URNotAlone

Music Review: Tanya Donelly

October 19th, 2006 9:05 am MDT

Tanya Donelly, "Beautysleep". I got this album after hearing the song "Keeping You" just one time. I liked Donelly's earlier works from Throwing Muses and a little bit of her solo work with Belly, but this song struck me instantly. She has the softest, warmest voice, very sweet and a simple snare drum playing a sort of marching beat gave a sense of tragedy and sadness. I love contrast like that, it reflects life a lot-- often we're happy and sad at the same time. This album is much different from those earlier works-- it's very slow, with most of the emphasis on her voice versus the instruments. It doesn't rock much, although in even the slowest songs you can hear elements of the Muses style, with a quick note or two of the guitar. But it's Donnelly's voice that carries the album. Her voice can reach the highest notes without sounding diva'ish-- the sweetness is always there. In 'the storm', she allows herself a vulnerability that permeates through the rest of the album::: I'm not finished yet, I'm under construction/You can peek behind the curtain if you want/You watch, don't stop/My reputation's shot/I just wanted to get it right::: When she sings "Can it be the storm has passed", the desperation and hope that emanates from her voice linger in the air even after the song has ended.I think my favorite song off the album is "Another Moment". She shrugs off the sweet side of her voice to sing::: All your friends have changed/Another moment too soon for you/The angle shifts again/Another moment too soon/Now it's time to take a walk/Now it's time to take the walk you've been side-slipping::: While the lyrics to the song are cryptic, it's the way she sing the song that makes it so great. She can turn the voice a little more somber and serious-- it seems to move through the air and pierce you like cold steel. As she does on 'The Shadow'. The album precipitated from Donelly's big life change -- she became a mother. The songs describe surprise at the change and the pain from the road that led her to this place, but always embracing without regret the thing that changed her. While I like this album entirely since I bought it, I've found it particularly pleasing to listen while being Rachelle. I can really get into the sensuality and the lyrics speak to me more for some reason. Maybe it's because the album is a lot about dealing with change, travelling the rough road and self-acceptance.