of that stopping here.Her humor is intact on songs like "Only One":If I come back
If I find you there
I'm calling on my daddy
And he'll kill you I swearAnd "If You Loved Me":If you loved me, I would not need my drunken friends
And if you loved me, my loneliness for sure would end."Anna Rebecca" is a great song about loss. You don't know the details, but you know she's singing about a friendship that crumbled:Remember that December night
Talking ourselves into day
Waving goodbye from the back of a cab
Please remember me that way"When You Left Me" is quite possibly one of her saddest songs:When you left me nothing mattered
All my life undone
Only stillness, only quiet
Not one ray of sunIt's an absolutely gorgeous song. Very haunting. Some people can't seem to tolerate sad songs. I don't get depressed by them. I dig them. They mellow me out in some strange way. There's nothing like a sad song to get you to thinking about your own life in an introspective manner. I think they can be very therapeutic. They are for me, in any case."Fighting for the World" is another great melancholy tune. She sings from the perspective of a family persisitng through the holidays while a loved one is away in the armed services."Love is the Only Soldier" is the first single and is one of my favorite songs. It doesn't seem an obvious choice for a single, but I love this song. It's a great showcase for her songwriting and vocals, and I think the arrangement is excellent. She really soars on the chorus:Hide me inside your heart let me wash away
Hold me beneath your body all night and day
I pray that the morning comes and with me you'll stay
Hide me inside your heart let me wash awayThere's a lot to like here with this album. I rank it very highly in my Jann Arden collection, which consists of everything she's ever released, even the rare and hard to find stuff, singles, etc. I'm such a big fan, I only wish she had more exposure in the US. I hope to catch her on this tour. I saw her during the symphony tour in Winnipeg and it was a phenomenal show."

A Canadian's View

Christy | Ottawa, ON, CAN | 11/19/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"So far I have seen Jann Arden three times in concert, and in the winter I will be going to see her for my fourth time. I got to hear Ruby Red and Love is the Only Soldier,two of the singles of this CD, when she opened for the Dixie Chicks in Ottawa. Jann is an amazing singer, as well as a great comedian on stage! I recommend this cd, and recommend visiting Canada to see her perform."

A musical masterpiece

Stephanie Cook | Toronto | 10/07/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"While I wasn't so into this album when it was first released, I have really been appreciating the incredible beauty of this album recently. I was used to the more commercial sound of Jann a la Wishing That, Could I Be Your Girl, The Sound Of, and this album has a much different sound. But I would describe this album as layered. Each song is just full of depth, from the drum beats, up through the pianos and guitars, all the way to the vocals, which are as usual, breathtaking. I think this is certainly Jann's best album ever. She recorded it in her basement and I think that made this album sound so much more intimate. While there are only 10 tracks on this album, I think it's better to have 10 amazing tracks than 3 hits and 10 or 12 filler songs like many artists do. From the whimsical and haunting songs like "Anna Rebecca" and "When You Left Me" to the simply rocking songs like "Only One" this album contains a beautiful variety and mix of sounds. This is one of the very best studio albums I have ever heard."