Central Reservation

Product Details

Artist : Beth Orton
Binding : Audio CD
EAN : 0078221903820
Label : Sony Music Canada Inc.
Number of Discs : 1
Product Group : Music
Release Date : 1999-03-09
UPC : 078221903820

ASIN : B00000I73X

Track Listings for

Disc-1
1. Stolen Car
2. Sweetest Decline
3. Couldn't Cause Me Harm
4. So Much More
5. Pass in Time
6. Central Reservation [Original Version]
7. Stars All Seem to Weep
8. Love Like Laughter
9. Blood Red River
10. Devil Song
11. Feel to Believe
12. Central Reservation [Ben Watt Mix]

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Editorial Reviews

From Amazon.co.uk

Is Beth Orton the folkie Beck? Or is Beck an Orton with beats? Since both graze from genre to genre like goats feasting on whatever strikes their fancy, drawing parallels is tempting ... and perhaps pointless. After all, both artists were born in 1970 and emerged at a time when musical categorisation became an exercise in futility. English thrush Orton's third release--like her critically hailed debut and the Best Bit EP--prompts one to flash on an ever-swelling range of influences. Since she's blessed with the rich, warm voice of a true pop singer, it's easy to imagine her sharing space on some out-of-time radio playlist with Dusty Springfield (listen to the elegant, string-laden "Sweetest Decline"), except Orton's music draws on 1990s trip-hop elements as well the jazzy folk of Tim Buckley and vet Terry Callier (reprising his Best Bit cameo). Orchestration, upright bass, vibes and Orton's own resolute guitar give long, languid tracks such as "So Much More" and "Pass in Time" an Astral Weeks-like feel. All those touchstones and no fewer than six producers might imply that Central Reservation is something of a mishmash. In truth, Orton's overriding vision is all that's needed to create cohesion. --Steven Stolder

There's no way to offer a shortcut description of what Beth Orton sounds like. There are so many musical styles pulsing through Central Reservation--jazz, folk, pop, rock, and dance--that the album could easily have ended up an empty exercise in genre-hopping. Instead, it's a bracing example of mongrel music at its best as Orton carves out a new musical vocabulary with deep roots in familiar sounds. --Keith Moerer

Customer Reviews

Stunning followup; worthy of full price purchase (2004-01-02)

Amazing. The first time I heard this album, it was like a cliche you might see in a movie. An incredibly long, lonely drive down a deserted two lane highway from Albuquerque, NM to Durango, CO. Moonless night, clear sky, hundreds of miles from any major light source, I was listening to this album, looking at the night sky. This album sunk its teeth in, a haunting, bittersweet group of songs perfect for reflection, comptemplation. This album succeedes on so many different levels to become, in this humble reviewer's opinion, an instant, timeless classic. Listen to the emotional/thematic changes between 'Stolen Car' and 'Sweetest Decline'. The stunning, shimmering, phenomenal 'Pass in Time'. The duo between her and Terry Callier has made it into the ist of my favorite songs - people hear this one and ask me 'Who IS this? WHAT album is this?' Any album that elicits such an emotional, immediate response from so many different people MUST be doing something right. Buy this album, you will NOT be disappointed.

great CD (2003-11-29)

Wonder why more people don't know about her.

Brilliant relaxing music (2003-09-16)

I love this CD. My musical taste ranges from classical through the keyboards of Jean-Michel Jarre to the techno of The Chemical Brothers. When I put this album on, I relax.

It has shades of other works, for example "Pass in Time" reminds me of Carole King's "Tapestry" album when she duets with James Taylor.

Beth's voice has a vulnerable edge to it. She sounds as if she is singing from the heart and she is hurting from something. It adds an edge that makes me pay attention.

Nice (2003-03-24)

This isn't a fantastic, 'Must Have' CD, but it's worth adding to your musical library. It's one of those CDs that become a trusted companion when life tends to get squirly and unfamiliar.

Can you stay awake? (2003-02-12)

This is slightly better than "Daybreaker". "Stolen car" is a amazingly good song and the only reason that I rate this 2 stars instead of 1 star. Too bad Orton other material isn't that good. I can admit that some song here and there is alright, like "Devil song" but most of the time it's like a sleeping pill - nothing ever happens! If you don't believe me - buy it, put on, fall asleep... And if like this kind of music I won't be surprised if you'll find the awful "Sebastopol" by Jay Farrer exciting. You don't have to thank me for the tip!

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