Susanna — Wild Dog (March 16th, 2012)
Δ ”Wild Dog” is Susanna´s eight album, including three with Susanna and the Magical Orchestra, her ”Norwegian” album ”Jeg Vil Hjem Til Menneskene” and the recent ECM album with Giovanna Pessi. That is effectively one album a year of quality releases since her debut in 2004, indeed a very rare treat these days. Possibly best known for her unique and striking interpretations of iconic songs like ”Jolene”, “Hallelujah” and “Love Will Tear Us Apart”, she has also proved herself as an original songwriter with a strong signature. Bonnie “Prince” Billy has performed and recorded her songs and Mojo named her song “Believer” as “one of the greatest break–up songs ever”. The ten originals on ”Wild Dog” are darker, wilder and more intensely seductive than ever. Susanna has assembled some prominent guests on the album with Emmett Kelly from Bonnie ”Prince” Billy´s band and Jeremy Gara from Arcade Fire appearing on all ten tracks while Shahzad Ismaily is credited on seven tracks and Jo Berger Myhre on two. Co–producer Helge Sten (Deathprod) is typically credited with ”space and beyond” on one track while The Sheriffs of Nothingness (Ole Henrik Moe and Kari Rønnekleiv) do their thing on another track.
Δ Comes with 12 page lyrics booklet.
Birth name: Susanna Karolina Wallumrød
Born: 23 June 1979, Kongsberg, Buskerud, Norway
Location: Oslo, Norway
Album release: March 16th, 2012
Record Label: SusannaSonata / Rune Grammofon
Duration: 34:59
Tracks:
01. Imagine 4:01
02. Freeze 2:59
03. Rolling On Rolling Stone 3:34
04. Oh, I Am Struck 3:34
05. Starving Soul 3:50
06. Invitation 2:56
07. Wild Horse Wild Dog 4:04
08. There Is Nothing Funny About This 2:19
09. Her Eyes 4:52
10. Lovely Heart 2:54
℗ 2012 SusannaSonata
Personnel:
Δ Shahzad Ismaily — Bass Guitar (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8 to 10)
Δ Jeremy Gara — Drums
Δ Emmett Kelly — Guitars, Vocals
Δ Susanna Karolina Wallumrød — Vocals, Music, Lyrics, Piano, Keys, Engineer
Δ Jo Berger Myhre — Double Bass (3), Bass Guitar (7)
Δ Helge Sten — Space And Beyond (3)
Δ Kari Rønnekleiv — Violin (6)
Δ Ole Henrik Moe — Violin, Viola, Musical Saw (6)
Δ Deathprod, Susanna — Producer
Δ Kim Hiorthøy — Sleeve Art
Δ Janne Hansson — Engineer
Δ Eyvinn Magnus Solberg — Engineer
Δ Henning Svoren — Engineer
© Susanna Karolina Wallumrød / Credit Guri Dahl
Δ Chicago Reader critique Peter Margasak, in his review Wild Dog states:
“... I never thought about the influence Joni Mitchell might have had on Wallumrød, but I think it's undeniable here. Though their voices aren't particularly similar, their tunes share an elegant elasticity that stretches folk–pop into the world of jazz without getting lost in empty virtuosity. Wild Dog sounds introspective, but much of it has a churning restlessness that's rare on Wallumrød's much more austere earlier records. Most of the songs deal with heartbreak, loneliness, and longing — familiar topics — but her lyrics add an otherworldly mystery, particularly when she turns to nature...”
Allmusic review by Heather Phares, Score: ****
Δ If there were any doubts that Susanna is a world–class singer/songwriter, Wild Dog should put them to rest. Her third English–language solo album, Wild Dog follows years of activity with other projects, including 2009's brilliant Susanna and the Magical Orchestra album 3, Giovanna Pessi's 2011 album If Grief Could Wait, and Jeg Vil Hjem Til Menneskene, on which she transformed the work of Norwegian poet Gunvor Hofmo into song. While some artists would be longing for a break after that kind of output, Susanna seems energized by it: Wild Dog is some of her most organic and open–sounding music yet. Joined by Emmett Kelly of Bonnie "Prince" Billy's band and Arcade Fire's Jeremy Gara, among others, she creates perfect foils for her mercurial voice and lyrics. She's every inch the ice princess on "Freeze"'s chorus, but thaws ever so gradually on the verses; the gorgeous "Imagine" opens Wild Dog with a complex mix of yearning and resignation, a feeling echoed in the equally lovely breakup song "Starving Soul," in which Susanna meditates on love and loss in her most seductive tones. Throughout the album, she crafts an air of hushed intensity that's spellbinding — and even more so when she pierces it. Toward its end, "Oh, I Am Stuck" blossoms suddenly into electrifying rock, and the effect is like finding water in the desert; later, "Wild Horse Wild Dog" morphs from a postmodern torch song into surprisingly heavy riffs. While much of Susanna's reputation may have been built on her skills as an interpreter of other people's songs, Wild Dog is a testament to the subtly haunting power of her own music.
