To Survive

Product Details

Artist : Joan As Police Woman
Binding : Audio CD
EAN : 5413356512120
Label : Reveal Records
Number of Discs : 1
Product Group : Music
Release Date : 2008-06-09

ASIN : B0017OCML8

Track Listings for

Disc-1
1. Honor Wishes
2. Holiday
3. To Be Loved
4. To Be Lonely
5. Magpies
6. Start Of My Heart
7. Hard White Wall
8. Furious
9. To Survive
10. To America

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Editorial Reviews

OBSERVER MUSIC MONTHLY **** 4/5 STARS Sunday May 18th 2008

Joan as Police Woman - To Survive (Reveal)
4 stars ****

Compared to the shambling charm of Britain's pop chanteuses, North American singer-songwriters just sound so damn mature and musically accomplished. There's Regina and Martha and Feist, furrowed brows underneath heavy fringes, conjuring up intricate, subtle harmonies from pianos and guitars while being clever and meaningful.
Former Antony and the Johnsons violinist Joan Wasser is shyer than her contemporaries, hiding behind a funny band name and, on her debut album, Real Life, a Mr Ben-like wardrobe of different musical styles. She couldn't hide her incredibly beautiful voice and soulfulness, though, which made Real Life one of the best albums of 2006. Perhaps emboldened by such positive reactions, Wasser has stripped away the whimsy and playful punkishness on this follow-up . It's much darker, more contemplative territory; the songs are like intimate nocturnes located somewhere between classical and soul. Maybe this is what Chopin would have sounded like had he been a modern-day multi-instrumentalist with a passion for Al Green and a voice like Roberta Flack. Either way, for all her heartfelt mediations on grief, loneliness and desire, Wasser doesn't indulge in gratuitous soul-baring.
Bernadette McNulty

Album Description

Joan As Police Woman's debut album, Real Life, was universally acclaimed. Two years since this critical and commercial success comes the much anticipated follow-up, To Survive. Songwriter, singer and multi-instrumentalist, Joan has bewitched fans across Europe and the US over the last two years and is set to garner a wealth of new devotees with To Survive.

An album of unashamedly heartfelt songs, in Joan's words, "I am always trying to dig deeper into the emotional experience. I want to access the most honest place I can, distill it and present it in a way that makes sense musically." Joan As Police Woman is: Joan Wasser (vocals, guitar, piano, violin), Rainy Orteca (bass), Parker Kindred (drums).

Customer Reviews

The Survival Instinct (2008-07-19)

There's something enormously powerful here: this woman's voice, the spare arrangements, the apparently simple yet complex songs. I'm not sure what it is, but I'm smitten. She's capable of an emotional depth I've heard nowhere else, from any artist, from any other music. She did it with 'Real Life' and she does it again here on 'To Survive'. And I was ready to be disappointed when I bought this album. It overwhelms me.

Thank you Joan Wasser. You so belong. (2008-07-06)

Words cannot express how much of a rare thing of beauty this album is, but I simply have to write SOMETHING. As a musician alone, this artist is impressive, playing with class many of the instruments on here. As a songwriter she is staggering: such command of effortlessly engaging lyrics, melody and mood. And the arrangement is skilful and seamless; each component compliments the others. The balance is spot-on throughout. Add to this a voice so exquisite, so rich, expressive, moving and delightful, and you a work of a quality many times greater than the sum of its already outstanding parts.The range, depth and subtlety in these songs makes them all the more powerful; they demand attention, but there is no clamouring for it here. You listen because you've no choice - you're rapt. This sharing of a gift is priceless.I got this album three weeks ago and I've fell deeply in love with it, the songs drifting in and out like welcome friends. Successive plays reveal more and more layers, further enhancing the appreciation and pleasure. All other music has faded somewhat.This is an accomplished, highly talented artist at her peak. It is clear she is maturing, learning something about the futility of control and resistance, and the wisdom of surrendering to fear and pain. Though, like us all, she's on the journey. Her vulnerability is exposed, as is her aching, longing sadness (I've cried my eyes out several times to the title track alone; such is the sheer power of the self-doubt and despair conveyed here - this, despite what she's learnt). The spectrum of feelings realized is spellbinding. At the other end: a contagious glee, the joy of love, of life, and of finding someone special to share it all with. You cannot help but warm to this.To Survive is the most magical, wondrous thing I've heard in a long time - a new friend :)This review may appear gushing (then disregard the superlatives), but please, listen to this music.

