Album Club - Week 109: 03.09.2013: Mary Black - Circus (1995)

[Album Club]

Thanks have to go to Paul (pjdowns) for this week's Album Club

Mary Black - Circus (1995)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/pjdowns/MaryBlack-Circus_zps46ace91a.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/pjdowns/media/MaryBlack-Circus_zps46ace91a.jpg.html)

Not the most popular of Mary Black’s albums but it’s simply my favorite. It is also her last collaborate with Declan Sinnott. Like many, I was introduced to Mary Black through the Hifi world and whilst her more common albums Babes In The Wood & No Frontiers are great albums, there is something about this album that makes it standout ahead of the rest for me.


Amazing vocal ability, excellent tunes and great album production, what more could you ask for!

Here's the album on Spotify
spotify:album:1iRWWzNdQlseEtcSAnKrRL

And on Grooveshark (http://grooveshark.com/#!/album/Circus/181934)


You can find Mary’s Wiki page: Mary Black on Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Black)
Here is her own website: Mary Black's Website (http://www.mary-black.ne)

[Audio Al]

I have had a listen to this album Paul

She is a new artist for me

Not sure where her music would fit into a category , its sound sort of Folk

Yes Mary can sing but does not seem to have a great vocal range seems to sing in her comfort zone

Nice to hear something different but unfortunately not big and bold enough for my musical taste

I voted 6 out of 10

Thanks for putting the album up for us to listen too :)

[pjdowns]

Yes Mary can sing but does not seem to have a great vocal range seems to sing in her comfort zone

Thanks for listening Al,

Maybe your comment above is what I like about her so much, such a smooth sounding voice :)

Also for me the production of her albums is something special... I think that had a lot to do with Declan Sinnott because whilst her albums are still excellently produced, they don't have that 'something' when he was working alongside Mary.

Paul.

[John]

Nice production.
Its a little bit nice for me ( kind of folk meets MOR) but I get where you coming from Paul
I think a 5 for me

[Puffin]

Thanks for listening Al,

Maybe your comment above is what I like about her so much, such a smooth sounding voice :)

Also for me the production of her albums is something special... I think that had a lot to do with Declan Sinnott because whilst her albums are still excellently produced, they don't have that 'something' when he was working alongside Mary.

Paul.

I have a Mary Black EP that was given away with Hifi News years ago. Some nice stuff on it. One particular track I like is "Fat Valley of Pain", nice crisp and sparse production which highlights her voice and the other bits are all nicely in proportion.

[Audioman]

Would agree this was the last Mary Black album before standards went downhill somewhat. Saying that I rather like her most recent release. The inner sleeve of the LP states it was recorded using Mission speakers. May have something to do with Mary Black recordings sounding so good on my system. Excuse to listen to this one for the first time in years. Would have gone for No Frontiers or Babes In The Woods myself. Another factor that did affect Mary's output was the untimely death of Noel Brazil who contributed many of the best songs on her albums including the classic 'Columbus'.

[The Grand Wazoo]

I've not heard this one yet but I do have several of her albums. I've ordered a copy of the CD for a mere penny at Amazon so I'll resist the temptation to play it until it can be heard properly.
Whether I like the album or not though Paul, I applaud your choice.

[pjdowns]

Rob,

Fat Valley of Pain is on the album No Frontiers which I've also got and is probably more Hifi :)

[pjdowns]

Another factor that did affect Mary's output was the untimely death of Noel Brazil who contributed many of the best songs on her albums including the classic 'Columbus'.

Now I did not know that little snippet of information. I've recently ordered her latest album but not got around to listening to it, so I'll give it a whirl :)

[John]

opps

[pjdowns]

Whether I like the album or not though Paul, I applaud your choice.

Thanks Chris,

Mary Black is still my favourite female artist... I quite like her sister Frances Black too but she doesn't quite have that something special that Mary has :)

[The Grand Wazoo]

I've played the album a few times now.
It doesn't reach out and grab you like some of her better known work, but I'm liking it a fair bit. There's some great lyrical imagery in some of the songs, which is something I like quite a lot.
I've given it a 6 out of 10, but I expect it to be an album that will grow more, commensurate with the frequency it's played.
Thanks for alerting me to it.

