Album Details

• Artist: Sara Bareilles
• EP:
Once Upon Another Time
• Label: Epic
• Year of Release: 2012
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: carlita on 2012-05-23

Media

Dropping an EP, Once Upon Another Time, last week, before recording a full follow-up to Kaleidoscope Heart, Sara Bareilles provides a diverse package of songs that reminds the VH-1 pop-loving public why they fell in love with her in the first place. On the one hand, she might be the fragile heroine you would want to root for in a rom-com movie, who may or may not get the guy in the end and even if she doesn't get the guy, she'll hurt but be ok after all.  She's also been the fierce woman who told critics to piss off with their opinions of who they think she should be. Teaming up with Ben Folds, an interesting choice in producer, I wondered what I'd find this time. Seeing her live last year at the Orpheum and on Kimmel, her voice is crisp like a classically trained demure singer yet she's got some sassy whimsicalness.

Beginning with the title track, she recalls memories of childhood days gone by in 50's lullaby style, like singing a baby to sleep. She sparkles, singing most of the song acapella, perhaps providing a nod to her old UCLA acapella group days. Stay and Bright Lights and Cityscapes also keep in a slower, gentler lane, reminding me of 2007's Gravity
off Little Voice, projecting a scarred vulnerability which also happens to be one of my favorite songs ever.

With emotional lyrics like "you are carbon and I am flame, I will rise and you will remain", she evokes 90's Lilith Fair Sarah McLachlan, bringing that style back to the mainstream. Speaking of fairs, Sweet as Whole, is a quite amusing Renaissance fair music-style, skewering track where Sara leaves no doubt how she feels about people she dislikes, stating "I say what I think cause it's more economic than drugs or a drink".  Bravely taking a few risks on this EP, she definitely didn't write you another "love song".

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