Survived Real Life? (2008-07-04)

Supposedly, and I suppose logically, follow ups to a fantastic debut album are notoriously difficult things. Many bands have cracked the problem and many bands have failed miserably.If I may cut to the chase, Joan Wasser hasn't cracked the old second album problem unfortunately. Real Life was a brilliant album; inspired, eclectic, ridiculously enjoyable and catchy. Since the time of it's release it's crept up to being one of my very favourite albums & my main listening staple is heavy music.To Survive doesn't have that same vibrancy that Real Life possessed. The kick off song; Honour My Wishes plinks and plonks on drearily and without much recognition & the second track also seems a bit flat. Sure it's got perfect musicianship, Joan's magnificent voice but the songwriting just isn't at that sparkling level that Real Life maintained throughout.The duo of To Be Loved & To Be Lonely are great tunes and sit nicely on Joans' top shelf. Start of My Heart is a classy swaying, moody ballad and has struck out as one of my favourites on the album. Hard White Wall is the only really effective uptempo track on here and is definitely the highlight on To Survive. It posesses all Joans' confident swagger & it's one of the catchiest she's written for a while.The piano is the main instrument here and seems to drag the mood down with it's dreary plinking. Don't get me wrong; the piano can be a beautiful instrument but Joans songs seem to come alive when the guitar is brought out. Even at her gigs, the most effective tracks are those with guitar where she can impose herself on the track rather than those where she's sat a wurlitzer. All in all I'm quite disappointed with To Survive. It comes across as being flat and a little dull, especially when compared to Real Life. There are some very good songs as you'd expect but that top level of songwriting and consistency just isn't there.However, it is a pleasant listen, it's just not as exciting a listen as it probably should have been.I'd hate to see Joan end up being another dull, uninspiring Katie Melua coffee table fare, she has too much talent and personality to be relegated to that level.Here's to next time round.

A Law Unto Herself (2008-06-11)

Elusive. Slippery. Beguilingly and Bewitchingly Beautiful.The ten songs which comprise Ms Wasser's new album will notgive themselves up easily to listeners looking for a quickmelting-moment fix.There has been remarkable development since 2006's 'Real Life'(an absolute stunner too if you haven't heard it yet !)This is uncompromising writing and performance from a womannot afraid to move against the mainstream.The fluid, almost jazzy structure, of these compositionsreeks somehow of a stifling New York City Night. Compressed and achingly searching for intangible resolutions.'Honor Wishes' is a brave and austere opening track.Voice. Piano. Bass. Drums. Ms Wasser's voice roaming yearningly through and around the icy keyboard's chordal progressions.'Holiday' brings us into warmer, more, exotic territory altogether.The lilting rhythm and melody lulling us into a false senseof security as we are drawn into the tangled, splintered cacophonyof it's remarkable closing bars.'To Be Loved' an optimistic and upbeat, yet wistful, reflection on the possibility of love.'To Be Lonely', the bruised and bleeding heart of the album.Raw. Exposed. The intimacy of this shared moment almost unbareable.'Magpies' delivers one of the most musically satisfying and complex brass and vocal arrangements imaginable. Another real highpoint.'Start Of My Heart'. A slow and gorgeously evocative melody andmore words about love to stretch your heartstrings.'Hard White Wall' is a ducking and diving accoustic guitar lednumber filled with complex waves and layers of electric guitar,synthesiser, drums and vocal harmonies. Stunning.'Furious' chugs along nicely with the Wurlitzer holding downa quasi-latin rhythm. Ms Wasser beligerent in the best possible way.'To Survive' is another pared-down gem of a song.A lullaby and lament of breathtaking beauty. The string arrangement a masterclass of affecting economy.Closing track 'To America' is an ambiguous and ambivalent ending.The classy brass and woodwind arrangement and not insignificant contribution from a junior, masculine Wainwright brings the album to a rapturous close.Mr Goggin's production and supporting musicianship is inspired thoughout.A Magificent Achievement.Highly Recommended.(I'm tempted to say "Move over Martha" but of course we must keeproom in our hearts for them both.)

Listen, Listen, Listen and Listen Again (2008-06-11)

This is an incredible piece of work which has already burned itself into my soul only three days after its release. Not all of the tracks are immediate and it is not generally as accessable as the also excellent 'Real Life'. That does not in anyway diminish its worth though - it just means that you may need to give it multiple listens before you fully appreciate its brilliance. Get it now, your need this music in your life.

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