Among My Swan

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2008-02-21 rating:
Sweet Perfection
Among My Swan is pure perfection, from the drugged guitar that leaves its monochromatic and muddy footprints across every song to the sexually aware and ethereal voice of Hope Sandoval, once loved never forgotten. br / br /There are over 300 titles in my music collection and still ten years on this would be the one I would grab first in a fire. br / br /Its not for everyone, if you like a little sugar on your chorus then look elsewhere. br /However if you like to earn your hooks, if you like your beauty a little bruised then you have found everything you could ever want here on this perfect album.

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review by: sparklethewonderhorse date: 2004-09-01 rating:
the star shining brightest
oh, but ever so subtly! mazzy star is the musical collaboration of hope sandoval (vocals) and david roback (guitars, etc) that produced three albums in the 1990s, each spaced apart by three years. among my swan, released in 1996, was probably the most polished of the three, the trademark sound at its most innocuously haunting. personally, i found more to love in the second effort, so tonight that i might see, but more to admire in this album. pit would be hard to describe the music as fitting any other genre than gothic, but its also a poor definition. the soft tones of sandoval's voice are always in perfect sync with the drifting and intricately woven musical accompaniment and there is rarely an isolated crescendo or lull. the music almost reaches you by sub-conscious penetration, as if you don't really hear it as it's playing. then one day there is a sound in your head and you have to rifle through all of your records to remember which one it is that you are longing to hear. it is so much more accessible than most gothic music and i wouldnt pigeon-hole it thus. the closest comparison i can think of is certain of the more toned-down tracks produced by the afghan whigs, but even that is a poor comparison. maybe it is an exaggeration to talk of a unique sound, but i can think of little that stands up to close comparison. phaunting melodies touched by lyrics at once melancholy and at once uplifting, this is a beautiful record and, i think, remains one of the undiscovered gems of the 1990s. play it on a sunday evening with the lights turned low and the world may look a little different. pfor me the undoubted highlight is flowers in december, but mostly songs drift into each other and the sound moulds into a wonderful collection of sounds.

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review by: tramsbottom2 date: 2001-12-06 rating:
An unexpected success
I'd never even heard of Mazzy Star before I caught the 'Flowers In December' music video on MTV. I thought nothing much of the song until a full three days later when I realised it was all I was thinking about, secretly humming it in the back of my brain. So I bought the album and was surprised by the subtle brilliance of it.brSinger Hope Sandoval has one of the most gothic and beautiful voices in modern music and this is what makes the album so great. The music itself is laid back and mostly provides a backdrop for Sandoval and her haunting lyrics.brThis isn't hard rock but you get the sense that if Mazzy Star ever made such an album it would be pretty damn good. Roseblood is a good example of this with its raucous guitar turned right down to minimum volume and the song's overall desire to shout in the form of whispering.brPerfect for depressed teenagers or anyone who likes down songs that somehow make you feel good about yourself. Highlights on the album are Flowers in December, Take Everything, Rhymes of An Hour (wasted in a naff movie, Stealing Beauty in 1995) and Roseblood. A movie critic once called a film he saw 'quietly explosive'. That, I think, is the perfect description for this little album.

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review by: Believe What you Want To Believe date: 2001-10-05 rating:
A brilliant 3rd album by Mazzy Star
I find it hard to believe that it was January 1999 when i first bought this CD. I was on a Sunday's website and many people recommended this band. It proved to be the best album I had bought for many years. The first track 'disappear' is in my one of the best songs of all time clearly - the haunting, smokey exotic vocals are unworldly and the wonderful guitar playing by David Roback is sensational. flowers in december was a beautiful single and cry, cry has a very laid-back feel with slide guitars and effects-pedal aplenty. 'Take Everything' is a brilliant track with an amazing slide-solo and has a countrified/ bluesy feel to it. Contrasted to their earlier work this album is less experimental - this is a good thing. A few later tracks such as umbilical I find hard to listen to, but Happy is almost grungey but melodic too and this adds another string to this albums large bow! The last track look on down from the bridge is haunting but a wonderfully beautiful track. Hope sandoval is probably the wrolds greatest unknown singer. Judging by her solo efforts, this may not be the case for very much longer! A brilliant must-buy album.


review by: yellow_mongoose date: 2001-02-16 rating:
inteligent, soft relaxation with a touch of weird
the music - a captivating and relaxing blend of weird and interestingpthe voice - an elegant and enchanting whisperpthe album - an interesting, reassuring and stunning collaboration of the two.

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