Daybreaker

Daybreaker

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Like Beth Orton's previous offerings, her third album makes a slight first impression. Sure, the jangly acoustic guitars, drifting melodies, and robust voice are pleasant enough, but it is only after a while that the true potency of the songs becomes apparent. "Nobody can keep you from the one you know you are," she sings quietly on "Mount Washington." Fueled by her mother's early passing, each of Orton's songs is accordingly anchored by a deep sense of sadness and loss. Despite the occasional electronic flourishes at the hands of collaborators such as the Chemical Brothers and Everything but the Girl's Ben Watt, and the beaming West Coast harmonies she shares with pal Ryan Adams, Daybreaker is a supremely personal record. "There's a concrete sky falling from the trees again and I don't know why," she muses on "Concrete Sky." And like Tim Buckley and Nick Drake--the hopeless folk icons that came before her--there seems to be a sublime urgency in her work that suggests a seemingly innocent song like "Thinking About Tomorrow" is not so much about optimism as fate. --Aidin Vaziri

Tracks:

Paris Train
Concrete Sky
Mount Washington
Anywhere
Daybreaker
Carmella
God Song
This One's Gonna Bruise
Ted's Waltz
Thinking About Tomorrow

Amazon.com

Like Beth Orton's previous offerings, her third album makes a slight first impression. Sure, the jangly acoustic guitars, drifting melodies, and robust voice are pleasant enough, but it is only after a while that the true potency of the songs becomes apparent. "Nobody can keep you from the one you know you are," she sings quietly on "Mount Washington." Fueled by her mother's early passing, each of Orton's songs is accordingly anchored by a deep sense of sadness and loss. Despite the occasional electronic flourishes at the hands of collaborators such as the Chemical Brothers and Everything but the Girl's Ben Watt, and the beaming West Coast harmonies she shares with pal Ryan Adams, Daybreaker is a supremely personal record. "There's a concrete sky falling from the trees again and I don't know why," she muses on "Concrete Sky." And like Tim Buckley and Nick Drake--the hopeless folk icons that came before her--there seems to be a sublime urgency in her work that suggests a seemingly innocent song like "Thinking About Tomorrow" is not so much about optimism as fate. --Aidin Vaziri

Customer Reviews:

Thinking about tommorrow.......2006-03-17

She'd been waiting for us, she'd been creating for us. Following Beth Orton is an eternal game of "catch up". The one thing you'll see time and time again through the customer reviews of this album is that you've got to give it time. I'll weigh in on that thought with an observation. Usually we associate a plethora of producers and mixers with an attempt to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. There are many creative hands, all much-respected in music circles, contributing to this project. Beth herself seems aware of the impact this may have on a prejudicial audience, judging from the layout of the liner notes. It's virtually impossible at first blush to dissect the project by looking throught the liner. One has to study it time and time again (ideally while listening to the album) before one can get a grip on all the various collaborators and their exact contributions, or even the words to the songs themselves. As a result any opinions formed stand a greater chance of emanating from exposure to the music itself.

An album of music and a liner of notes that had so frustrated me proved, over time, to be just right after all. All those hands weren't trying to tart-up the less-than-worthy. They were actually trying to reign-in one of the most rich pieces of work to come forth in this decade. I suspect that much like the listener they didn't quite know where to start. Nonetheless, I'd say they succeeded.

This album is so much better than I first thought........2005-12-20

I picked this up on a whim, when it came out, and it would be my introduction to Beth Orton. I won't say too much, since it's been mentioned, but give this one several listens. It's very soothing from the start, but nothing catches you. But just listen again. It's probably my favorite album. It's one of those records if you listen to it, her voice is just incredibly human. Her lyrics switch between deep in a simplistic way, and sometimes possibly cheesy because of that simplicity, and then sometimes some abstract artsy imagery. If anyone else were to sing them, they would seem hollow and fake, like the soundtrack to a crappy movie, but her voice is what makes the lyrics - they provide a depth of emotion that makes them shine. The melodies and the instrumentation just fit the part so well. Like I said, nothing catchy, but it's soothingly melodic and haunting - but they do their jobs well - even when the instruments seem to overwhelm her voice - they do so in a way that still allows her voice to come through. Once you've gotten your ears around the songs on this album, you'll find they still retain their beauty in acoustic and live formats - without the sparkly, tinsle of studio.

Jaw-droppingly beautiful!!.......2005-10-14

I had never heard anything by British singer/songwriter Beth Orton before this CD. My introduction to Beth was on the inflight entertainment of a British Airways flight where 3 cuts off this CD were featured; `Concrete sky', `Paris train' and the title track `Daybreaker'. Those were enough to convince me to get the CD.

Melancholic and atmospheric soft acoustic folk/rock with a dash of electronica best describes this beautiful CD, a #40 hit on the billboard album charts. Like a number of reviewers have mentioned, repeated play reveals more subtleties of this stark serene beauty.

