Beth Orton – Comfort of Strangers

Artist: Beth Orton

Title: Comfort of Strangers

Label: Astralwerks

Rating: 7.5/10

FILE UNDER: Beth “The Under-rated” Orton – just don’t compare her to Norah Jones!

CORPORATE LINE: Beth Orton is a famously good singer, as evidenced by the three albums that have so conspicuously built her worldwide reputation over the past decade. Not even that illustrious body of work, however, can properly prepare you for the extraordinarily personal, almost naked and most certainly honest emotional qualities of Comfort of Strangers, Beth Orton’s new album.

THE GOOD:
“Worms” – A simple and brilliant song that mixes sharp wit with beautiful melodies.
“Countenance” – Gorgeous. Again, Orton mines the simplest melody for gold.
“Conceived” – Colorful. The melody and instruments chime together creating bliss.

THE AVERAGE:
“Rectify” – Not shabby—but the song doesn’t compare the openers.

THE BAD:
Nothing.

FRANKLY: Beth Orton sings songs that mean something—simple enough. Many of the lyrics may seem simple and yet they are always poignant. Tracks like “Comfort of Strangers” aren’t nearly as elementary as they seem. It’s a shame this won’t reach the masses because of its lack of a radio single.

It is easy to throw lyrics together that have meaning. It’s not easy putting them together in an album where it mesmerizes and hypnotizes the listener. Comfort of Strangers won’t make you dance it will however make any drive seem shorter as you daydream all the way home.

+ Rae Gun