Label: http://www.runegrammofon.com/
Website: http://www.susannamagical.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susannamagical
_____________________________________________________________
Δ Comes with 12 page lyrics booklet.
Born: 23 June 1979, Kongsberg, Buskerud, Norway
Location: Oslo, Norway
Album release: March 16th, 2012
Record Label: SusannaSonata / Rune Grammofon
Duration: 34:59
Tracks:
01. Imagine 4:01
02. Freeze 2:59
03. Rolling On Rolling Stone 3:34
04. Oh, I Am Struck 3:34
05. Starving Soul 3:50
06. Invitation 2:56
07. Wild Horse Wild Dog 4:04
08. There Is Nothing Funny About This 2:19
09. Her Eyes 4:52
10. Lovely Heart 2:54
℗ 2012 SusannaSonata
Personnel:
Δ Shahzad Ismaily — Bass Guitar (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8 to 10)
Δ Jeremy Gara — Drums
Δ Emmett Kelly — Guitars, Vocals
Δ Susanna Karolina Wallumrød — Vocals, Music, Lyrics, Piano, Keys, Engineer
Δ Jo Berger Myhre — Double Bass (3), Bass Guitar (7)
Δ Helge Sten — Space And Beyond (3)
Δ Kari Rønnekleiv — Violin (6)
Δ Ole Henrik Moe — Violin, Viola, Musical Saw (6)
Δ Deathprod, Susanna — Producer
Δ Kim Hiorthøy — Sleeve Art
Δ Janne Hansson — Engineer
Δ Eyvinn Magnus Solberg — Engineer
Δ Henning Svoren — Engineer
Δ Chicago Reader critique Peter Margasak, in his review Wild Dog states:
“... I never thought about the influence Joni Mitchell might have had on Wallumrød, but I think it's undeniable here. Though their voices aren't particularly similar, their tunes share an elegant elasticity that stretches folk–pop into the world of jazz without getting lost in empty virtuosity. Wild Dog sounds introspective, but much of it has a churning restlessness that's rare on Wallumrød's much more austere earlier records. Most of the songs deal with heartbreak, loneliness, and longing — familiar topics — but her lyrics add an otherworldly mystery, particularly when she turns to nature...”
Allmusic review by Heather Phares, Score: ****
Δ If there were any doubts that Susanna is a world–class singer/songwriter, Wild Dog should put them to rest. Her third English–language solo album, Wild Dog follows years of activity with other projects, including 2009's brilliant Susanna and the Magical Orchestra album 3, Giovanna Pessi's 2011 album If Grief Could Wait, and Jeg Vil Hjem Til Menneskene, on which she transformed the work of Norwegian poet Gunvor Hofmo into song. While some artists would be longing for a break after that kind of output, Susanna seems energized by it: Wild Dog is some of her most organic and open–sounding music yet. Joined by Emmett Kelly of Bonnie "Prince" Billy's band and Arcade Fire's Jeremy Gara, among others, she creates perfect foils for her mercurial voice and lyrics. She's every inch the ice princess on "Freeze"'s chorus, but thaws ever so gradually on the verses; the gorgeous "Imagine" opens Wild Dog with a complex mix of yearning and resignation, a feeling echoed in the equally lovely breakup song "Starving Soul," in which Susanna meditates on love and loss in her most seductive tones. Throughout the album, she crafts an air of hushed intensity that's spellbinding — and even more so when she pierces it. Toward its end, "Oh, I Am Stuck" blossoms suddenly into electrifying rock, and the effect is like finding water in the desert; later, "Wild Horse Wild Dog" morphs from a postmodern torch song into surprisingly heavy riffs. While much of Susanna's reputation may have been built on her skills as an interpreter of other people's songs, Wild Dog is a testament to the subtly haunting power of her own music.
Label: http://www.runegrammofon.com/
Website: http://www.susannamagical.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susannamagical