`Paris train' is a lilting ballad with gently jangling guitars and forlorn strings. In a similar vein is `Mount Washington'. `Concrete sky' is more upbeat (but still delicate) with Ryan Adams harmonizing on the chorus.

One of my favourites is the horn drenched delicate `Anywhere' with a faint jazzy/Caribbean atmosphere and swirling strings. Jaw-droppingly beautiful!! The upbeat `Daybreaker' filled with pulsing and haunting jerky synthesizer effects, and hollow beats is another highlight. A trip hop delight!

`Ted's waltz' is a delicate ballad with faint shuffling percussion, shimmery guitars, and a wistful vocal performance from Beth.

Introspective, serene and beautiful. I'll be looking out for more of her music.

You have to give it time.......2005-08-10

DAYBREAKER is one of those releases that underwhelms upon first listen and if you are not patient gets filed under pleasant at best. I've persisted and now consider this to be my favorite Orton album. The songwriting and emotions are so subtle that it takes several listens to have the songs sink their hooks into your psyche, then once that happens your hooked. Other reviwers have noticed this and I certainly concur.

My favorite tracks include THIS ONE'S GONNA BRUISE, THINKING ABOUT TOMMOROW and PARIS TRAIN. The songs on this record at first seem to be similar then begin to show their unique personalities and stand out from one another. To my ears there are no weak tracks included.

A neophyte to Orton's work would be best recommended to start with PASS IN TIME, her excellent compilation and then proceed to her three proper albums and the great BEST BITS EP (the remix one leaves me a fad appathetic). Beth Orton is an excellent singer-songwriter who weaves modern touches into more traditional folk styled songs to create some essential listening.

Masterpiece!.......2004-12-03

I have all of Beth's CDs and this is by far her best. A very mature Orton really pours it on with her powerful words and the music is supremely sublime. It grows on you with every listen. In my top ten of best albums in my collection.

Average customer rating:

Daybreaker

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000QXDDXC
Release Date: 2002-07-30

Average customer rating:

groovy undergound pop music

As If by Magic
Daybreaker
Manufacturer: Daybreaker
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CA907C
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Tracks:

Sunshine on the Stereo
Rios Tropicales
You Been Gone So Long
Love That Echoes
Simple
Indian Summer #5
Come Home
Lonely Surfer
Lo-Fi Boy Meets Hi-Fi Girl
My Honest Friend
More

Customer Reviews:

groovy undergound pop music.......2007-03-25

A strange and beautiful collection of organic and electronic grooves combined with rustic guitars and folky melodies. A psychedelic, danceable and experimental album that contains some singer-songwriter intimacy, some techno-like electronica workouts and sometimes combines the two such as on "A Love That Echoes". The first track, "Sunshine on the Stereo", sounds like the Monkees on Ecstacy and the stand-out track is "My Honest Friend" with its Stonesy vibe and lovelorn lyrics.

Average customer rating:

uplifting tunes, tons of soul and imagination to spare

Comes to Us All
Daybreaker
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000FSMLPY
Release Date: 2006-03-14

Tracks:

Time to Come
Elevation
Home Again
Good Advice
Boy Who Made You Laugh
See Through
Chinese Junk
Sidewinding
Daybreakin' Beats
Ballad of Me

Customer Reviews:

uplifting tunes, tons of soul and imagination to spare.......2007-03-25

Chiming guitars ... uplifting melodies ... hip-hop beats and ... HARMONICA blasts. Decidedly lo-fi production but uplifting tunes, tons of soul and imagination to spare. This is timeless british pop music ... psychedelic, folky and danceable. Sounds like EMF covering Bob Dylan ... or something! 21st-century surf shack tunes of sunshine and rain. Like a lo-fi Stone Roses or a basement Brian Wilson. The first three tracks are full-on energy and I love the final third of the album where things get more far-out before rushing out on the energy of "Ballad of Me" (cool title - cool song). You can get this a lot quicker and cheaper from any of the download sites though ...

Average customer rating:

Daybreaker
Beth Orton
Manufacturer: Toshiba EMI
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music

Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Alternative Folk | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0000687V3
Release Date: 2002-07-26

Tracks:

Paris Train
Concrete Sky
Mount Washington
Anywhere
Daybreaker
Carmella
God Song
This Ones Gonna Bruise
Teds Waltz
Thinking About Tomorrow
Alis Waltz (Bonus Track)
Bobby Gentry (Bonus Track)

Album Description

Japanese edition of her beautiful 2002 album includes 2 bonus tracks (previously available as B-sides on the UK single, 'Concrete Sky'). 'Ali's Waltz' & 'Bobby Gentry'. 12 tracks.

Album Details

Japanese Version Featuirng Two Bonus Tracks: "Ali's Waltz", and "Bobby Gentry", Both Taken from the Limited EP from Europe.