PALOMA FAITH
''DO YOU WANT THE TRUTH OR SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL?''
SEPTEMBER 29 2009
37:11
1/Stone Cold Sober
Patrick Byrne / Paloma Faith / Blair Mackichan/2:54
2/Smoke & Mirrors
Paloma Faith / Steve Robson/3:06
3/Broken Doll
Ian Barter / Paloma Faith/4:07
4/Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful?
Paloma Faith / Ed Harcourt/4:35
5/Upside Down
Paloma Faith/3:09
6/Romance Is Dead
Paloma Faith / Jodi Marr/3:04
7/New York
Paloma Faith / Jodi Marr/3:39
8/Stargazer
Jörgen Elofsson / Paloma Faith/3:45
9/My Legs Are Weak
Samuel Dixon / Paloma Faith/4:48
10/Play On
Paloma Faith / Steve Robson/4:04
Leo Abrahams /Guitar
Seye Adelekan /Guitar, Vocals (Background)
Donna Allen /Vocals (Background)
Laura Anstee /Cello
Robin Bailey Reid /Vocals (Background)
Karl Brazil /Drums
Fiona Brice /Violin
Patrick Byrne /Guitar, Handclapping, Keyboards, Percussion, Programming
David Paul Campbell /Brass Arrangement
Ben Castle /Clarinet, Sax (Tenor)
Pete Davis /Bass, Drum Programming
Samuel Dixon /Celeste, Guitar (Bass), Guitar (Electric), Piano, Programming, Toy Piano, Vibraphone
Samuel Dixon /Celeste, Guitar (Bass), Guitar (Electric), Piano, Programming, Toy Piano, Vibraphone
Per Ekdahl /String Arrangements
Paloma Faith /Handclapping, Vocals (Background)
Steve Fitzmaurice /Arranger
Ali Friend /Bass
Hadrian Garrard /Trumpet
Dom Glover /Horn
Dominic Glover /Horn, Horn Arrangements, Trumpet
Simon Hale /Conductor, String Arrangements
Ed Harcourt /Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Producer, Wurlitzer
Gita Harcourt /Violin, Vocals (Background)
Jim Hunt /Horn
Lawrence Johnson /Vocal Arrangement, Vocals (Background)
Marcus Johnson /Vocals (Background)
Brian Jones /Vocals (Background)
Sato Kotono /Viola
Oliver Kraus /String Arrangements, String Engineer, Strings
Greg Kurstin /Guitar, Keyboards, Programming
Amy Langley /String Quartet
Edith Langley /Vocals (Background)
Rosie Langley /String Quartet, Violin, Vocals (Background)
The London Session Orchestra /Strings
London Studio Orchestra /Additional Personnel
Andy Love /Keyboards, Programming
Blair Mackichan /Guitar, Handclapping, Keyboards
Joy Malcolm /Vocals (Background)
Jodi Marr /Brass Arrangement, Vocals (Background)
Ryan Martin /Drums
Perry Mason /Orchestra Leader
Subrina McCalla /Vocals (Background)
Emily McEwan /Vocals (Background)
Trevor Mires /Trombone
Jesse Murphy /Violin
Sky Murphy /Trombone
Andy Newmark /Drums
George Noriega /Brass Arrangement, Keyboards, Programming
Una Palliser /Viola
Daniel Persson /String Engineer
Ruthie Phoenix /Saxophone
Ian Pitter /Vocals (Background)
Luke Potashnick /Guitar/
Llinos Richards /Cello
Carol Riley /Vocals (Background)
Steve Robson /Keyboards, Programming, String Arrangements
Patricia Scott /Vocals (Background)
Jeremy Stacey /Drums, Percussion
Amy Stanford /Viola
Laura Stanford /Violin
Stockholm Session Strings /Strings
Nichol Thompson /Horn
Sarah Tuke /Violin
Andreas Unge /String Engineer
Matthew Waer /Bass (Upright)
Joe Walters /Horn
Rob Wells /Brass Arrangement, Keyboards, Piano, Programming
Dee Dee Wilde /Vocals (Background)
Harriet Wiltshire /Cello
REVIEW
by Matthew Chisling
Paloma Faith's debut album comes in the wake of a slew of contemporaries who have received critical acclaim; her 2009 release puts her at least a year behind the likes of Duffy, Adele, Gabriella Cilmi, and the one who started it all, Amy Winehouse. Therefore, it's no surprise that Faith's debut, Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful?, is heavily affected by many of these aforementioned songbirds. Faith's debut is swimming in that bruising, soulful melodrama that Winehouse glamorized back in 2007. Highlights such as the album's title track can remind a listener of Back to Black's finest moments. At the same time, Faith's debut honors the crisp, icy sounds that Duffy and Cilmi brought to the table to critical acclaim. Therefore, what remains to be seen is how she stands out from her Brit counterparts. What Faith offers more than anyone else is the theatrical quality that music craves. Her background as a burlesque dancer helps her deliver these penetrable lyrics in a truly remarkable way; in fact, it's her delivery that makes these tunes so haunting. Lyrics from "Romance Is Dead" and "Smoke and Mirrors" suggest that Faith has the raw, creative potential with a pen that transforms good singers into artists. The album drives into twisted themes, like a killer Anne Sexton poem that seems to defy social norms through fairy tales (see "New York"). However, where this album falls short is in the production quality. While albums such as 19 by Adele offer a flourishing set of raw tunes, Faith's tracks seem too glossy and processed, as if an executive has tried too hard to make many of these tracks way too commercial. And while this is a plus on the album's lead single, "Stone Cold Sober" (which is as much Duffy as it is Katy Perry), many of the tracks lose that dramatic intrigue that makes them so cool. The overall mood of the album feels a bit broken and battered, but comes off too polished to let that feeling drive home. On her next release, Faith should consider letting the artistry pave the way instead of the commercial drive; however, as a new artist already following so many in the same vein, sometimes we have to sell out just a touch to be heard and appreciated for what we can offer later on.
