A music critic's comment on 'Heroes & Thieves'...

[remixx]

some more comments on h&t:

While she did not contribute her writing chops to Heroes & Thieves,

what?

The author was talking about Stevie....

"While she did not contribute her writing chops to Heroes & Thieves, the album felt an impact in more ways than one from legendary singer/songwriter Stevie Nicks, with whom Vanessa Carlton toured in 2005, 2006 and 2007."

ohhhh ok thanks.

thank god because i was worried for a second especially with the whole writing of "the one" debate.

[Rick]

Ahaha I used to be like "Stevie Nicks? Who's that guy?"
But thats cool that music critics are talking about V's music. I hope the new album gets more famous than Harmonium

The new album's not even out yet and it's more famous than Harmonium. Lol. IMO, dun worry, not trying to start a beef here.

[Martin.]

Another little piece on the album:

Who knew Irv Gotti was into piano-driven pop/rock? While trying to revive Ja Rule’s career, the rap mogul signed Carlton to his label, and the unlikely result is a brilliant pop CD. Carlton’s vocals and piano work are striking, but her complex-sensitive songwriting is reminiscent of Stevie Nicks, which might explain why the rock goddess dubbed Carlton the best female singer-songwriter of her generation.

Rating: A-

If 2004's Harmonium allowed Vanessa Carlton to spread her wings and reach new heights as a songwriter, then her follow-up, Heroes & Thieves (her first in a new deal with Irv Gotti's The Inc.), finds her simply coasting. "Nolita Fairytale" joins Carlton's already impressive list of exceptional singles, matching her lilting piano and vocal melodies with shuffling marching-band drums and autobiographical lyrics that espouse the virtues of life without a record deal and fashion week ("Nolita flat on rent control, that's the life I choose," she sings proudly), but the album as a whole is less experimental, less gothic, and the arrangements less intricate than its predecessor. Though it's not an unwise move, commercially speaking (the title track will be music to the ears of fans of the singer's "A Thousand Miles"), and there are hints of that adventurousness throughout (particularly in the coda of the pretty ballad "Home," which displays Carlton's prodigious classical training, and in the subtle Eastern influences of "Hands on Me," the small, brief choir of which is reprised in full on the album's rousing closer, "More Than This"), a pair of contributions from producer Linda Perry proves too conventional for the slightly left-of-center singer-songwriter. Carlton's voice continues to mature (there's a gritty quality to her vocals on songs like "Fools Like Me," and the earthiness of guest Stevie Nicks's alto harmonies on the country-leaning "The One" tempers Carlton's more reedy lead vocal), but the material in general isn't exactly what you'd expect from an artist who left the nest in search of creative freedom and appreciation, making Heroes & Thieves somewhat less rewarding than her last album.

[PianoPlayer12]

thanks for posting Hazy Eyes. the first one was really good. the second i guess is okay. ..

[Manda]

that second one sounds terrible!

[malchikgej]

on the second one.

[Pyro]

I don't think the second one was negative at all. It was just saying that it's not as creatively progressive as Harmonium was, which was kind of what I was expecting. I mean, I think Nessa is doing that for a reason, so she can get back into the mainstream. Not to say that the songs aren't awesome. But I actually haven't heard them yet, so what do I know?

[Jophess]

The second one (from Slate) was a 3/5. Not "terrible".

[Butz]

I don't think the second one was negative at all. It was just saying that it's not as creatively progressive as Harmonium was, which was kind of what I was expecting. I mean, I think Nessa is doing that for a reason, so she can get back into the mainstream. Not to say that the songs aren't awesome. But I actually haven't heard them yet, so what do I know?

Exactly, it's not that negative at all.

[Journey_to]

I don't think the second one was negative at all. It was just saying that it's not as creatively progressive as Harmonium was, which was kind of what I was expecting. I mean, I think Nessa is doing that for a reason, so she can get back into the mainstream. Not to say that the songs aren't awesome. But I actually haven't heard them yet, so what do I know?

I agree to a degree with you...I think that this whole album wasn't about her amazing song writing skills that we saw with Harmonium, but about her and how she feels now( more so than harmonium) and evaluating this past few years.
basically, all i mean is that the review is excellent, so long as you ignore the stuff he/she says about her lyrics, as this album is not about  her writing skills..( all in my opinion of course)... though her skills are shown brilliantly on H&T.

[PianoPlayer12]

Heres a REALLy good review i found on IGN.com.

Following her sophmore album "Harmonium" Vanessa Carlton is back! Her new album titled, "Heroes & Thieves" due out on October 9th is by far her best work to date. With supporting vocals from Stevie Nicks on "The One," the album looks to take a diffent approach then on her previous albums.

According to Carlton, the album is "the best patch of songs I've ever written". She described it as "pretty uplifting" and as having "a lot of layers ... very complex arrangements but everything just makes me feel good and not in a simplistic way." She also called it her most honest album, and only one of hers that she considers "a body of work" as opposed to a collection of songs. "I think that shows", she said. "It really does feel like a real album." Carlton says that the concept of the album is "about personal evolution and finding joy through hardships. Every song is like a different chapter in a book".

Carlton said the song "Nolita Fairytale" is about her life in Nolita (a neighborhood of New York City) and, in her words, "the series of revelations I have had over the past few years." She called the song "Heroes and Thieves" "a song about assessing, to put it in a dramatic way, the Heroes and Thieves in your life"; it is about her personal evolution, and her deciding how she wants to lead her life and the people with whom she wants to share it.

It is co-produced by Irv Gotti, 7 Aurelius, Rick Rubin and Third Eye Blind lead singer Stephan Jenkins, who produced Carlton's second album, Harmonium (2004), and it includes songwriting contributions from Linda Perry.

