Sarah Masen has come a long way. The girl from Royal Oak Michigan has grown noticeably from her early work to her newest release, The Dreamlife of Angels. This album has a more mature Sarah writing more mellow stuff with some brand new themes.
Between her last release and this one Sarah has gone through some big changes, namely getting married and having a child. Those ideas of change and new life are very evident themes on this album. And Sarah has a very beautiful voice that has a uniqueness about it that is fantastic.
This album is much more mellow than her previous releases, and upon the first listen some fans might be a little disappointed. There isn't the catchiness of past releases. There isn't any "hooks" that you find yourself humming after you listen to it, like there were on her first few releases. But that is easy to ignore when you listen to the album more.
The poetry is subtle. The music is calming. It makes for a peaceful, maternal album. It's comforting. Something that is needed in the world today. I think this album has a way of bringing a sense of peace to the listener.
Stand out tracks include "Girl on Fire" which is perhaps the most rocking song on the disc. With a catchy beat, this song is the most reminiscent of her early work. This song is pure pop bliss, almost written just for a bright, sunny, warm spring day. Another standout is the closing song, "Home" which is more of a lullaby than a typical song. This song talks about the idea of there being peace in Sarah's life. It's as if this song was inspired by her sleeping baby. You get that sense from the peacefulness of the song.
This album is a nice change from Sarah. At first it's easy to be disappointed, but this album continues to impress. The title says it all, this is what I imagine The Dreamlife of Angels to be all about. The sense of peace is worth the price of the album alone.
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #90Reviewed by Chris EsteyIt had been a raging weekend of drinking and fighting. I was with a group of new friends, and I'd dropped a few hits of acid earlier in the week. My soul was restless and agitated, I needed some kind of connection, and the cheap wine and bullying of New Wavers in front of shows wasn't doing it. We stayed up all night by the river, screaming and crying and slapping each other, and then we went…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Steve StockmanSarah Masen is a beautiful human being. Without doubt culturally good looking too. She is a gentle and tender soul. Aye and maybe a little bit whimsical too. Beneath all that she is a mind and heart and soul that is searching deep within herself and her world and her God for what this big hurting and hopeful world is all about. Beneath the tenderness she is courageous enough to ask the hardest of…Similar sounding releases
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