Here's my (extremely long-winded) track-by-track review of "Liberman"!
Take it Easy – I think this song does a fantastic job of establishing a lot of the themes and concepts for the album: the dreamy atmosphere, instrumentation not necessarily led by piano, finding comfort in chaos, aging and dying (yes, I actually think a lot of this album has to do with getting older and becoming closer to death). I love how the song is an allusion to “The Last Unicorn” – I’ve never seen it before, but I love when she references the works of others, it makes her lyrics really rich. I still think the intro and outro are way too long. And how is that not a trumpet?? 8/10
Willows – A perfect song, as far as I’m concerned. I love how the instrumental and the lyrics give me these ‘hearty pioneer’ vibes: “Go build a cabin, find land and a tree… on your knees planting seeds” etc. I love how the instrumental rises and falls at all the right moments, and the piano and guitar complement one another so well on this track. The harmonies in the last chorus are phenomenal. I really, really like this song. 10/10
House of Seven Swords – I’m disappointed this song didn’t get a better instrumental. I mean, it barely has one. The bridge would have been a perfect place for the music to swell bigger than it does. I also wish the lyrics had more Tarot references, since that’s a really interesting concept for a song. But I like how she comes off as this older, worldly woman explaining how the world works to a younger listener. There are some very pretty harmonies, as well. 7/10
Operator – If you told me this song was an outtake from “Harmonium,” I’d believe you. It would fit perfectly alongside similarly earnest tracks like “Private Radio” and “Papa.” I didn’t love the living room session of this song when we got it with “Blue Pool EP,” but the studio version is quite good. I really like how it’s a sort of Mrs. Robinson-esque story about an older woman seducing a younger man. I definitely think this was the right choice for a single, though I thought the music video didn’t tell the story as well as it could have. 9/10
Blue Pool – Another darn-near-perfect song. I love when Vanessa writes in 3/4 time. I really dig the Old Hollywood feel of the song, and how it tells the story quite literally, which doesn’t work for every song. I don’t always like long outros, but “Blue Pool”s is so pretty that I don’t mind. I think this is the song I’m most looking forward to learning how to play on the piano. 10/10
Nothing Where Something Used to Be – As I’ve said before, I don’t like the studio version as much as I like the living room session. However, the “hoos” in the outro are really haunting, and I really like the punctuated strumming of the guitar. The lyrics denote a level of maturity and introspection towards a breakup that most songs don’t have, and this perfectly illustrates the “grownup” nature of the whole album. 8/10
Matter of Time – This song reminds me so much of “Get Good” for some reason. It’s probably the guitar and the melody of the verses. The whole song is very simply stated, but the minimalism works really well here (it did not in “House of Seven Swords”). Again, the harmonies are ace. 8/10
Unlock the Lock – I never liked the live performances of this song, but the studio version works on a whole other level. The harmonies of the chorus hit my ear just right, and the staccato strings (is that cello, or more guitar?) punctuate the beat well. The music of the bridge grows into the chorus in a way that “House of Seven Swords” should have. 8/10
River – I said a few days ago that I didn’t like this song, and I should be roundly punished for that because it’s become one of my favorites after a second listen. I think this song would have been right at home in “Rabbits on the Run,” perhaps more than any other song on this album. I can’t quite articulate what I like about this song. I like the sustained notes of the chorus, and the instrumental has some interesting things going on. 9/10
Ascension – I really like the piano chords, which remind me of “The Marching Line.” The whole song sounds like coming out of a dream, making it the perfect ending to this album. Though after all the references to aging, death, being lost and similarly morose topics throughout the album, I wonder if “Ascension” is instead about rising up to heaven and “waking up” from the mortal experience. Chilling to think about, but ultimately not a very good song in its own right. 6/10
In Conclusion – I ended up liking “Liberman” a lot more than I thought I would. In fact, it is likely my favorite album of hers, with the possible exception of “Heroes and Thieves.” I usually like a more typical pop production in the music I listen to (“Heroes” being a perfect example of that), so “Liberman” is very different from what I usually enjoy. But in standard Vanessa fashion, the lyrics are so beautiful, her voice so pitch-perfect, and the melodies so lovely that I don’t really miss the production except in a few of the songs that could have benefited from a stronger production. I really like some of the themes that run throughout the music, such as aging and finding solace in a chaotic world, and I love how so much of it is in second person, like she is singing to the listener or like we are a character in each story. I feel like there’s still a lot worth exploring here, and I’ve only just begun listening to the living room sessions, so I’ll look forward to enjoying “Liberman” for many months to come. 9/10
