My Brightest Diamond: A Thousand Shark's Teeth

As I mentioned last month, My Brightest Diamond's A Thousand Shark's Teeth will be released on June 17th by Asthmatic Kitty Records. I received an advance copy of the CD almost two months, but was asked to hold my review until now in order to include an mp3. Such are the perils of writing a legal blog. This sophomore release by the Shara Worden vehicle is a mostly satisfying sequel to her darkly elegant debut. I only say "mostly" because I would love to hear Shara break out of her style box. But the seeming lack of diversity doesn't detract from the beauty of Shara's music, and is understandable considering that the songs on this album were written before and after the release of her debut.



The content of A Thousand Shark's Teeth was apparently inspired by the paintings of German artist Anslem Kiefer, the photographs of Robert ParkeHarrison (also reflected in the sepia toned landscape of the album's cover art), Jean-Pierre Jeunet's films (I'm guessing more Amélie than Alien Resurrection!), and Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland - all wrapped in the atmospheric orchestration of marimbas, harps, clarinets, French horns, guitars, and vibraphones... not to mention Shara's trembling soprano.

"Inside a Boy" slips in with a graceful, murky arrangement and haunting vocals that are signature Shara, with churning guitar accents. The song - like many on the album - would make a lovely Radiohead and PJ Harvey (or Björk) collaboration, if they were ever so inclined to record a cover. "The Ice & The Storm" begins with simple heartbeat percussion and tinkling piano, slowly rising on waves of strings and rapturous vocals.

"If I Were Queen" is my favored track - so subtle and beautiful with only soft strings supporting Shara's ethereal quiver. "From The Top Of The World" drops into a deeper, sensual beat. Other stunners are the dramatic "Black and Costaud" - which borrows lyrics from an opera by Maurice Ravel - and the exotic instrumentation of "Bass Player". Shara's seraphic voice really takes flight in "Like a Sieve".

If you missed it the first time around, I wrote a track by track comparison of Shara's previous album Bring Me The Workhorse and its remix counterpart Tear It Down.

My Brightest Diamond - Inside a Boy (mp3)
My Brightest Diamond - The Diamond (mp3)

My Brightest Diamond Official Site
MBD MySpace

I assume you'll be able to buy the album here on the release date.

Coming Soon: New My Brightest Diamond Album

My Brightest Diamond's A Thousand Shark's Teeth will be released on June 17th by Asthmatic Kitty Records. I was privileged enough to receive an advance copy of the CD, but was asked to hold off on a full review until closer to the release date (when I'll then have permission to share an mp3). I will say that - though I'd hoped Shara might try a different sound on at least a few of the new songs - the album is a solid continuation of the dark elegance cultivated on her debut.




As I said above, I will be doing a full album review in a month or so with mp3 and pre-order link. In the meantime, check out my track by track comparison from last year of Shara's two previous albums Bring Me The Workhorse and its remix counterpart Tear It Down.

My Brightest Diamond Official Site
My Brightest Diamond MySpace

My Brightest Diamond: Bring Me The Workhorse vs. Tear It Down

I began plotting this little project last year, but only recently completed it. Following is a track by track comparison of My Brightest Diamond's Bring Me The Workhorse and its remix counterpart Tear It Down. As most people know by now My Brightest Diamond's real name is Shara Worden and she used to be a vocalist in Sufjan Stevens' band. Her own music is akin to that of Björk or Bat For Lashes.

  

1. "Something of an End" - The original from Bring Me The Workhorse is dark and dramatic, while the spaced out Tear It Down version by David Keith is much more atmospheric and surreal.

2. "Golden Star" - The Alias remix isn't vastly different from its source, save for the seductive beat pulsing a little faster and harder. What sounds really sharp is playing the two versions of the song at the same time.

3. "Gone Away" - The haunting quiver of Shara's voice carries the creeping original, so the song lost some of its magic on the more orchestral David Michael Stith arrangement.

4. "Dragonfly" - While I like the dreamy original, this time I prefer the exotic tempo and slightly industrial beat of the Murcof remix.

5. "Freak Out" - The original sounds like a PJ Harvey track with vibrating guitar and sexy siren verses partnered with screeching banshee chorus, but the Gold Chains Panique mix is unrecognizable as most of the vocals and guitar drown in an electro-disco.

6. "We Were Sparkling" - There isn't a big difference between the simple music box instrumentation of the original and the twinkling Haruki mix. But the original does seem to focus the spotlight more on Shara's confessional vocals.

7. "Disappear" - Tear It Down features two different remixes of this pretty track. The cinematic feel of the Stakka mix seems to stand out most.

8. "The Robin's Jar" - After "Something Of An End", this spooky little track is probably my favourite song on Bring Me The Workhorse. So I was surprised that it was omitted from Tear It Down.

9. "Magic Rabbit" - Maybe my ears deceive me, but I couldn't tell much if any difference between the original and the Alfred Brown mix.

10. "The Good & The Bad Guy" - I realize the point of a remix is often to show off the skills of the mixer, but the Siamese Sisters seem to have completely removed every element that makes this original so moving - most notably Shara's voice.

11. "Workhorse" - Personally, I think the original beat and rhythm is much more interesting than the slowed down Lusine mix.

I obviously prefer Bring Me The Workhorse over Tear It Down, mostly because I love Shara's voice. But it's certainly nice to have the two sets. Especially if you accidentally play them simultaneously as I did!

Check out the interview with My Brightest Diamond over at Song, By Toad.

My Brightest Diamond - Something Of An End (mp3)
My Brightest Diamond - Disappear (mp3)
My Brightest Diamond - Golden Star (Alias remix) (mp3)
My Brightest Diamond - Freak Out (Gold Chains Panique mix) (mp3)

My Brightest Diamond Official Site
MBD on MySpace
Buy Bring Me the Workhorse
Buy Tear It Down