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Arguably the best of the plethora of soap stars turned pop stars, Natalie Imbruglia appears to have performed a rather frustrating musical U-turn for her third album. Whereas her difficult but underrated sophomore effort understandably attempted to break away from the commercial acoustic pop sound that saw "Torn" become one of the biggest singles of the '90s, Counting Down the Days actively embraces it. Whether this is a conscious decision to rekindle her former multi-platinum transatlantic success, or whether Imbruglia is just in a happier songwriting frame of mind, it's still a confusing and disappointing change in direction. For all the bittersweet melancholy and dark undertones of White Lilies Island suggested an interesting career ahead, yet only on a few occasions does Counting Down the Days veer into this territory. Instead, the majority is made up of fairly inoffensive radio-friendly pop songs such as opener "Starting Today" and the Eg White-produced "Perfectly," both of which are little more than "Torn" Mark Two. Even the presence of husband Daniel Johns, formerly of grunge outfit Silverchair, on production duties, can't save the Beatlesque "Satisfied" from lapsing into blandness. But when Imbruglia is allowed to stray from this formula, she excels. "Shiver" is a charming and obvious lead single fully worthy of its huge airplay success; the title track with its chiming bells sounds like a lost Christmas classic, and the brooding "Come on Home," with its chorus of "we can fall apart together" effortlessly manages to pull at the heartstrings. And as an artist, Imbruglia has never sounded better. The breathy Alanis imitations of her debut have now been replaced by understated but self-assured vocals that are able to convey intensity and warmth in equal measures. None more so than on the album's highlight, the Björk-influenced "Honeycomb Child." With its enchanting mix of music boxes, violins, and electronica, it sounds like it appeared from a different record entirely and is proof that Imbruglia can pull off edgier material when she wants to. Counting Down the Days will undoubtedly be a commercial success but its play-it-safe attitude undoes some of the good work done by its predecessor. A few more risks next time wouldn't go amiss.
© Jon O'Brien /TiVo
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Kara DioGuardi, Lyricist - Kara DioGuardi, Composer - Ash Howes, Lyricist - Ash Howes, Composer - Ash Howes, Mixing Engineer - Ash Howes, Acoustic Bass - Ash Howes, Producer - Martin Harrington, Composer - Martin Harrington, Lyricist - Martin Harrington, Producer - Martin Harrington, Keyboards - Seton Daunt, Guitar - Pete Davis, Programmer - John Themis, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - Keith Uddin, Engineer - Natalie Imbruglia, Performer - Natalie Imbruglia, Lyricist - Natalie Imbruglia, Composer - Chuck Sabo, Drums
(P) 2005 Brightside Recordings a division of Blue Sky Music Ltd under exlcusive license to SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (UK) Limited.
Rej Rheinallt Ap Gwynedd, Acoustic Bass - Ash Howes, Co-Producer - Ash Howes, Mixing Engineer - Martin Harrington, Co-Producer - S. Solomon, Lyricist - S. Solomon, Composer - Peredur Ap Gwynedd, Guitar - Eg, Keyboards - Eg, Guitar - F. White, Composer - F. White, Lyricist - Keith Uddin, Engineer - Natalie Imbruglia, Lyricist - Natalie Imbruglia, Composer - Natalie Imbruglia, Performer - Chuck Sabo, Drums - Stephen Lipson, Keyboards - Stephen Lipson, Guitar - Stephen Lipson, Producer - Stephen Lipson, Programmer - Stephen Lipson, Mandolin - Rick Willson, Guitar - Heff Moraes, Engineer
(P) 2005 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Anton Hagop, Engineer - Paul Mac, Keyboards - Paul Mac, Producer - Paul Mac, Piano - Ash Howes, Mixing Engineer - Daniel Johns, Guitar - Daniel Johns, Background Vocal - Daniel Johns, Composer - Daniel Johns, Producer - Daniel Johns, Lyricist - Keith Uddin, Mixing Engineer - Natalie Imbruglia, Performer - Julian Hamilton, Keyboards - Kim Moyes, Glockenspiel - Kim Moyes, Drums - Reece Gilmore, Misc. Prod. - James Haselwood, Acoustic Bass
(P) 2005 Brightside Recordings a division of Blue Sky Music Ltd under exlcusive license to SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (UK) Limited.
