Suzanne Vega

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Though not the songs that would put her on the pop music map--that would come with 1987's Solitude Standing--Vega's first album, Suzanne Vega, shows her folky song-writing origins and, song-for-song, may still be her best. Produced by Patti Smith guitarist Lenny Kaye, the sound is softly sculpted by Kaye's silvery guitar and an airy, occasional string section, matching the dream-like introspection of "Queen and the Soldier" and the surreal word play of "Small Blue Thing". Vega's philosophical, quiet-but-confident approach would open the door for a second generation of female singer-songwriters like Dar Williams and Shawn Colvin. Her debut remains an unassuming sleeper for one of the 1980s best folk or pop albums. --Roy Francis Kasten

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From Amazon.com
Though not the songs that would put her on the pop music map--that would come with 1987's Solitude Standing--Vega's first album shows her folky songwriting origins and, song for song, may still be her best. Produced by Patti Smith guitarist Lenny Kaye, the sound is softly sculpted by Kaye's silvery guitar and an airy, occaisonal string section, matching the dream-like introspection of "Queen and the Soldier" and the surreal word play of "Small Blue Thing." Vega's philosophical, quiet, but confident approach would open the door for a second generation of female singer-songwriters like Dar Williams and Shawn Colvin. Her debut remains an unassuming sleeper for one of the '80s best folk or pop albums. --Roy Francis Kasten

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2008-07-10 rating:
Classy stuff
I'm worried about the 2-star lad...if he can't get his head round the first four tracks - Marlene is good but the weakest of the 4 - then his taste-o-meter needs to be serviced. Cracked and Small Blue thing are sublime, simple, strong tunes perfect for Vega's sing/speak clear voice.
I normally go for songs with a bit more pep but this is quality stuff.
I do agree with some comments that it runs out of steam thereafter and consider there is a terrific album between this and the at-times over-produced Solitude Standing.
I will check out Queen and the Soldier again, thanks for the heads up.

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review by: date: 2008-06-30 rating:
Bored
I recently bought this album because I really like the song Marlene On The Wall. I've also enjoyed some of Suzanne's other songs such as Tom's Diner and Luca. Seeing the five star reviews on here and the fact that it is at such a cheap price I purchased a copy.

The CD arrived and I put it into my hi-fi expecting a classic. First thing I noticed was how bad the album sounds, very shrill and tinny, not a great recording at all. Never mind, the important thing is the quality of songs on offer. Hmmmm, first couple of tracks have me bored, then Marlene On The Wall, that's better. Unfortunately after that the other tracks just blend into one another, her voice sounds the same, the melody is almost the same, the guitar is almost the same, the album could be one long track. I'm bored of it already, I've give it a few goes, it's just lifeless.

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review by: ukmandobooks date: 2008-06-25 rating:
An anecdote
Just a little story, really. I was in HMV on Oxford Street when it came out and they put on side two. Suddenly everyone went over to the counter and enquired about it and bought it. That's it.

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review by: Martin Turner date: 2004-02-06 rating:
Another world, another vision
This was an extraordinary debut album which is as crisp and fresh today as when I first heard it in 1985. This album is a collection of glimpses of stories — some almost narrated, some barely hinted at. But all tantalisingly brief.

Marlene on the Wall is the song that brought this album to the UK public's attention, but the song that riveted me was 'The Queen and the Soldier' on what was then Side 2. It's a haunting almost fairy tale which ends — well, buy the album and find out how it ends. From there I had to go back to Some Journey, which is like a brief scene from a Russian novel, or maybe a half chapter of Michael Strogoff.

Suzanne Vega had already mastered the art of shifting perspective in this album. Knight Moves takes us very close in, right to the moment, while Small Blue Thing is like seeing the song from a great height.

The guitar work is masterful, and eminently playable for those willing to take the trouble to learn it.

Someone once suggested to me that Suzanne Vega's first album was her best, the second her second best, the third her third best, and so on. I don't agree with him, because I think that she develops in different musical directions. But I can see what he meant - in terms of what it is, this album is perfect. Vega was wise not to try to do the same thing again with her second.


review by: date: 2002-10-20 rating:
Rediscovering an old treasure
I was a Suzanne Vega fan back when this album was first released and I'd forgotten just how good it was. In my opinion, this remains her finest collection and is a classic.

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