Search - Robin Holcomb :: The Big Time

Difficult--and beautiful

07/24/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Robin Holcomb's new album is challenging, engaging, and ultimately, emotionally resonant and moving. A singer-songwriter unlike her peers, her lyrics are more often oblique than obvious--and her melodies often require a second (or third) listen. "Pretend" uses the phrase "I want someone to call me baby" as a repeated invocation, a prayer set off against the religious theme of "prepare your body for the laying on of hands." It's challenging at first--but after a few listens, it's impossible to stop playing the song in your head. Yet the time invested in this album more than pays off--Robin's work provides an arresting insight into the psyche of love and the music itself is surprisingly melodic and beautiful. Robin sings "the story improves the more it's repeated." The same is true for The Big Time."

Wandering, skittery vocals; haunting piano in taut settings

Frank Camm | Northern Virginia | 03/22/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"She's back! Less weird and edgy than the 1990 eponymous album; no hint of the mainstream rock from Rockabye. Rather, very sophisticated music closer to an artist's loft than to a Southern bottom. Frissell's languid guitar fits her wandering, skittery vocals perfectly. Generally tougher than either earlier album. Haunting piano is still here, but submerged in a tighter, tougher mix. She sounds surer of herself, less at risk from that dark bottom or whatever. One of the best pop albums of 2002. The more I hear it, the more I like it. [44:28]"