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ALBUM TITLE: Rippingyarns
RATING: Excellent
Filipina folk chanteuse Cynthia Alexander's second album, "Rippingyarns," off stellar indie label N/A Records is a mindblowing tapestry of sound, lyric and emotion. Having broken free of major-label constraints, Miss Alexander's first independent release floats, grinds, slashes, soothes and thoughtfully reflects about everyday situations so effortlessly, you can sense her elation with her newfound freedom.
Comparisons to other rock and rolk divas is inevitable, but Miss Alexander comfortably stays her own person, and, in consciously doing so, easily earns the respect of most music lovers who take their music seriously. You can tell she's serious.
Light and lilting melodies, as well as introspective lyrics bordering on sheer poetry, characterize "Rippingyarns." Opening track "I Don't Mind," with its unique drum pattern and oh-so-perky harmonies, is my personal favorite. Great way to start the journey into "Rippingyarns." Instrumentation is lush, and "Intertwyne," "Frost And Glass" (love the lyrics on that one) and "The Flowers Of Youth" evoke images that will readily tease Narnian fantasies out of long-buried C.S. Lewis memories.
The sound of "Insomnia and Other Lullabyes," her major-label release, is still very much evident, especially on carrier single "U&I," which topped the NU 107.5 charts a while back. As a matter of fact, every track here is radio-friendly and damn well deserving of airplay on both pop and alternative rock stations. Alexander has succeeded in making an album that, to rip off Indigo Girls, feeds the cancer of one's intellect, and this is one cancer one will gladly let fester. "Rippingyarns" is yin and yang, it's wild, it's tame, it's real, it's dreamy.
If this is a dream, please don't wake me just yet, because I haven't completely taken the entire experience in. If I wake up from the glow of "Rippingyarns" now, I'm going to be very grumpy.
Go to Cynthia's Official Website
Go to N/A Records' Official Website
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