Very nice cd from Vanessa Peters with her Italian band. Best song on the disc is Borrowed time. The new versions of the songs from Sparkler are also very nice to listen to. Buy also her Sparkler cd and you can hear that she is growing with her music. Check her also out when she is playing in your neighborhood.

I was blown away by Vanessa’s music the first time I saw her perform. I couldn’t believe that I was seeing such a caliber of a songwriter performing at a free show in a coffee shop in Houston, Texas. Sparkler, her first release (save for a homemade EP), soon became a staple in my iPod. It’s rare for me to find an unsigned artist that I really can latch onto and not get bored with after a week. Sparkler fit so well with my iPod’s music collection, holding up on a production and a songwriting standpoint when shuffled alongside the likes of Patty Larkin, Patty Griffin, Sarah Harmer, Suzanne Vega, Lisa Loeb, and pre-techno-pop Jewel. So now there’s this new Vanessa Peters who has a full band (penned 'Ice Cream On Mondays') backing her with a new album to boot. The band thing worried me, because this wasn’t just a studio band, this was also her touring band. In the past I have found myself lose interest in an artist when he or she typically tours solo, then suddenly acquires a band to back them. An example being Tori Amos. Tori Amos released beautifully sculpted albums, very full sounding records with bands and instruments galore - - but toured solo. Then, four records or so into her career she started touring with a band and the experience lost that bare, intimate emotion that I looked forward to. With Vanessa previously touring exclusively solo (with the exception of her brother occasionally sitting in on lead guitar) I had my doubts. Now, I haven’t actually seen Vanessa perform with her band, but I have seen live video and there’s no disappointment to be had. The lineup she has so graciously stumbled into compliments her music beautifully, plus the songs sound nearly identical to how they appear on Vanessa’s new album. That’s not to say her solo shows have become any less, somehow Vanessa has managed to separate and maintain the two variations of her performance. In whatever format you happen to see Vanessa Peters you will leave the show feeling fulfilled and far from being disappointed. On this fourteen track album (titled, Thin Thread) you may recognize a few of the tracks from Sparkler (which have been considerably reworked for this release). These are simply new renditions influenced by Ice Cream On Mondays and as much as I try, I cannot determine if I prefer the old or the new versions. Both the Sparkler and Thin Thread renditions are equally enjoyable and equally well-delivered, although the one track that does stand out after each listen is the Thin Thread version of Hooked. The new tracks on this album show leaps and bounds in Vanessa’s songwriting skills. The Maybe Love Song is by far the most pop song that Vanessa has written to date. It’s catchy chorus doesn’t wear out even after continuous listens as Vanessa sings this charming song about the confusing nature of new love. Cancelled really shines as well. It’s moody guitar and descriptive lyrics creates almost a rainy day feeling with the choruses acting as the slivers of sunlight that peak out occasionally during an overcast day. And finally we get a studio version of Gone, an endearing account of leaving a location that one really doesn’t want to leave at all. Gone has been performed for nearly two years and is always a highlight of Vanessa’s live shows. My personal favorite song off of Thin Thread is Apple Green & Charcoal Gray. The song is reflective and positive, but yet a little somber. Perhaps a glimpse of what goes on in one’s head when he or she reassesses their life and where they’re at. The title track, being almost exceptionally minimalist, stands out from anything else on the album. This three minute and four second song packs more than a little bit of raw emotion. The chorus, “I try so hard to get it right, and I try so hard to sleep at night” leaves you feeling heavy and warmhearted. I’m leaving out so many songs in this review, such as the opening track Burning Cross which describes the fear of bumping into someone from a past relationship, or the song A Few Night’s Confusion which tells of the bewilderment a lover sometimes encounters. Regardless of my omissions in this review, this album maintains it’s integrity throughout. Something typically neglected from independent artist reviews is production aspects of the reviewed release. I have purchased quite a few albums from talented musicians with horrible, annoying production. Rest assured though, Thin Thread also shines on a production level. Notably, there are some pleasant new ideas incorporated with vocal layering that were missing off of Sparkler. The overall CD has a rich, full, yet crisp sound and transitions well from track to track. The album was recorded and mixed in the band’s studio in Italy while Gianluca Valdarnini (Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy) & Nolan Bett (Crystal Clear Sound/Dallas, Texas) mastered the record. Thin Thread has been professionally duplicated and rests on Vanessa’s own label, Little Sandwich Music. Packaged in a sleek digipak style case with a full color insert containing several pictures of Vanessa’s travels along with the complete lyrics to the album, the quality is equivalent to a major label release. And may I add, a big part of being equivalent to a major release not only resides in the quality of the manufacturing, but also the quality of the art direction (which this release is definitely not lacking - - it’s very unique with a modern approach). Vanessa Peters appeals to a wide variety of audiences, but if you’re particularly fond of the singer/songwriter folk music scene you just can’t go wrong. The style even crosses over into the Texas music genre, but if you’re thinking country music you best stop. While country influences can be heard occasionally, it’s not enough to warrant a categorization in that genre. In my opinion, if you are unfamiliar with Vanessa Peters, this is what you can expect from a Vanessa Peters record: A Liz Phair that can actually sing (in key) mixed with the songwriting talent of Joni Mitchell combined with Suzanne Vega’s romanticism flare with pieces of Sheryl Crow’s backing band. But once you give the music a few listens you’ll call me crazy and won’t see any of those comparisons, due solely to the fact that Vanessa Peters stands very well on her own unique ground.

This CD is unbelievable! I fell in love with her others instantly and thought she couldn't undo herself...but she clearly has. From soft poignant lyrics to spunky upbeat vocals, Vanessa covers a huge range of styles just in this one CD. We were so excited to hear the addition of her new band to her already perfected crowd-pleasing repertoire, and she didn't disappoint us. Thin Thread will keep us going for a long time until she outdoes herself again.

I've listened to the CD several times now but I usually listen a little differently over time....not just the song overall but the music and then the lyrics. The booklet and digipak is great too. Very well done. The map connection is an awesome idea! You should be proud of it, Vanessa. As good as Sparkler is, Thin Thread is even better.