There’s nothing extraordinary about Vanessa Carlton. She plays the piano all right. She sings just okay, and she’s pretty enough not to scare off CD buyers with her face on an album cover. However, being just suitable isn’t enough. Since her 2002 hit and Zales commercial go-to song, “A Thousand Miles,” Carlton has yet to release material of a similar pop magnitude. Almost 10 years since and four records later, Carlton’s most recent release, Rabbits on the Run, joins the ranks of the nameless tracks and mediocre piano-driven ballads that have come to comprise her career.
Even in her heyday (if having a one-hit-wonder can be defined as heyday), Carlton only played second string to Michelle Branch, and on this record, her bland persona and middling musical dynamism only sink Rabbits on the Run further into this second-rate rut. On “Carousel,” there’s light, airy piano. On “Fairweather Friend,” there’s light, airy piano. And to no one’s surprise, there’s light, airy piano — complete with light, airy vocals — on every track. There’s nary a note of variety to be found on this record, where songs run the the extreme range between trite guitar ballads and trite piano ballads with Carlton’s almost squeaky vocals found somewhere amidst the rudimentary rubble.
However, if you dig deep within the trite, there is some, potential treasure. The muted and intimate, almost a capella vocals on “The Marching Line” recall the rawness of Cat Power’s “Lived in Bars.” But, to call those fleeting moments “treasure” would ignore how drab most of this album is. At times, when Carlton is crooning, it feels as if she’s as bored as anyone who listens to Rabbits on the Run will be.
Jessica Pena is the assistant arts editor.
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I had the privileged to see Vanessa Carlton live this past summer. I cannot put into words how beautifully talented she is. She writes her own songs and sings live, a real artist. The light airy piano and light airy vocals is a theme on the record. The record is about her finding herself, for herself, not for anyone else. She sings about her struggles on spirituality, faith, love, hope, and even death. It’s not 10 tracks about a scorn woman heartbreak, which is on the radio every minute of every day.
@JessicaPena shame on you to pick apart someone’s art.
Well it seems you weren’t a fan of it. Okay fine. I have heard many songs that weren’t my cup of tea. But at least I regard them as talented. Their needs to be some respect when you listen to music or else it becomes a chore.
Now I get that you may not like these piano ballads, which doesn’t bother me, but unless you can play like she does I wouldn’t dare so anything against her skills. Her music, which ranges from simple to complex, is something I doubt many of the negative reviewers can imagine to write or never the less play.
Obviously the number of disagreements is overwhelming. I suggest you take a good listen to this album again and find that soul thats been lost for decades. Trust me it will feel wonderful. :)
I have no problem with negative reviews. Music is subjective, and I myself am not a huge fan of Vanessa Carlton. But, there is a difference between being a judicious critic, and being an eloquent Youtube troll. Please criticize the artwork, not the artist, or worse, her fans…
Though I must admit, this way does seem to get more comments.
you’re a completely idiot thinking the quality of Vanessa dependes on her commercial appeal, she’s offering more things to think about to her audience than the morons who follows another mediocre but commercial artists who are deep as their skins and your supposedly critic
are you psychologically balanced?
omfg you don’t degrade Carlton like that. she’s super extraordinary! Rabbits On The Run is amazing! the lyrics are beautiful & honest. the melody are charming! Vanessa is one of the most talented singer & so freaking underrated!
1) I can’t believe this article is still up?
2) Jessica Pena, now I know why you are just the “Assistant” Arts Editor.
3) Vanessa has clearly stated in all her interviews, Rabbits on the Run was an “Arts & Crafts” project.
4) Rabbits on the Run debuted Top 6 on iTunes Pop Chart.
5) You’re just oblivious to good music and writing.
I agree with Daniela. Maybe you should consider having your ears checked by a doctor.
A Thousand Miles is amazing, but I’m going to pretend I never heard this new CD…
HA!
I just can’t even fathom your ignorance. how do you have a career
WOW. you know nothing about good music. she doesnt want another huge hit. you know SOME people in the world don’t do things just for money and fame…. not you I guess. Her music is amazing. You try and write a song as good as one of hers. Your just jealous of her talent. Nobody has agreed with you. Not every song we have at this time has to sound the same. Her music is a nice break from all the other “top 40″ music. I love all music by the way, so don’t insult me just for liking Vanessa’s music.
