Search - Marina & the Diamonds :: Family Jewels

One sparkling diamond...

Nse Ette | Lagos, Nigeria | 02/16/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Marina & The Diamonds, despite the plural-sounding name is 24 year old Welsh/Greek singer Marina Diamandis. Her quirky Pop sound has drawn comparisons with Kate Bush or Florence & The Machine (especially her big swooping vocals), but I find she also reminds me of Paula Cole and PJ Harvey.



A musical kaleidoscope, the buzzing "Shampain" has a Dance feel, while "Girls" is even more Disco-fied. "Mowgli's road" is offbeat marching Pop with references to The Jungle Book stories, while "Obsessions" starts off a quivering piano ballad before picking up some speed.



Single "Hollywood" takes a wry look at aspects of the American dream. "She said Oh my God, you look just like Shakira, no no you're Catherine Zeta, actually my name's Marina" go the amusing picturesque lyrics in part.



Other outstanding tracks are the bouncy "The outsider", "Hermit the frog" (with a Mid Eastern feel), the symphonic-sounding "Numb", "Guilty" (with sweeping strings and clanking beats), and the simply spectacular "Rootless" (cabaret Pop with a beautiful wall of harmonies).



This is one diamond that shines!"

Sophomoric, But Promising

Robert Szarka | Norwich, CT USA | 03/11/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Many people will probably dismiss this album after hearing a track or two. Honestly, I wouldn't blame them, but it would be a shame.



Half the lyrics are deeply-felt and earnest but slightly-comical, like those of generations of college sophomores who think they're the first to experience an intellectual and moral awakening. (Think Avril Lavigne without the attitude or Bono without the poetry.) The other half are mostly just banal. Even the worst songs have the occasional clever turn of phrase, though: "I'm obsessed with the mess that's America" (from Hollywood) has been running through my brain all week. And, in her own defense, Diamandis would probably say (as in I Am Not a Robot) "better to be hated than loved, loved, loved for what you're not".



The music is also in some ways simply standard pop fare, right down to a very hot mix presumably designed to compete with the over-processed garbage that currently infests the airwaves. But at least the elements stuffed into that mix are tasty, from some clever sequencer riffs to an honest-to-goodness string section. In fact, at times the production rises to the level of something between Imogen Heap and one of the better synth-happy 80s acts.



Ultimately, Diamandis is, if not wholly original, too quirky to be pigeonholed. Think Lene Lovich meets Tori Amos, with a pinch of Kate Bush and a dash of Feist. The first song I heard from this album was "I Am Not a Robot", and for me it's the most interesting and charming of the 13 tracks on the UK release. (As I write this, the US release is still months away.) It has something of the same flavor as Yael Naïm's New Soul or Feist's 1234 (certainly a plus in my book), but I think the reason I like it best is that we actually get to hear Diamandis' voice--and its an interesting voice, worth hearing.



So, buy this album or not, but I'd recommend checking out at least "I Am Not a Robot". And I'm looking forward to hearing what Marina & the Diamonds' does next."

This girl will be big, mark my words!

Salameche | Austin, Texas | 04/06/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been listening to her for well over a year already, got hooked on obsessions. Been patiently waiting for her first album and although it's been released in the UK it has yet to be released here in America. Let me just tell you now she is beyond brilliant. I have had her entire album on repeat from her Myspace since it was released. I cannot wait to actually have a physical copy of it. Some of my favorite songs are Hollywood, Obsessions, I Am Not a Robot, Mowgli's Road, Guilty, Shampain, Are You Satisified, and Oh No. Honestly though the entire album is good. You won't regret purchasing it oh and incase you were wondering she sounds just as amazing or possibly more live. Saw her at SXSW this past March and I can honestly say it was the best and most genuine concert ever! Only bad thing is that her song Seventeen is not on this album."