You & Me – Elizabeth & the Catapult (Free Download)
Elizabeth & the Catapult’s second album The Other Side of Zero is a giant step forward for the group. Elizabeth Ziman’s songwriting and vocal talents are showcased beautifully as she leads us through an album about breaking up, and growing older.
Elizabeth’s voice is elegant and charming, displaying tastes of country-pop singers with the intensity of Alanis Morisette’s yodels. She definitely still has a voice all her own, though. She showcases her voice best in the piano ballad “Open Book.”
Every song on the album has a distinct cultural and stylistic choice to it. No two songs on the album are of similar genres, but are a composite of different eras/cultures of music threaded together by Ziman’s voice. The album curtains open to the songs “You and Me,” and “Julian, Darling”, both charming Shania Twain throwbacks that would have Starbucks begging to play. We’re then settled down into our seats with “Thank You For Nothing,” a folky Simon and Garfunkel-like song about a relationship’s end.
The song “Dreamcatcher” stands apart from the rest of the album with the introduction of electronic drums and synths. The truly great thing about this track is the mix of organic banjo sounds along with the electronic elements, which creates a nice yin and yang of sorts. Another song, “Go Away My Lover”, contains Middle Eastern elements with tribal drum beats and hints of ghostly vocals and strings.
This album seems to be about sad endings, the beauty of new beginnings, and life lessons that come with growing into and adulthood. Elizabeth & the Catapult have definitely stepped into a new beginning with this follow-up album. I believe their fans will be pleasantly surprised.