BIOGRAPHY
by Jon O'Brien A familiar presence on the London underground circuit for several years, the multi-talented Paloma Faith eventually broke into the mainstream thanks to her theatrical image and retro-soul sound. Born in Hackney to a Spanish father and English mother, she earned a degree in contemporary dance at university before studying for an M.A. in time-based arts at St. Martins College. At the age of 18, she made her debut on the cabaret scene, singing in a covers band called Paloma & the Penetrators, before performing as a magician's assistant and appearing in a burlesque troupe. After turning down an opportunity to join Amy Winehouse's band, she began writing and performing her own songs, and soon earned a reputation as one of London's most unique and flamboyant live acts. Her debut single, "Stone Cold Sober," reached number 17 in the U.K. charts, and her debut album, Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful?, was issued by Epic Records at the end of 2009. Meanwhile, Faith appeared on Basement Jaxx's album Scars and Josh Weller's debut while also gaining work as an actress, playing Andrea the Emo in St. Trinian's and appearing as Sally in Terry Gilliam's The Imagination of Dr. Parnassus. Faith's second studio album, 2012's lush and cinematic Fall To Grace, was produced by Nellee Hooper (Gwen Stefani, Massive Attack, Björk).
''DO YOU WANT THE TRUTH OR SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL?''
SEPTEMBER 29 2009
37:11
1/Stone Cold Sober
Patrick Byrne / Paloma Faith / Blair Mackichan/2:54
2/Smoke & Mirrors
Paloma Faith / Steve Robson/3:06
3/Broken Doll
Ian Barter / Paloma Faith/4:07
4/Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful?
Paloma Faith / Ed Harcourt/4:35
5/Upside Down
Paloma Faith/3:09
6/Romance Is Dead
Paloma Faith / Jodi Marr/3:04
7/New York
Paloma Faith / Jodi Marr/3:39
8/Stargazer
Jörgen Elofsson / Paloma Faith/3:45
9/My Legs Are Weak
Samuel Dixon / Paloma Faith/4:48
10/Play On
Paloma Faith / Steve Robson/4:04
Leo Abrahams /Guitar
Seye Adelekan /Guitar, Vocals (Background)
Donna Allen /Vocals (Background)
Laura Anstee /Cello
Robin Bailey Reid /Vocals (Background)
Karl Brazil /Drums
Fiona Brice /Violin
Patrick Byrne /Guitar, Handclapping, Keyboards, Percussion, Programming
David Paul Campbell /Brass Arrangement
Ben Castle /Clarinet, Sax (Tenor)
Pete Davis /Bass, Drum Programming
Samuel Dixon /Celeste, Guitar (Bass), Guitar (Electric), Piano, Programming, Toy Piano, Vibraphone
Samuel Dixon /Celeste, Guitar (Bass), Guitar (Electric), Piano, Programming, Toy Piano, Vibraphone
Per Ekdahl /String Arrangements
Paloma Faith /Handclapping, Vocals (Background)
Steve Fitzmaurice /Arranger
Ali Friend /Bass
Hadrian Garrard /Trumpet
Dom Glover /Horn
Dominic Glover /Horn, Horn Arrangements, Trumpet
Simon Hale /Conductor, String Arrangements
Ed Harcourt /Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Producer, Wurlitzer
Gita Harcourt /Violin, Vocals (Background)
Jim Hunt /Horn
Lawrence Johnson /Vocal Arrangement, Vocals (Background)
Marcus Johnson /Vocals (Background)
Brian Jones /Vocals (Background)
Sato Kotono /Viola
Oliver Kraus /String Arrangements, String Engineer, Strings
Greg Kurstin /Guitar, Keyboards, Programming
Amy Langley /String Quartet
Edith Langley /Vocals (Background)
Rosie Langley /String Quartet, Violin, Vocals (Background)
The London Session Orchestra /Strings
London Studio Orchestra /Additional Personnel
Andy Love /Keyboards, Programming
Blair Mackichan /Guitar, Handclapping, Keyboards
Joy Malcolm /Vocals (Background)
Jodi Marr /Brass Arrangement, Vocals (Background)
Ryan Martin /Drums
Perry Mason /Orchestra Leader
Subrina McCalla /Vocals (Background)
Emily McEwan /Vocals (Background)
Trevor Mires /Trombone
Jesse Murphy /Violin
Sky Murphy /Trombone
Andy Newmark /Drums
George Noriega /Brass Arrangement, Keyboards, Programming
Una Palliser /Viola
Daniel Persson /String Engineer
Ruthie Phoenix /Saxophone
Ian Pitter /Vocals (Background)
Luke Potashnick /Guitar/
Llinos Richards /Cello
Carol Riley /Vocals (Background)
Steve Robson /Keyboards, Programming, String Arrangements