[pjdowns]

Thanks for alerting me to it.

Your welcome Chris and I'd agree, it's certainly a grower... Lets see what you think about it again in a couple of months :)

[Bazil]

I recall her name from some years ago when I used to buy What Hi-Fi mag they would test gear out with her CD.
This is not my cup of tea, I just don't listen to female solo artists and I can't recall ever really liking anything I've heard apart from maybe Melanie and Dusty.
I will however give it 2/10 which is 2 more than Anita whatsherface :D

[Audioman]

It's a bit patchy but very well produced and a few high spots. A little slick and MOR compared with the earlier more folky stuff. Gave it 7/10.

[pjdowns]

I recall her name from some years ago when I used to buy What Hi-Fi mag they would test gear out with her CD.
This is not my cup of tea, I just don't listen to female solo artists and I can't recall ever really liking anything I've heard apart from maybe Melanie and Dusty.
I will however give it 2/10 which is 2 more than Anita whatsherface :D

Fair enough Baz, as we know everyones different :) ... I personally liked Anita whatsherface so much I went and bought it :lol:

[pjdowns]

It's a bit patchy but very well produced and a few high spots. A little slick and MOR compared with the earlier more folky stuff. Gave it 7/10.

I'd agree with you about the patchy bit Paul, it's just for me this is the most 'tuneful' album from Mary Black :)

[Audioman]

I'd agree with you about the patchy bit Paul, it's just for me this is the most 'tuneful' album from Mary Black :)

This was the first time I played this in about 15 years. In fact it is better than I remember. The next album she did with a batch of the then unknown David Gray songs is pretty forgettable though.

[pjdowns]

Totally agree with you there Paul. Although I didn't know she'd used David Gray song though.

I bought one of her more recent albums (Full Tide) recently and am pretty disappointed, it's very much wallpaper music!

[Audioman]

Totally agree with you there Paul. Although I didn't know she'd used David Gray song though.

I bought one of her more recent albums (Full Tide) recently and am pretty disappointed, it's very much wallpaper music!

Played that once and put it away. The latest 'Stories From The Steeples' is much better on first listen. Need to get round to trying these again but have had too many more interesting purchases to get through. She was a top act 20 years ago with a great touring band that included Eleanor McEvoy.

[pjdowns]

Very true. I've re listened to Full Tide and think I was a little harsh at first. It's actually quite a good album... Very much back to her Folk days... Only letdown is the duo/trio songs but I guess I can live with them :)

[losenotaminute]

I've not heard Mary Black before. I like the voice, very effortless and musical, the production quality seems good, even allowing for Spotify. The opening / title track, 'Circus', grabs you immediately with a nice tempo introduction. I particularly enjoyed track 4 'Soul Sister' and the start of track 6 'Donegal Breeze', but in fact there's a lot of variety and good music on this album. The lyrics are also worth concentrating on, very poetic!

I'll give this 8/10, thank you for sharing.

Lawrence

[pjdowns]

I've not heard Mary Black before. I like the voice, very effortless and musical, the production quality seems good, even allowing for Spotify. The opening / title track, 'Circus', grabs you immediately with a nice tempo introduction. I particularly enjoyed track 4 'Soul Sister' and the start of track 6 'Donegal Breeze', but in fact there's a lot of variety and good music on this album. The lyrics are also worth concentrating on, very poetic!

I'll give this 8/10, thank you for sharing.

Lawrence

Hi Lawrence,

Thanks for listening and for the vote.

If you liked this album I'd highly recommend her two more popular albums too, Babes In the Wood and No Frontiers. A little more Folky but worth a listen and certainly more 'Hifi'

[MartinT]

I've liked Mary Black for a long time and this was a good listen. Not as strong as some of her albums (Babes in the Wood, in particular) so I'll give this 7/10.

[pjdowns]

I've liked Mary Black for a long time and this was a good listen. Not as strong as some of her albums (Babes in the Wood, in particular) so I'll give this 7/10.

Thanks for that Martin. I agree Babes in the Wood is an excellent album but there is something about this album that makes me reach for it in preference to any of her other albums :)