Laura Love is an unruly imp amongst folky frumps. No Lilith Fair-type ninny, she playfully dances from earthy African rhythms to slinky Middle Eastern strains, from jazzy jams to rap to blues. Amazingly, this smorgasbord o... more »f sound works up smoothly into a splendid groove. Love does have her ethereal moments, but instead of vanishing into thin air, she grounds herself in the role of whimsical nature girl. Love's strength is in combining the unexpected--even reciting nursery rhymes with an engaging spunk. You never know where the singer is going to take you on this aural adventure--but wherever it is, it's bound to be fun. Besides, any woman who writes a song glorifying her "big ol' booty" deserves a medal for her all-out bravado. --Janiss Garza« less
Laura Love is an unruly imp amongst folky frumps. No Lilith Fair-type ninny, she playfully dances from earthy African rhythms to slinky Middle Eastern strains, from jazzy jams to rap to blues. Amazingly, this smorgasbord of sound works up smoothly into a splendid groove. Love does have her ethereal moments, but instead of vanishing into thin air, she grounds herself in the role of whimsical nature girl. Love's strength is in combining the unexpected--even reciting nursery rhymes with an engaging spunk. You never know where the singer is going to take you on this aural adventure--but wherever it is, it's bound to be fun. Besides, any woman who writes a song glorifying her "big ol' booty" deserves a medal for her all-out bravado. --Janiss Garza
Aage Nielsen | Boise, Idaho United States | 06/22/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Shum Ticky encapsulates everything I enjoy about Laura Love. Original music today is largely about combining familiar elements to create something new. During the course of this recording she fuses her trademark funky bass and yodeling with rap, African and Turkish elements. She sometimes calls her style Afro-Celt, but she is really more broad than that. There is variety of sound and style from beginning to end.
I think that I actually used to dislike Laura Love. That all changed when I heard her do a 12-minute showcase performance at a booking conference in 2004. Between her virtuosic bass playing, singing, material and stage presence, she was thoroughly engaging. Within three weeks after having seen her play I bought all of her CDs and autobiography. I have NO idea what it was that I thought that I used to dislike about her.
She got some flak for re-recording some of her earlier classics and embracing a more accessible sound for this album, but I never lost any sleep over it. My musical partner and I play this on every road trip when we are on tour. The music itself is really fun, but the thought provoking lyrics and great musicianship make this recording never get old!"
I like it
Aage Nielsen | 04/29/1999
(3 out of 5 stars)
"It isn't the best thing I've ever heard, but it is okay. I, too, would recommend an earlier album if this is your first Laura Love CD experience."
SHUM TICKY CAPTURES LOVE AT HER FUN INTIMATE BEST
Aage Nielsen | 10/05/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Laura Love's latest release "Shum Ticky" reminds me of phases in getting to know good friends. You sit, listen and find that all the qualities you knew you were going to like are balanced with the unexpected, which are all the more endearing because you can't help caring. Love's music ranges here from the carefree ("Give Me Five", "The Clapping Song", featuring Sir Mix-A-Lot, "Mahbootay") to the thoughtful ("Punctured and Hissing", "Serenity") to the intimate ("Sorry"). The production sound benefits in the most capable hands of Joe Chicarelli, who has to date most completely captured Love's energetic live show feel in a studio setting. For those who know Love's previous catalog, "Shum Ticky" will be a welcome addition -- for new listeners she will become a new close friend."
Dull
Aage Nielsen | 03/19/1999
(2 out of 5 stars)
"I agree 100% with "a music fan from Chicago." This CD is flat and lifeless. As someone who has all of Laura Love's other CD's (and who is completely in "love" with her music), this CD is a real disappointment. Laura Love is one of the most exciting, talented, and individual performers to come around in years. If you haven't heard her yet, you're really missing out. Buy one of her CD's, but I wouldn't recommend this one."
Bland covers of her old material with some bland new songs
Aage Nielsen | 03/16/1999
(2 out of 5 stars)
"I love Laura Love's previous albums. That is why this ok album was such a huge disappointment to me. I bought it on faith, but I should have looked more closely at the songs -- I might have noticed how many of them I already have! Even so, a "best of Laura Love" CD would be good to have. Sadly, all of her funk and liveliness have been produced out of this album. One of the things I love about Laura Love is that she always sounds like she loves to sing and like she is having a great time recording the songs. This album sounds flat, like she was bored. Oh well, off to the used CD store to get my $4..."