Chris Brown, Engineer - Ash Howes, Mixing Engineer - Kenny Dickenson, Keyboards - Kenny Dickenson, Piano - Peredur Ap Gwynedd, Guitar - M. Prime, Composer - M. Prime, Lyricist - Daniel Johns, Producer - Daniel Johns, Background Vocal - Keith Uddin, Mixing Engineer - Natalie Imbruglia, Performer - Natalie Imbruglia, Composer - Natalie Imbruglia, Lyricist - Reginault Ap Gwynedd, Acoustic Bass - Chuck Sabo, Drums - Izzi Dunn, Acoustic Cello
(P) 2005 Brightside Recordings a division of Blue Sky Music Limited under exlcusive license to Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Pete Davis, Programmer - Pete Davis, Keyboards - Natalie Imbruglia, Performer - Natalie Imbruglia, Composer - Natalie Imbruglia, Lyricist - Keith Uddin, Engineer - Seton Daunt, Guitar - Geoff Dugmore, Drums - Ash Howes, Lyricist - Ash Howes, Mixing Engineer - Ash Howes, Composer - Ash Howes, Keyboards - Ash Howes, Producer - Martin Harrington, Composer - Martin Harrington, Piano - Martin Harrington, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - Martin Harrington, Lyricist - Martin Harrington, Producer - Richard Jones, Acoustic Bass
(P) 2005 Brightside Recordings a division of Blue Sky Music Ltd under exlcusive license to SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (UK) Limited.
Natalie Imbruglia, Composer - Natalie Imbruglia, Performer - Natalie Imbruglia, Lyricist - F. White, Composer - F. White, Lyricist - Francis "Eg" White, Drums - Francis "Eg" White, Producer - Francis "Eg" White, Acoustic Bass - Francis "Eg" White, Engineer - Francis "Eg" White, Guitar - Francis "Eg" White, Programmer - Francis "Eg" White, Mixing Engineer
(P) 2005 Brightside Recordings a division of Blue Sky Music Ltd under exlcusive license to SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (UK) Limited.
Dave Bascombe, Mixing Engineer - John Dunne, Misc. Prod. - Neil Taylor, Guitar - Ian Stanley, Producer - Peredur Ap Gwynedd, Guitar - John Themis, Performer - Alison Clark, Background Vocal - Natalie Imbruglia, Background Vocal - Natalie Imbruglia, Composer - Natalie Imbruglia, Lyricist - Natalie Imbruglia, Performer - Reginault Ap Gwynedd, Acoustic Bass - Gary Clark, Lyricist - Gary Clark, Composer - Chuck Sabo, Drums - Danton Supple, Engineer
(P) 2005 Brightside Recordings a division of Blue Sky Music Ltd under exlcusive license to SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (UK) Limited.
Ash Howes, Keyboards - Ash Howes, Producer - Ash Howes, Mixing Engineer - Martin Harrington, Keyboards - Martin Harrington, Producer - S. Solomon, Lyricist - S. Solomon, Composer - Seton Daunt, Guitar - Pete Davis, Keyboards - Pete Davis, Programmer - Peredur Ap Gwynedd, Guitar - Geoff Dugmore, Drums - S. Robson, Lyricist - S. Robson, Composer - Keith Uddin, Engineer - Natalie Imbruglia, Lyricist - Natalie Imbruglia, Performer - Natalie Imbruglia, Composer - Reginault Ap Gwynedd, Acoustic Bass - P. Westcott, Lyricist - P. Westcott, Composer
(P) 2005 Brightside Recordings a division of Blue Sky Music Ltd under exlcusive license to SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (UK) Limited.
Kenny Dickenson, Piano - Reginault Ap Gwynedd, Acoustic Bass - Pete Davis, Programmer - Pete Davis, Keyboards - Natalie Imbruglia, Composer - Natalie Imbruglia, Lyricist - Natalie Imbruglia, Performer - Keith Uddin, Engineer - Kara DioGuardi, Composer - Kara DioGuardi, Lyricist - Ash Howes, Lyricist - Ash Howes, Composer - Ash Howes, Producer - Ash Howes, Mixing Engineer - Martin Harrington, Lyricist - Martin Harrington, Composer - Martin Harrington, Producer
(P) 2005 Brightside Recordings a division of Blue Sky Music Ltd under exlcusive license to SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (UK) Limited.
