So very beautiful
author: Daniel O'Meara
I have owned Laurel's second album, Periphery, for a while now and absolutely love it, so I was saddened to see this album listed as out of print on her website. Thankfully, I noticed that it was indeed still available on CDBaby and ordered it immediately. This album is simply put, fantastic. There is a celtic feel to much of Swimming and Laurel is so well suited for it. In particular, my favorite song, Child of Light, uses the Celtic style to produce an incredible tapestry of beautiful sounds. She is also incredible when playing more standard songs, like her gorgeous cover os "I Hope That I Don't Fall in Love With You." Laurel has a unique talent for writing great songs and then filling them up with exquisite, lush orchestration. It is very interesting to hear Laurel finding her voice on this album. Periphery has a very distinct sound and on Swimming, you can hear it starting to materialize. I happened upon Laurel in a local newspaper, found her samples here on CDBaby, and have fallen in love with her music. I play her songs for everyone I know now and can't wait for more masterpieces in the future.
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I only wish there were more
author: ~traviscommeau
I first heard Laurel on the "Fleadh" disc and was thoroughly blown away. I've been an Ani fan for ages and while Laurel tends to be a bit less bubbly than Mrs. DiFranco, she's every bit the songwriter and performer. "Swimming" is an amazing album and well worth the money. While it is folk, and that may turn some people off, there are just too many other elements and styles encased here to be stereotypical in any way. I can't wait for more music and shows. Thanks Laurel.
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Ani + Dar + Joni. . . Not even close.
author: Jonas Lerman
All right.
First, a confession: I'm a friend of Laurel's. But I would love SWIMMING even if I'd never met Laurel and had never heard these songs. It's a testament to her music, I think, that I've been listening to these songs for more than two years, yet they still sound fresh, honest, sincere, and new. Laurel describes these songs as "angsty" -- they're anything but. The production is clean, straightforward, and simple; here, the songs take center stage.
If you like Dar Williams, Ani DiFranco, Joni Mitchell, Melissa Ferrick, Gillian Welch, Emmylou Harris, Nanci Griffith, David Gray, Aimee Mann, Cowboy Junkies, The Innocence Mission, or Erin McKeown, you will like Laurel Brauns. Really. I promise.
Buy this album. And expect to hear a lot more from Laurel in the future. This is just the beginning for her.
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