Artist: Nicole Croteau
Album: Anchors and Silhouettes
Label: DREAM Records
Album length: 12 tracks: 45 minutes, 1 second
Street Date: March 13, 2012
Album length: 12 tracks: 45 minutes, 1 second
Street Date: March 13, 2012
Genre: Pop/Acoustic
IPod Pick: Amazing
For me, there two types of artistes. One, those who tell you from
the radio ‘come, come to where we are. It’s so good here’ and there are the
others who somehow cross the electromagnetic line between you and the radio, take
your hands and say ‘come with me, let me show you where I have been’. Nicole
Croteau who just got recently got signed to DREAM records is one of the latter.
Nicole Croteau on first listen is one artist (even though you have never met
before or seen her face) you would be longing for a conversation with over a
cup of tea. Even on the ‘jivy’ pop/country/ Americana/ soft rock tune (yes her
sound is hard to describe, more on that latter) her debut presents; you would
hear her heart on every sound. The harmonies and ad-lib on her debut are just
heavenly with occasional claps, ouhs, whistles and playfully said words. It’s
one you drink deep. It becomes yours on first listen cause Nicole does what
great artists do: The story she has to tell on this album transcends herself
and time. On listening you will find her singing your story to you. She puts to
words finely with beautifully crafted music what your heart has been longing to
say which you couldn’t find the exact words for; that’s the summary of ‘Anchors
and Silhouettes’.
On ‘Storyteller’ she encourages like a dear friend “Don’t doubt in
the dark what you knew in the light”. On ‘Push Down’ she sings confidently ‘Cause
I’m dodging bullets now . . . they say we’ve finally found the cure for living
out loud”. ‘Amazing’ would sure get you off your seat dancing. ‘Devon’ is meant
to be a sad song but something about how it’s delivered and crafted offers
nothing less of hope.
Critics have compared Nicole sounds to that of Taylor Swift and
Miley Cyrus but I’m sure these two superstars would be awed if they listened to
Nicole’s sound. And another thing about this album that might get listeners wondering
is who Nicole is actually referring to on some songs. On Falling she sings ‘In
your presence is where I need to be cause that’s where I’m complete ,baby, I
can’t never let you go’. I’m sure Jesus hasn’t earned a new name called ‘baby’
but I love how she reminds us with these lyrics that the very idea of love is
sacred.
All in all, this is a straight 5 star album. And note, this album
wasn’t just produced, it was crafted. ‘Anchors and Silhouettes’ is Nicole
Croteau’s invitation to listen to your own story cause in singing hers she sang
yours not even knowing you. Want a live concert where you can meet the artist
and not just her jives right where you are? Go get ‘Anchors and Silhouettes’.
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