Reginault Ap Gwynedd, Acoustic Bass - Natalie Imbruglia, Performer - John Greswell, Mandolin - Chuck Sabo, Drums - D. Glendining, Composer - D. Glendining, Lyricist - Richard Morris, 2nd Engineer - Peredur Ap Gwynedd, Guitar - Ben Hillier, Producer - Ben Hillier, Piano - Ben Hillier, Mixing Engineer
(P) 2005 Brightside Recordings a division of Blue Sky Music Ltd under exlcusive license to SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (UK) Limited.
Gary Clark, Composer - Gary Clark, Producer - Gary Clark, Guitar - Gary Clark, Arranger - Gary Clark, Lyricist - Natalie Imbruglia, Lyricist - Natalie Imbruglia, Composer - Natalie Imbruglia, Performer - Keith Uddin, Engineer - Sally Herbert, Arranger - Ash Howes, Co-Producer - Ash Howes, Mixing Engineer - Martin Harrington, Co-Producer
(P) 2005 Brightside Recordings a division of Blue Sky Music Ltd under exlcusive license to SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (UK) Limited.
Drusilla Harris, Violin - Natalie Imbruglia, Composer - Natalie Imbruglia, Performer - Natalie Imbruglia, Lyricist - John Sundry, Guitar - David Kosten, Producer - David Kosten, Keyboards - David Kosten, Arranger - David Kosten, Mixing Engineer - David Kosten, Lyricist - David Kosten, Composer - David Kosten, Programmer - David Kosten, Engineer
(P) 2005 Brightside Recordings a division of Blue Sky Music Ltd under exlcusive license to SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (UK) Limited.
Album review
Arguably the best of the plethora of soap stars turned pop stars, Natalie Imbruglia appears to have performed a rather frustrating musical U-turn for her third album. Whereas her difficult but underrated sophomore effort understandably attempted to break away from the commercial acoustic pop sound that saw "Torn" become one of the biggest singles of the '90s, Counting Down the Days actively embraces it. Whether this is a conscious decision to rekindle her former multi-platinum transatlantic success, or whether Imbruglia is just in a happier songwriting frame of mind, it's still a confusing and disappointing change in direction. For all the bittersweet melancholy and dark undertones of White Lilies Island suggested an interesting career ahead, yet only on a few occasions does Counting Down the Days veer into this territory. Instead, the majority is made up of fairly inoffensive radio-friendly pop songs such as opener "Starting Today" and the Eg White-produced "Perfectly," both of which are little more than "Torn" Mark Two. Even the presence of husband Daniel Johns, formerly of grunge outfit Silverchair, on production duties, can't save the Beatlesque "Satisfied" from lapsing into blandness. But when Imbruglia is allowed to stray from this formula, she excels. "Shiver" is a charming and obvious lead single fully worthy of its huge airplay success; the title track with its chiming bells sounds like a lost Christmas classic, and the brooding "Come on Home," with its chorus of "we can fall apart together" effortlessly manages to pull at the heartstrings. And as an artist, Imbruglia has never sounded better. The breathy Alanis imitations of her debut have now been replaced by understated but self-assured vocals that are able to convey intensity and warmth in equal measures. None more so than on the album's highlight, the Björk-influenced "Honeycomb Child." With its enchanting mix of music boxes, violins, and electronica, it sounds like it appeared from a different record entirely and is proof that Imbruglia can pull off edgier material when she wants to. Counting Down the Days will undoubtedly be a commercial success but its play-it-safe attitude undoes some of the good work done by its predecessor. A few more risks next time wouldn't go amiss.
© Jon O'Brien /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 12 track(s)
- Total length: 00:42:58
- Main artists: Natalie Imbruglia
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Brightside Recordings
- Genre: Pop/Rock International Pop
(P) 2005 Brightside Recordings a division of Blue Sky music Ltd under exclusive license to SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (UK) Limited.
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