Elephants...Teeth Sinking Into Heart Review
Rachael Yamagata's Second Full Length Album Release
May 14, 2009
Following in her "fascination with human relationships and behavior," Yamagata serves up a healthy, sophomore dose of what she describes as, "the struggles we create and the strength we gain."
Part One of Elephants...Teeth Sinking Into Heart
Beginning with an alluring piano ballad and Yamagata's sweet lullaby-like vocals in the title track, "Elephants," Yamagata sets the stage for her melancholy melodies and analogous lyrics. She, then, redundantly, asks the object of her affection, "What if I leave" amidst subtle percussion and dismal strings. The third track, "Little Life," is a haunting tale about the shortness of life and a solemn reminder to not take any moment for granted.
Yamagata's Full Length Debut Album, Happenstance
For the fans of her debut full length album, Happenstance, the fourth track aboard Elephants...Teeth Sinking Into Heart, "Sunday Afternoon" serves as a pleasant reminder of its earlier version. It is artfully remixed and longer, at a whopping nine minutes and four seconds. The Arlington, Virginia born artist rounds out the first third of the album with a charming instrumental version of the opening title track.
The Duet
Introducing the sixth track on the album is a beautiful and heart-wrenching acoustic duet about forgiveness, simply titled, "Duet." The folk rock musician, Ray LaMontagne, enriches this particular track with his raspy, sentimental vocals. Yamagata and LaMontagne embody the pivotal emotions behind such abyssal lyrics.
Yamagata's Diary, Lower Range, and Lost Love
"Over and Over" is reminiscent of a young woman's diary, perhaps Yamagata's? Poignant and raw,, are the lyrics as if she's singing them straight from the lined pages of a book with lock and key. "Brown Eyes" follows this confessional, supported by her lower, almost monotone, vocal range. "Horizon," the ninth track on Elephants...Teeth Sinking Into Heart, is an original depiction of the customary love lost tale. She's "been all around world and nothin' is clear."
Part Time Lovers and Deadly Sins
Yamagata speaks of an incapable lover in, "The Only Fault," and the inability to be able to change him. "Sidedish Friend" picks up the pace in its rocking honesty. The opening line blatantly begins, "Do you want to be my sidedish friend?" The alternative rock tempo continues with, "Accident," a ditty two of the deadly sins - jealousy and anger. Similar to Beyonce's, "Irreplaceable," Yamagata creates a song that is liable to serve as an anthem to women done wrong by the men in their lives.
The Tragic Ending
A melodramatic, Latin influenced offering of oneself, "Pause the Tragic Ending," announces, "I'll give you blood / If that's what you need to stay alive / You'll be free and I will die." You'll be wishing you could pause the tragic ending, with the track, "Don't." Yamagata is hardly asking for much in this lazy-tempo'd track with its brazen hook, "Don't **** me in front of me."
Spoken from a woman who knows what she wants, Elephants...Teeth Sinking Into Heart comes to its tragic, but well composed finale.
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