Jessie Ware - 110% (and everything else she's done)

This is like Born This Way, where everyone agrees to like the album and everyone's favorite track is different.

Apparently "'Taking Water' is about my little brother." And I'd already constructed a fiction in which the singer falls in love with a gay man.

Strangest Feeling and Devotion are my favorites.

This shit really needs to come out in the US. Listening to clips on YouTube is all I can do since Spotify yanked it.

She's touring now! Should I go see her in a few weeks for $15?

$15, worth it. From the live YouTube clips, seems like she has a similar "wow, that voice is real" power as the studio sound. (Not having seen her. That was my reaction to seeing Sade years ago.)

Don't know about regular concerts, but I saw her at a summer festival and it was great. She was surprised by enthusiastic audience (this was before album release) and seemed even a bit intimidated, but handled everything like a total pro. Great voice indeed, beats sounded really well, and she seemed super nice too.

this is nice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiWPsTeUNaI

Imma go ahead and see her Friday night in a 600-person venue for $15. I'm p stoked.

this sounds kind of reactionary but i feel like this album could use more traditional song structures and melodic variation. sometimes it feels like the melodies kind of dead-end in the middle of the song and it's diminishing returns after that point. i love a good disco vamp as much as anyone but the programming/arrangements seldom develope in a way that keeps me as engrossed as i feel i should be. and yet there's a lot of brilliance on this record and i find myself returning to it.

she's playing chicago this weekend: http://www.songkick.com/concerts/14452954-on-an-on-at-tomorrow-never-knows-lincoln-hall

who are those other folks?

She does not have Canada stops on this tour apparently? Or ever? Sigh.

Speaking of, Canadian girl she's touring with, Rochelle Jordan, is super talented.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PmtYq_nrnc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TO_oSH1qnHo

she's touring with Rochelle Jordan?!?!

ugh. WHY ARE THEY NOT COMING TO CANADA

i can't make it down to see this, oh well.

"Still Love Me" sounds too much like Annie Lennox for me

― curmudgeon, Thursday, November 22, 2012 4:34 PM (2 months ago)

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/27/arts/music/jessie-ware-and-her-new-ep-if-youre-never-gonna-move.html

"I’ve been deeply influenced by lots of American soul and R&B, but also these really strong British musicians like Annie Lennox and Sade. I need to remember I’m not from L.A. or New York, so there’s only so far I can go with the American thing.

On your new EP, you cover Bobby Caldwell, the blue-eyed soul guy.

I’m a white Jewish girl — come on! Much as I’d love to be Aaliyah, I’m not."

'still love me' is great, poss my fave track on the album, love the way it gently tidally transforms from an ungainly clanking 80sness into something becoming ever more powerful even as it diffuses in slowmo. "if i make myself understood" by hypnosis

& if i may

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyPMNHyhkX0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSMTZZAUEcw

you'll be my night
LIGHT

Months later "Still Love Me" is still my total fav track on the album; I'm v surprised she hasn't released it as a single.

Much as I’d love to be Aaliyah, I’m not."

― curmudgeon, Monday, January 28, 2013 1:33 AM (6 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

aaliyah please
this is green envy

When I hear piano in the chorus of Night Light I'm always happily reminded of the floating plinkety plonkety piano sounds in this song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeI9zNNP8bE

Katy B insists that Aaliyah isn't actually about Aaliyah - it's about someone at a club and she looked at her iTunes library for a name - but maybe one great thing about the record is that Jessie thinks it is.

can understand katy not wanting to put too deadeningly fine a point on it tbf

Yes, obviously the ambiguity's key but I found it interesting that the name, with all its associations, was an afterthought for her because it's the first thing that strikes the listener.

yeah idk it's just a little bit too "no my dog's name is aaliyah you see" to really hold water

who cares anyway we're the artists here not them

Well I don't think she was lying to me but I'm only throwing that out there as a bit of trivia rather than anything that should affect your (or my) reading of the song.

i've seen this woman perform twice in the past week, and i don't think there is a lovelier person alive on this planet

i could listen to her sing and make dorky jokes forever.

also "no to love" is my least favourite song on the album but live it really shines, she turns it into a funk guitar jam.

Good to hear, always thought "no to love" had very special potential but that it didn't take off the ground.

So good but more crucially SO PERSONABLE live! I've never seen a person more endearing.

seems to be a common experience. My friends who went to see her were totally in love

she is gonna play the berghain end of march, i think i'll be there!

I meant to post this v sentiment on thread; it's something I've told ppl a million times after seeing her show: she is so fucking magnetic/charismatic/humble/personable/adorable and such a treat to watch sing AND ALSO banter btwn songs!

Also the contrast between her singing and speaking voice is a joy to behold

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NS6kSagTixk&feature=player_embedded

!!!

I always felt there was a spark of something interesting in the Rhianna song, and this just ignites it and turns such a mediocre song into something close to Sade-esque perfection.

there is video of that ^

http://www.bbc.co.uk/events/e2rzp6#p015338v

She's talking on the radio right now. Would kick it with Jessie.

Haha now she's talking about Roy Keane bullying Gareth Southgate.

she does seem pretty great

i like the way her twitter picture is a really awful midframe gurn from bbc news

Not listening to it, but she's always been good when I've seen her interviewed in the past.

Would a Devotion vs On A Mission be fun or just a pointless waste of space?

maybe i should poll that question

"Imagine It Was Us"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=w4v_RpIDBwM#!

this bangs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4v_RpIDBwM

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Damn right.

yesssss

bashmore did this huh. ratings