From: owner-support-system-digest@smoe.org (support-system-digest) To: support-system-digest@smoe.org Subject: support-system-digest V8 #121 Reply-To: support-system@smoe.org Sender: owner-support-system-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-support-system-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk support-system-digest Monday, September 26 2005 Volume 08 : Number 121 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [support-system] really long post about the new album ["Mike Katsoulis" <] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 25 Sep 2005 12:46:39 -0500 From: "Mike Katsoulis" Subject: [support-system] really long post about the new album After my first listen to Somebody's Miracle, there was something I knew right off the bat - it was a great album. Much better than the self-titled (which i had a love-hate relationship with, as many of you did). What irked me about SM, however, was the atrocious sequencing that really did not do the songs any justice. I figured there had to be a reason why these songs were sequenced the way they were (since they clearly do not work sonically in this order). I know liz is better than that. The first clue that made me realize this album is a concept album was the intro to Giving it all To You. It references several songs on the album: They can't read my thoughts or the secrets between us [everything between us] All of this time you were a part of me [Part of me... written before the lyric change) Shining like a star in my galaxy [Stars and Planets] This song was obviously a closer for a reason. I played the CD again to try and find a reasonable progression of the songs, and i realized that the CD is a timeline of events in liz's life between her divorce and falling in love with dino. This is my reasoning: 1) Leap of Innocence - the album starts with her divorce from john 2) Wind in the Mountain - the obstacles she faced post-marriage. The mountain is a metaphor for her difficult uphill climb in dealing with the dissolution of her marriage. It ends on a positive note ("leave me here now"). 3) Stars and Planets - chronicles her experience with the self titled album and wanting to be a star 4) Somebody's Miracle - her realizing that being a star isnt all she wants. She wants love, wants to be in a relationship again. She's still affected by the breakup, but has faith in love. 5) Got My Own Thing - I feel like this song chronicles some of her immediate post-marriage relationships that didnt pan out. Maybe a period of trial, error, and frustration with whoever she dated at the time. The whole "hanging yourself" part makes me think this. 6) Count on My love - I can't really find a reason why this song is here. I dont really think this song should be on the CD anyway. 7) Lazy Dreamer - she meets Dino. He's sort of a young, lazy bum who doesnt know what he wants to do with his life. she isnt really taken by him right away. 8) Everything To Me - The budding of a relationship? Being unsure or nervous about a new relationship that seems like it may be the real thing? 9) Can't Get out of What I'm Into - she's recording her new album, trying to rebuild her carrer..., but has dug herself a whole with the self-titled album that she "can't get out of." 10) Table For One - not sure what the sequencing significance is. Maybe only liz knows this. 11) Why I Lie - again not really sure of the sequencing. Its a fucking awesome song though. Maybe its about Dino questioning her or trying to get into her quirky mind and liz not offering and explanations for the way she acts. She is unapologetically the person she is. 12) Lost Tonight - cute love song. relationship is getting serious. 13) Everything Between Us - obvisously they are really close to one another now and have identified and confided in one another. 14) Giving it all to You - The title says it all. Its a sure thing. Its also has a nice little recap of the cd in the intro. ***i think my case for a concept album is stronger towards the beginning than it is toward the end. who knows, maybe i just pulled this out of my ass. it works for me anyway. okay, now getting away from the whole "concept album" thing - burn a copy of the CD in this order. i guarantee it will flow better and you will enjoy listening to it more as a whole (if you dont care about the story liz is trying to tell). before i re-sequenced it myself, i found myself jumping around a lot. 1) Leap Of Innocence 2) Everything Between Us 3) Everything To Me 4) Got My Own Thing 5) Somebody's Miracle 6) Count on My Love 7) Lazy Dreamer 8) Giving It All To You 9) Wind In The Mountain 10) Lost Tonight 11) Table for One 12) Can't Get Out of What I'm Into 13) Why I Lie 14) Stars and Planets I think Stars and Planets is such a great closing song. The whole "we all shine shine shine" is a really great and positive way to end the record. The only song I really found myself having a hard time sequencing was "Lost Tonight." I guess it would be better left off the record. I don't dislike the song, I just feel that maybe it would have served its purpose better as a b-side. Also, I really don't understand the reasoning for changing Part of Me to Count on My Love. I think the new chorus is pretty awful. - -mike ------------------------------ End of support-system-digest V8 #121 ************************************