Hope Sandoval Albums (2)
'Through the Devil Softly'
Release Date 9/25/2009
Tracks 11
Label Nettwerk
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Hope Sandoval basically disappeared from the scene following the release of 2001's Bavarian Fruit Bread. That album's tender and spooky folk seemed like a nice beginning for her post-Mazzy Star career, and her musical partnership with ex-My Bloody Valentine drummer Colm O'Ciosoig promised more goodness to come. It wasn't to be, however, and it wasn't until 2009's Through the Devil Softly that the duo reappeared. The album showed that not much had changed musically for them. The hazy, slow-motion feel of the music here is of a piece with Sandoval's body of work; the restraint and careful placement of instruments is equally as effective; and the songs are haunting, perhaps even more so. Most of all, there's Sandoval's voice, which is exactly as beguiling and bewitching as ever. She makes everything sound like it was recorded at 2:00 a.m. in the middle of the kind of dream you never want to wake up from. If you look a little deeper, though, there are things here that make this album much more successful than Sandoval's debut. Songs with memorable hooks were somewhat lacking on the first Warm Inventions record, and while this album doesn't exactly scream Top 40 or boast any singalong choruses, it does at least have more of a sense of melody and forward motion. Tracks like "For the Rest of Your Life," "Trouble," and "Fall Aside" fit this bill, and "There's a Willow" comes magically close to a straightforward Mazzy Star-like gem. Even the spare ballads and drifting tone poems feel more fleshed-out and well constructed this time around. There is a depth of sound and feeling on the record that makes it feel less like a semi-forced continuation of a career and more like a deeply felt work of art. It sounds like it was worth the wait for Sandoval and O'Ciosoig and it's a welcome return for fans of her music, and also for fans of late-night, melancholy balladry that will break your heart and ease you gently into dreams. ~ Tim Sendra, All Music Guide
'Bavarian Fruit Bread'
Release Date 10/23/2001
Tracks 12
Label Sanctuary
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Hope Sandoval built up real steam fronting the darkly mysterious yet slinky slow-core swooners Mazzy Star. If Mazzy did themselves no favors playing shows in total darkness or close to it, it just seemed to add to the wee-hours shimmer of their vibey reputation. Certainly, Sandoval's unhurried, husky whisper was a major part of it. But her first solo LP, Bavarian Fruit Bread, misspends this regard. Sandoval misses the textural bedrock (and likely the tunes) provided by tight-lipped but inspired Mazzy Star mainman, guitarist David Roback. Though now Sandoval works with one of the best rock drummers of a decade ago, ex-My Bloody Valentine pounder Colm O'Ciosoig, there's hardly any drumming here, and not all that much else going on, either. The spare melodies are largely wanting, and the backing tracks are minimal but unsatisfying. So Sandoval's unhurried delivery now comes off as bored, or at least diffident, when her voice used to seem so vivid. Perhaps the title track and the effortlessly graceful "On the Low" bring back some of the old, dark, black magic. And there are touches of childlike bells, cellos and piano, alt-country electric and chamber-bare acoustic guitar, and occasional big-sigh harmonica gasps. But for the most part, the LP never really goes anywhere. It's like sitting in a cool car with the engine off and the brake pulled, a movie with no sound, a party with no guests, or the Blues Brothers' meatless "Wish Sandwich." The parts are present, but there's no there here. A lot of joyless or minimal records are actually quite compelling, striking, or peculiarly affecting. This one is just a little too stillborn to get airborne. ~ Jack Rabid, All Music Guide
