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Album Details

• Artist: Marissa Nadler
• Album: Songs Iii: Bird On The Water
• Label: Peacefrog
• Year of Release: 2007
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: dscanland on 2007-02-14

I've been a fan of Marissa Nadler since her hauntingly beautiful Ballads of Living and Dying. Songs III: Bird On The Water is her third album and first for Peacefrog Records, home to many other very fine roots musicians. This album is just as magical as the first two albums but I feel that something is missing here. It feels that the production is a little different, not quite as eerie as the first album for sure. But the songs are amazing. Her voice is still as magical and beautiful as ever but the arrangements she chooses are different this time around. I think it's the synths that don't quite work. They aren't on all of the songs and the one's that they are, they are kept down in the mix. "My Love And I" is one of these. Great song but the electronic elements seem to take away from the charm. It's lucky for me because Nadler follows that song up with "Leather Made Shoes", the best song on Bird On The Water. It is absolutely gorgeous. I think "Diamond Heart" is the first "single" off of the album and it is a great introduction to this album. If you enjoy the lovely soft spoken songstress here then you will enjoy the entire album. If this was my first exposure to Marissa I would probably rate this album higher, but as it stands, the previous two albums are slightly superior.

I would love to go see a show with Marissa Nadler and Joanna Newsom. I think that would be a lovely set. Maybe both of them opening up for CocoRosie, or is that a little too much spooky gypsy-americana for one night?

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