Patricia Scott /Vocals (Background)
Jeremy Stacey /Drums, Percussion
Amy Stanford /Viola
Laura Stanford /Violin
Stockholm Session Strings /Strings
Nichol Thompson /Horn
Sarah Tuke /Violin
Andreas Unge /String Engineer
Matthew Waer /Bass (Upright)
Joe Walters /Horn
Rob Wells /Brass Arrangement, Keyboards, Piano, Programming
Dee Dee Wilde /Vocals (Background)
Harriet Wiltshire /Cello
REVIEW
by Matthew Chisling
Paloma Faith's debut album comes in the wake of a slew of contemporaries who have received critical acclaim; her 2009 release puts her at least a year behind the likes of Duffy, Adele, Gabriella Cilmi, and the one who started it all, Amy Winehouse. Therefore, it's no surprise that Faith's debut, Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful?, is heavily affected by many of these aforementioned songbirds. Faith's debut is swimming in that bruising, soulful melodrama that Winehouse glamorized back in 2007. Highlights such as the album's title track can remind a listener of Back to Black's finest moments. At the same time, Faith's debut honors the crisp, icy sounds that Duffy and Cilmi brought to the table to critical acclaim. Therefore, what remains to be seen is how she stands out from her Brit counterparts. What Faith offers more than anyone else is the theatrical quality that music craves. Her background as a burlesque dancer helps her deliver these penetrable lyrics in a truly remarkable way; in fact, it's her delivery that makes these tunes so haunting. Lyrics from "Romance Is Dead" and "Smoke and Mirrors" suggest that Faith has the raw, creative potential with a pen that transforms good singers into artists. The album drives into twisted themes, like a killer Anne Sexton poem that seems to defy social norms through fairy tales (see "New York"). However, where this album falls short is in the production quality. While albums such as 19 by Adele offer a flourishing set of raw tunes, Faith's tracks seem too glossy and processed, as if an executive has tried too hard to make many of these tracks way too commercial. And while this is a plus on the album's lead single, "Stone Cold Sober" (which is as much Duffy as it is Katy Perry), many of the tracks lose that dramatic intrigue that makes them so cool. The overall mood of the album feels a bit broken and battered, but comes off too polished to let that feeling drive home. On her next release, Faith should consider letting the artistry pave the way instead of the commercial drive; however, as a new artist already following so many in the same vein, sometimes we have to sell out just a touch to be heard and appreciated for what we can offer later on.
BIOGRAPHY
by Jon O'Brien A familiar presence on the London underground circuit for several years, the multi-talented Paloma Faith eventually broke into the mainstream thanks to her theatrical image and retro-soul sound. Born in Hackney to a Spanish father and English mother, she earned a degree in contemporary dance at university before studying for an M.A. in time-based arts at St. Martins College. At the age of 18, she made her debut on the cabaret scene, singing in a covers band called Paloma & the Penetrators, before performing as a magician's assistant and appearing in a burlesque troupe. After turning down an opportunity to join Amy Winehouse's band, she began writing and performing her own songs, and soon earned a reputation as one of London's most unique and flamboyant live acts. Her debut single, "Stone Cold Sober," reached number 17 in the U.K. charts, and her debut album, Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful?, was issued by Epic Records at the end of 2009. Meanwhile, Faith appeared on Basement Jaxx's album Scars and Josh Weller's debut while also gaining work as an actress, playing Andrea the Emo in St. Trinian's and appearing as Sally in Terry Gilliam's The Imagination of Dr. Parnassus. Faith's second studio album, 2012's lush and cinematic Fall To Grace, was produced by Nellee Hooper (Gwen Stefani, Massive Attack, Björk).
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