Suzanne Vega

RetroSpective: The Best Of Suzanne Vega
$9.49
Fantastic compilation by quite a unique songwriter. I'd say that if you don't have any Suzanne Vega CD's in your collection, then this is a great place to start.

Solitude Standing
$11.98
Describing music with words regardless of the writer's talent or favorable intent towards an album is at best an injustice, but I'll try my best.

"Solitude Standing" remains one of the most musically perfect albums Suzanne Vega has ever done. There's a gentle expansion of her sound towards a more mainstream pop/rock sound especially in "Luka" and the title cut, but the songs never lose their spiritual core.

The romantic "Gypsy" works perfectly with very minimal production while the sad, but stoic longing of "Calypso" is complemented with an unobtrusive synthesizer background and tasteful percussion.

Vega prefers a drier vocal delivery reminiscent of Astrud Gilberto ("The Girl From Ipanema"). Her voice is gentle, somewhat cool on the surface and devoid of vibrato as Vega prefers to let the lyrics and the music itself communicate the emotion of the songs and communicate they do.

Vega's lyrical content approaches poetry again even if not quite up to the standard set by "Suzanne Vega". One of the joys of this album is that you can just soak up the pleasant sonic textures rather mindlessly while going about your daily business. Then later, in a more thoughtful mood you can listen anew to wrestle with the multiple layers of meaning concealed under the surface of Vega's intentionally ambiguous lyrics.

Producer, Lenny Kaye (former guitarist for Patti Smith) worked on Vega's first two albums and they remain the strongest she has ever done. Kaye just seems to "get" Suzanne Vega - he has a feel for what works to strengthen and complement her work without ever distracting from her voice, her guitar or her vision. The band's contributions are strong and tasteful.

BUY IT!

Tom's Diner
$0.99
Suzanne Vega's voice is what makes this song work so well for me. She speaks melodically and tells a story of sorts about a woman who goes to Tom's diner. The beat and pace of the song is addictive. I can listen to this song over and over without tiring of it. In the song she is making observations of her fellow diner guests that make you feel like you are there. I have a diner all worked out in my imagination and it's a place I would like to go for coffee.

99.9 F¡ë
$10.98
I just never get tired of this album, and I guess that's the highest compliment I can bestow on the artist.

I remember catching the 99.9F video on MTV when they had Suzanne Vega do an hour as a guest VJ to promote the album. I was hooked from the first listen and had to hear more. I went right out to the record store (you remember record stores, right?) and bought the CD.

17 years later, it is still on my CD shelf, still gets prominent play time, and is a permanent fixture on my iPod.

It's adventurous, unique, and somewhat hypnotizing in its beauty. I guess it's out of print now so go find it in the marketplace, get it cheap, open your ears and enjoy!