To Survive

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2008-10-03 rating:
Wonderful
For once an Amazon recommendation (based on my Blue Nile purchases so quite a tenuous connection) that was correct. I agree with other reviewer's comments about it not being immediate, but I had a sense from the first listen through that this was going to be a 'grower' - to me always a sign of quality.
The music's subtle simplicity hides a wonderful complexity you only get with subsequent - and if you can - quite detailed listening. I was lucky to get this just before a trip to Japan so immersed myself in it on both out and inbound flights. A pure joy.

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review by: date: 2008-07-19 rating:
The Survival Instinct
There's something enormously powerful here: this woman's voice, the spare arrangements, the apparently simple yet complex songs. I'm not sure what it is, but I'm smitten. She's capable of an emotional depth I've heard nowhere else, from any artist, from any other music. She did it with 'Real Life' and she does it again here on 'To Survive'. And I was ready to be disappointed when I bought this album. It overwhelms me.

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review by: date: 2008-07-14 rating:
The Survival Instinct
There's something enormously powerful here: this woman's voice, the spare arrangements, the apparently simple yet complex songs. I'm not sure what it is, but I'm smitten. She's capable of an emotional depth I've heard nowhere else, from any artist, from any other music. She did it with 'Real Life' and she does it again here on 'To Survive'. And I was ready to be disappointed when I bought this album. It overwhelms me.

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review by: JonnyMacReady date: 2008-07-06 rating:
Thank you Joan Wasser. You so belong.
Words cannot express how much of a rare thing of beauty this album is, but I simply have to write SOMETHING. As a musician alone, this artist is impressive, playing with class many of the instruments on here. As a songwriter she is staggering: such command of effortlessly engaging lyrics, melody and mood. And the arrangement is skilful and seamless; each component compliments the others. The balance is spot-on throughout. Add to this a voice so exquisite, so rich, expressive, moving and delightful, and you a work of a quality many times greater than the sum of its already outstanding parts.
The range, depth and subtlety in these songs makes them all the more powerful; they demand attention, but there is no clamouring for it here. You listen because you've no choice - you're rapt. This sharing of a gift is priceless.
I got this album three weeks ago and I've fell deeply in love with it, the songs drifting in and out like welcome friends. Successive plays reveal more and more layers, further enhancing the appreciation and pleasure. All other music has faded somewhat.
This is an accomplished, highly talented artist at her peak. It is clear she is maturing, learning something about the futility of control and resistance, and the wisdom of surrendering to fear and pain. Though, like us all, she's on the journey. Her vulnerability is exposed, as is her aching, longing sadness (I've cried my eyes out several times to the title track alone; such is the sheer power of the self-doubt and despair conveyed here - this, despite what she's learnt). The spectrum of feelings realized is spellbinding. At the other end: a contagious glee, the joy of love, of life, and of finding someone special to share it all with. You cannot help but warm to this.
To Survive is the most magical, wondrous thing I've heard in a long time - a new friend :)
This review may appear gushing (then disregard the superlatives), but please, listen to this music.


review by: date: 2008-07-04 rating:
Survived Real Life?
Supposedly, and I suppose logically, follow ups to a fantastic debut album are notoriously difficult things. Many bands have cracked the problem and many bands have failed miserably.
If I may cut to the chase, Joan Wasser hasn't cracked the old second album problem unfortunately. Real Life was a brilliant album; inspired, eclectic, ridiculously enjoyable and catchy. Since the time of it's release it's crept up to being one of my very favourite albums & my main listening staple is heavy music.

To Survive doesn't have that same vibrancy that Real Life possessed. The kick off song; Honour My Wishes plinks and plonks on drearily and without much recognition & the second track also seems a bit flat. Sure it's got perfect musicianship, Joan's magnificent voice but the songwriting just isn't at that sparkling level that Real Life maintained throughout.
The duo of To Be Loved & To Be Lonely are great tunes and sit nicely on Joans' top shelf. Start of My Heart is a classy swaying, moody ballad and has struck out as one of my favourites on the album. Hard White Wall is the only really effective uptempo track on here and is definitely the highlight on To Survive. It posesses all Joans' confident swagger & it's one of the catchiest she's written for a while.

The piano is the main instrument here and seems to drag the mood down with it's dreary plinking. Don't get me wrong; the piano can be a beautiful instrument but Joans songs seem to come alive when the guitar is brought out. Even at her gigs, the most effective tracks are those with guitar where she can impose herself on the track rather than those where she's sat a wurlitzer.

All in all I'm quite disappointed with To Survive. It comes across as being flat and a little dull, especially when compared to Real Life. There are some very good songs as you'd expect but that top level of songwriting and consistency just isn't there.
However, it is a pleasant listen, it's just not as exciting a listen as it probably should have been.
I'd hate to see Joan end up being another dull, uninspiring Katie Melua coffee table fare, she has too much talent and personality to be relegated to that level.
Here's to next time round.

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