By: Kevan Breitinger
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Anna Gilbert
Falling In A Beautiful Place
Independent
Pop
02-05-2008
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SCORE
 
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When Anna Gilbert’s strong, rich vocal first floats out of your speakers, it stops you dead in your tracks. I mean, it’s pouring out like the sunshine after a hard rain. If you don’t think there are indie artists out there with as much talent as signed artists, you need to listen to Anna Gilbert.
Falling In A Beautiful Place opens strong with potent piano ballad “Myself,” its honest lyrics brawny over thickly rolling chords. The very effective track is given an extra kick by Jessica Paul’s warm sax, and you’re already half way in love with this newcomer out of nowhere. Anna Gilbert’s sophomore album is packed to the gills with 15 tracks of thoughtful, original music. Soft pop track “Give A Little” encourages you to “be the change you want to see.” Sobering string-laced pop track “The Real Thing” offers insight into the behaviors of women looking for love in the wrong places, while piano ballad “Make Yourself At Home” offers comfort to the disappointed. There are an awful lot of piano ballads on the disc, it must be said; at least half of the 15 tracks. If you don’t like chill, contemplative music, you won’t enjoy Falling In A Beautiful Place. My only criticism of the album is the lack of diversity in terms of tempo.
But Gilbert gets big, big props for her arranging skills. “I Surrender All” is finely etched with luscious strings while her clear pristine vocal is very much front and center, as it is on the boldly honest “What Happened To Me.” I have to love any artist real enough to sing: “What happened to me?/ I used to love so freely/ Now I’m guarded/ I love half-heartedly/ Oh and this heart’s turned to stone/ And I’m left here alone/ but you watch from the edge and know.”
Another must-mention is the jazz-infused waltz “Cleo,” written with great sensitivity in honor of her grandparents. The track once again is thick with meaningful insight, and oh that sax! Many tracks are splashed lightly with sweet grace notes, like the percussive accents of “Blindly Following” and the mournful cello of the hushed closer “The Father’s Lullaby.” I don’t know how this girl is staying under the radar this long, but if you like mellow, you’ll love Anna Gilbert.
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