I find this review interesting in that every accusation made against the artist in question is nowhere to be found on the cd in question. Her face is not even on the cover. It would be a fair accusation to damn the record for “every track sounding the same” but this is one CD where the diversity of sound is kind of it’s central feature. How can one call “Carousel” anything like the experimental distorted tumblings of “In The End” or “Fair Weather Friend” with its soaring strings be anything like “The Marching Line”, a haunting ballad with horns? Where is the light airy piano on Hear the Bells? Or indeed on Dear California – an entirely guitar driven 70s infused homage?
As someone who has listened to and actually rather likes this CD and thinks it’s certainly the strongest work in the artists career, I’m in the mind that the above review actually just creates a whole bunch of random accusations that are completely at odds with the actual content of the album and seem to be an overall statement on the fall of Vanessa Carlton from pop culture relevance into artistic credibility. It’s almost like Jessica Pena doesn’t think Carlton is worthy of making anything more than Taylor Swift Esque pop songs, and feels she should know her rightful place.I’d argue in addition to that, calling Carlton second fiddle to Michelle Branch is quite comical, given that Carlton’s international success has always superseeded Michelle Branch quite significantly even in her heyday.
Thank you for your very eloquent rebuttal of this drivel. I was unable to put all these thoughts into words. Thank you!
Are you Serious? Is this wha tyou call review?
Whoever the hell ‘reviewed’ the album should be fired!
Hi Jessica! I’m here to tell you that your opinion is wrong and that, as a music critic, you can only give positive reviews of albums. Oh, I almost forgot – you made a few errors that only an English major would notice, therefore your opinion is not only wrong, it’s SUPER DUPER wrong.
Opinions are not necessarily wrong or right but she didn’t really have any correct evidence to back up her claims. Her errors were recognizable to this non-English major, though I do read a lot, enjoy writing, and have an education. If you’re trying to say that only educated people would notice the errors, then why didn’t she?
You can’t have “correct evidence” when it comes to an opinion on music which is completely subjective. Regarding her errors, which everybody makes, it’s actually her copy editor’s job to notice these things so all vitriol should be directed toward him or her.
How about ANY evidence? I agree with subjectivity and of that there is none. She goes on a personal attack. We have all read not so great reviews of this album however they were not hateful. They did not attack her. They also gave more specific reasons and evidence as to why they felt the way they did. For instance, the Boston.com review. Lastly, are you trying to tell me that she didn’t give a quick proof read before handing it in to her editor?????? Who would do that? Someone incompetent, that’s who.
A Capella means without instruments. The piano, which she plays beautifully by the way, is very evident in The Marching Line. The closest to A Capella she gets is “London” which of course has a very muted bass line in the beginning. I hope you know what bass is.
Please inform me as to why you came to the assumption that “Hear the Bells”, “Fairweather Friend”, “Tall Tales For Spring”, “The Marching Line”, and “In the End” are as you say light and airy.
If you want to write successful journalism you shouldn’t bash the artist that you’re supposed to critique. Critique and criticism are two separate entities. Keep this crap in the tabloids where only brainless slutty drug addicts get their opinions. Please lay off the Gaga. Not everyone has to be a auto-tune whore to make good music.
Jessica Pena your a bitch you don’t know nothing about music
Jessica Pena your a bitch you don’t know nothing about music
Golly Jessica, what did Vanessa Carlton ever do to you to make you hate her so? Maybe your first boyfriend called out her name in his sleep, or perhaps something worse!
lol you are so hilarious! anyway i agree ;) Vanessa Carlton is EXTRAordinary unlike what Jessica stated here(:
Dear Jessica Pena,
You’re a fucking idiot.
Love,
The World.
Totally agree with all the other comments in response. This is a nasty nasty review! How this person can call themselves a commentator on art is beyond me.
Ha, Jessica Pena, if you want to be taken seriously as a critic you need to put in the time to edit your own work. Not only can you not write, but you clearly could not take the time out to actually listen to the record. If you had you would realize that this review is not actually based on fact . “In the End” and ” THE (not this) Marching Line” could be two of the LEAST light and airy songs ever, so go back and take a listen to the record you are reviewing , then write something that has some merit.
