Camera Obscura

Camera Obscura Artist: Paul Melancon
Label: Daemon Records
Category: Music


Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1


UPC: 767691903620
EAN: 0767691903620
ASIN: B00006GA5F


Release Date: 2002-09-17

Camera Obscura


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General General
Categories | Rock | Styles | Music
Pop Rock Pop Rock
Categories | Pop | Styles | Music
Adult Alternative Adult Alternative
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Singer-Songwriters Singer-Songwriters
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Singer Songwriters Singer Songwriters
Categories | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Tracks:

  1. Overture
  2. King Sham
  3. Sherman
  4. Now Wait For Last Year
  5. Entr'Acte
  6. Jeff Lynne
  7. Hey, California
  8. Little Plum
  9. Hitchcock Blonde
  10. Fine
  11. Bonus Track #1

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars No Idiot.......2005-05-20

With Paul Melancon's new release "Hopeful Monsters" as part of his band "The Arts & Sciences" now out, it's a good moment to go back and review just what an outstanding recording "Camera Obscura" is. My favorite happens to be the one track written by Rob Gal & John Cerreta, "Entr'acte." Its shimmering samba rhythm is a delectable tropical treat, "There you shine a lantern in my mind; show yourself at twilight, please, Like a face I want to see, reveal yourself to me." The other jewel that makes me hit repeat is "Jeff Lynne" that cops some of the Electric Light Orchestra's Beatlesque harmonic arrangements and juxtaposes it with a lyrical edge, "She's on the next flight; she calls to say she doesn't need to run away, but though there's a chance at the airport gate, well, I can just see it's already too late." The opener "Overture" is also an addictive hook-laden track with a classic pop chorus. "Something lurks within her fragrance & her smile; She's no idiot & she's known it for awhile," Paul sings on the tight little tune "Hitchcock Blonde." The CD concludes with an odd choice: "You're So Good to Me" by the Beach Boys was an instrumental released in 1968 on the LP "Stack O Tracks." Here, Melancon adds the lyrics and does a driving surfer version of the tune. "Camera Obscura" is a deep and replete set whose arrangements, strong vocals and songwriting make for an excellent CD. Enjoy!

5 out of 5 stars Awesome!.......2002-11-14

Yup, these guys kick! Saw them open for the Indigo Girls and they stole the show! Well, they definately added to it at least ;). I can't even pick a favorite song; I love them all! You really need to listen to this album if you haven't already. I'm looking forward to seeing these guys live again, and am waiting for the radio stations in town to play their music.

5 out of 5 stars Music Whose Time I Wish Would Come.......2002-11-13

Boy Loses Girl.

Wait, isn't there something missing there?

In the case of Camera Obscura, the answer is no: Boy Loses Girl, Boy Pines For Girl, Boy Wallows Himself Into Oblivion. Such would be the bare-bones plot of this, Paul Melançon's second solo release. The story is not, however, forced upon the listener like a Broadway musical or a late Styx album, but is more a suggestion of theme, a way of drawing together ten wide-ranging songs into a fluid power-pop discovery.

Melançon, an Atlanta native, was recently picked up by Amy Ray's pet indie label Daemon Records (and he just finished a short tour of Florida opening for the Indigo Girls). And though this reviewer is a longtime fan of the Girls and several Daemon artists, I honestly must say that this album is the first Daemon offering that has the power and beauty to blow it wide open for the label, moreso even than Ray's solo release, Stag.

Melançon has the following things going for him: a heartbreakingly sweet tenor; a self-professed knack for finding nifty chord changes; an obsession with emotionally damaged characters; and a wry sense of humor. He is a gifted songsmith, but not a hit factory. His songs aren't "radio-friendly" in any traditional sense, but they're intelligent, well-produced, and catchy as hell.

The varied song-styles represented here don't borrow delicately; they practically bust down the door of sheer pastiche. "Little Plum" owes much to either Don Ho or Tin Pan Alley; "Entr'acte" is a lilting bossanova made strange with theremin; "Jeff Lynne", one of Melançon's strokes of songwriting genius, goes so far as to borrow a riff from the ELO song "Living Thing", and is lacking only the characteristic orchestral string section to be dubbed a lost Lynne production.

It wouldn't be fair to say that Melançon has conquered the dreaded sophomore curse, as his first album, Slumberland, was only EP length, and though it floated a lovesick story-arc like Camera Obscura does, those six songs (plus a McCartney cover) didn't come close to spanning the musical and emotional breadth of the more recent release. However, if in producing any future work he takes half as much care as he has with Camera Obscura, he has nothing to worry about.

Music Album:

  1. The Galaxies' Incredibly Sensual Transmission Field of... ~ Tower Recordings
  2. Long Versions: Pop ~ Various Artists
  3. Rhythm & Booze ~ Various Artists
  4. War Child ~ Jethro Tull
  5. Airplay ~ Airplay
  6. It's Only Rock & Roll ~ Various Artists - Soundtracks
  7. Black Moustache ~ Black Moustache
  8. Between Drinks ~ Honolulu Playboys
  9. Buzz Buzz Buzz: An Introspective ~ Jonathan Richman , and Modern Lovers
  10. Taught to Be Proud ~ Tea Leaf Green

Music Album

Music Album

Music CD

Wasa Wasa ~ Edgar Broughton Band

Roost Quartets ~ Stan Getz

Quadromania ~ Bud Powell

Grantstand ~ Grant Green

Say Yes to Jazz ~ Various Artists

Pandemonaeon ~ Sharon Knight

Udo Live - Lust Am Leben ~ Udo Jurgens

Zontani Ihografisi Stin Iera Odo I ~ Various Artists

Music of Timor ~ Various Artists

Relembrando O Pau De Sebo ~ Various Artists