Overall rating 9.4

LOL it says it was written by Lostdwarf. im guessing thats the lost dwarf from these boards, because how many peopele use that username?? hahahah
if it is the same person from these boards then i guess the review isnt too big of a deal.lol

[Unicorn]

Here's the Billboard review of H&T:

Left-field thrill-seekers hoping for a hip-hop makeover on Vanessa Carlton's debut for Irv Gotti's The Inc. stand to be disappointed by "Heroes & Thieves." Nowhere on her third album does the 27-year-old piano-pop princess rap, and only once, on the drum line-assisted "Nolita Fairytale," does a beat threaten to overshadow keys or strings. Fans of Carlton's indelible white-chick anthem "A Thousand Miles," on the other hand, have plenty to be excited about, since "Heroes" presents another batch of appealingly wistful reflections on life and love. As "Nolita" and "Spring Street" suggest, the new album documents Carlton's recent (mis)adventures in her adopted home of New York with ex-boyfriend (and producer) Stephan Jenkins of Third Eye Blind. Don't skip "The One," on which Carlton duets with Stevie Nicks, whom she probably wouldn't mind becoming.—Mikael Wood

[PianoPlayer12]

thanks for posting. thats a pretty good one.

[Martin.]

Vanessa Carlton has always been known as a talented singer/songwriter. Her debut album, Be Not Nobody, was incredibly popular, spawning now-classic songs such as A Thousand Miles and Ordinary Day. However, she fell victim to the dreaded sophomore slump on her second album, Harmonium. Three years have passed, and Vanessa is back on the scene, this time signed to The Inc records, home to hip-hop artists Ja Rule, Ashanti and Lloyd. Will this newfound arrangement rub off on Vanessa's new album, Heroes And Thieves?

The first single off of Heroes And Thieves is Nolita Fairytale. The track was produced by Vanessa along with Stephen Jenkins from Third Eye Blind. The influence of Third Eye Blind is ever-present on the track. The track is more rock than you expect from Vanessa. The song is introspective as she mentions losing her record deal. The song is not as catchy as previous Carlton songs.

Home is a classic Vanessa Carlton piano ballad. On the song Carlton once again works with Stephen Jenkins. The song is however moodier and darker than you would expect from Carlton especially at the beginning of the track. However the song builds into a lush environment filled with rich strings.

Hands On Me is another collaboration with Stephen Jenkins is a solid indie-rock song. The song is what you would expect Carlton's music to grow into after several years away from the limelight. The track is edgier then you expect from Carlton.

On The One Vanessa is teamed with one of her idols in Stevie Nicks. The song was written and produced by Vanessa along with Stephen Jenkins and Linda Perry. The song is extremely catchy and Vanessa's voice perfectly matches the song. The cameo by Nicks definitely adds credibility to Carlton amongst her target audience.

This Time teams Vanessa once again with musical legend Linda Perry. The song is what you expect from this combination. The song proves that Carlton really is an old soul and with Perry's knowledge they produce a very solid song.

More Than This is a solid pop record instep with her biggest hits. The song is extremely catchy and you can hear a new deeper level in Vanessa's voice.

Heroes And Thieves is a good pop-rock album. The tracks appear to be very well-thought-out. The music speaks for itself. The Inc's influence is clearly missing from the project, which is a good thing. Just listen to the album, and you'll be a fan. Heroes And Thieves gets 7.5 out of 10. If you're a fan of Vanessa Carlton, make sure you purchase Heroes And Thieves when it's in stores on October 9th.

[PianoPlayer12]

Vanessa Carlton has always been known as a talented singer/songwriter. Her debut album, Be Not Nobody, was incredibly popular, spawning now-classic songs such as A Thousand Miles and Ordinary Day. However, she fell victim to the dreaded sophomore slump on her second album, Harmonium. Three years have passed, and Vanessa is back on the scene, this time signed to The Inc records, home to hip-hop artists Ja Rule, Ashanti and Lloyd. Will this newfound arrangement rub off on Vanessa's new album, Heroes And Thieves?

The first single off of Heroes And Thieves is Nolita Fairytale. The track was produced by Vanessa along with Stephen Jenkins from Third Eye Blind. The influence of Third Eye Blind is ever-present on the track. The track is more rock than you expect from Vanessa. The song is introspective as she mentions losing her record deal. The song is not as catchy as previous Carlton songs.

Home is a classic Vanessa Carlton piano ballad. On the song Carlton once again works with Stephen Jenkins. The song is however moodier and darker than you would expect from Carlton especially at the beginning of the track. However the song builds into a lush environment filled with rich strings.

Hands On Me is another collaboration with Stephen Jenkins is a solid indie-rock song. The song is what you would expect Carlton's music to grow into after several years away from the limelight. The track is edgier then you expect from Carlton.

On The One Vanessa is teamed with one of her idols in Stevie Nicks. The song was written and produced by Vanessa along with Stephen Jenkins and Linda Perry. The song is extremely catchy and Vanessa's voice perfectly matches the song. The cameo by Nicks definitely adds credibility to Carlton amongst her target audience.

This Time teams Vanessa once again with musical legend Linda Perry. The song is what you expect from this combination. The song proves that Carlton really is an old soul and with Perry's knowledge they produce a very solid song.

More Than This is a solid pop record instep with her biggest hits. The song is extremely catchy and you can hear a new deeper level in Vanessa's voice.

Heroes And Thieves is a good pop-rock album. The tracks appear to be very well-thought-out. The music speaks for itself. The Inc's influence is clearly missing from the project, which is a good thing. Just listen to the album, and you'll be a fan. Heroes And Thieves gets 7.5 out of 10. If you're a fan of Vanessa Carlton, make sure you purchase Heroes And Thieves when it's in stores on October 9th.

Thanks a good one...where'd you find it??