Vanessa Carlton IS extraordinary! Her music saved my life, literally! I thought reveiwers were supposed to listen to the album and not be bias… You are the most bias reveiwer that I have ever read! You try making an album like this! There IS a reason why Vanessa has true fans. And you just insulted all of em’.
You have a very snarky/snippy/rude additude. I am inspired by Rabbits On The Run and all of Vanessa Carlton’s albums… Not bored one bit. I don’t see this as a reveiw, but was a bias rant from a person who listens to auto-tuned, mainstream stuff.
What a load of shit.
The album is fantastic.
Sit down.
I am yet another of many people who are solely on this site to inform you of the extent to which you are completely wrong about your assessment of Vanessa Carlton’s latest album.
Not only do I think you are totally out of line with your attitude (contrary to popular belief, people don’t like reading this kind of snarky trash), but you’re also just inaccurate. Rabbits on the Run is real art. Not everyone is going to come out with dance tracks or glitzy electronic pop – I like that stuff, by the way, but it’s nice to see something different. This is an expertly-crafted album created by people with far more talent than you or I, and this fact is made very clear when you really sit down and listen to the beautiful melodies, haunting production, and brilliant lyrics. If you could perhaps open your mind long enough to take in something of substance, you would see how wrong you are with this review.
I take great solace in the fact that the Daily Californian is so under-read that most people will never see this review, or anything else you have written.
I’d love to see an assistant arts editor write better lyrics and better melodies than what can be found on Rabbits on the Run.
1) You have no understanding of the meaning of the term “a capella”.
2) Do you have some sort of deep-rooted hatred for Vanessa Carlton, or do you always go into attack mode when dealing with things you simply don’t care for?
3) There’s a reason why this album isn’t “of a similar pop magnitude”.
4) Fairweather Friend is certainly not light and airy. If you’re looking for more songs on this album that are far from light and airy, try Tall Tales for Spring, In the End, Dear California, and Hear the Bells.
5) For the record, her face isn’t on the cover. Not that anyone would be complaining if it was.
Lastly, I’d like to see you put out something better.
I disagree with this review at so many different levels!
I think melodically Rabbits on the Run is Vanessa Carlton’s best work so far. the music arrangement is complex yet very gentle and able to deliver a wide range of emotions. The piano is beautiful; not that many mainstream artists are as skillful at the piano as Vanessa Carlton is; for instance, the piano in “Marching Line” or “Tall Tales for Spring” or “Fair weather Friend” or “Hear the Bells” takes those songs to a whole new level.
Lyrics of this album is very smart, romantic and full of poetic and grand images. Take “I Don’t Want To Be A Bride” as an example, it’s about how greater love can triumph over the convention. Not to mention images such as ” live like kings under lavender skies” (in I Don’t Want to Be A Bride) simply does not exist in songs nowadays. Good album should not be defined by whether or not it is radio-friendly. good music is about artists being truthful to their aesthetic and using their skills create songs which can venture different emotions and connect to the listeners. i dare say in this album Vanessa Carlton is absolutely successful in doing just that.
I also love the choice of words. I mean, come on, who uses the word predicament in songs? No one but Vanessa Carlton. I challenge you to find another.
How can an album have “nary a note of variety” AND “run the the extreme range?” Yes, you did have two “the” in there. I’m thinking someone needs to edit and research better. Just a thought.
I think this review is superficial. Granted, Vanessa Carlton hasn’t had a hit as huge as “A Thousand Miles” but the reviewer completely missed the point of this album. Carlton is not looking for a mega-hit, as explained in ALL her recent interviews. This is her most honest album to date, and sonically, it cannot be compared to the previous three. The reviewer should have done more research…
Also, since when did “Tall Tales for Spring” have “light, airy piano” as with “every track” on the album.Maybe Jessica Pena should give the album another listen.
and this is one of the mediocre music reviews that have come to comprise *your* career.
Ouch…someone’s a Michelle Branch fan and just a little bit bitter, isn’t she?
STRONGLY disagree with this review.
Did you ever write a song, Jessica Pena? As we’d say it in Spanish: “Das pena”.
Jessica, you obviously don’t know much about music and I’m sad to see you didn’t even give this album a chance. This is the worst album review I’ve ever read.