Camera Obscura – My Maudlin Career Review
Sometimes for whatever I don’t end up listening to recommendations. I just didn’t pick up on any of the Camera Obscura recommendations by their “similarity” to Belle and Sebastian or even when Last.fm said I would like them.
They were right though, perhaps I don’t like “recommended if you like” so and so artist as it never works for me but once I had a chance to listen to Camera Obscura’s My Maudlin Career – I wanted to kick myself.
Camera Obscura is out of Glasgow, Scotland and normally called the female fronted version of Belle and Sebastian. I don’t think this is the case by Tracyanne Campbell’s vocals can absolutely steal your heart and soul.
The album, filled with romantic struggle you just can’t escape Campbell’s charm. “You make go ooo with that thing that you do” couldn’t be sweeter but in that same sentiment we get “I wanted to control it, But love, I couldn’t hold it”. Campbell’s writing shows off the pain of love but in such a sweet way that you can’t help but say “Okay I forgive you!”.
The songs are well crafted by the band, while never straying from pop songs while using classical influences. One of the greatest things about the band it seems is consistency. Campbell could light a room and steal your heart but the band is really the key that unlocks your heart in the first place. Musically it’s well crafted, not shying away from a typical pop intro while mixing in different sounds. It’s not the most original or creative thing I’ve heard but Camera Obscura rarely strays away from perfection. While poppy they don’t shove themselves your throat and they really allow you to enjoy Tracyanne Campbell to the fullest while striking the perfect balance between pop and folk.
I’ve found this album very easy to like from when I started playing it. I can’t stop listening to it. In a way they make it seem like it’s easy for Camera Obscura to make such a good album.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
To me this album is a pretty good album. Perhaps it misses the “OMG so amazing I have to give it a 5 out of 5” mark a tad but it doesn’t mean it’s not top 20 worthy, w.hich it very well is. In a way the album chooses to be satisfactorily good. It’s good pop music with classical influences but I still feel reserved from calling it amazing. I’m tired of talking semantics of a rating score that might not matter to you.
Favorites include: French Navy, Swans, My Maudlin Career to name a few.
French Navy by Camera Obscura
My Maudlin Career by Camera Obscura
Tags: album
