It is extremely rare that I review music here at SSD. One of the primary reasons is that I don’t often purchase music, instead getting it through outlets such as Pandora and Youtube. The significance of this is that listening to music in that fashion means it is unlikely that I will listen to a particular album in its entirety, instead catching random samples of an artist’s work. Once in a while, however, the hope of a good aural experience is just too good to pass up, and such was the case with Lisa Hannigan’s second solo effort, Passenger.
Having only heard the title track, I gamely put this on my Amazon wishlist and received it in my Christmas stocking, a gift from my dear wife. It was a calculated risk, as you will see, but one which has paid off with unexpected dividends, for Passenger is the kind of diversely creative album that will have you hitting the “repeat all” button while you engage in an ongoing internal debate about which track is your favorite.
Where much of her debut album, Sea Sew, was filled with toe-tapping, upbeat melodies, Passenger is a more mature, varied and at times melancholic outing with songs that have a melodic heft. In short it is the kind of album I had hoped to find, one that I cannot help but want to listen to, start to finish, over and over again.
I first became aware of Lisa Hannigan in early 2011 while randomly checking out music videos on Youtube. Her live performance of “I Don’t Know”, taped in what looks to be a local pub, was so charming that I was instantly hooked. My wife, daughter and I proceeded to sample more of her videos, and her music was a presence in our house off and on throughout the year. Given that I seemed to like every song I came across, it did not seem like too big a risk to get her new album without spending time reading reviews or sampling the songs.
Granted, I suspect we have all had times in our lives where we have bought albums from artists that we like, hoping their latest would be as good as their last outing. In my own experiences, the disappointment often came when the new album did not sound like more of the same. A measure of an artist’s skill for that kind of listener is when the next album actually is different but generates a passion similar to the previous work. Passenger demonstrates that Hannigan’s singer/songwriter skills were not just a one-time wonder but instead have grown in the time since the release of Sea Sew.
I was impressed from the first time I put the CD in and listened to it straight through. I became even more impressed when I read that Lisa and her crew had recorded the album in just a little over a week. You can get a glimpse of the recording process for Passenger in this short (and beautifully shot) video:
Director Myles O’Reilly’s work on the video shoot for Passenger as well as the video for her song “Knots” has me hoping that an extended DVD will be released showing more of the behind the scenes and concert footage of the album’s production.
*before I launch into a discussion of some of the songs on this album, please know that I am well aware of the fact that though my musical tastes are quite varied, I am nowhere near being a skilled reviewer of music. I will compare songs to other artists not because I feel Lisa Hannigan’s songs need that comparison. They stand well on their own. However it helps me to convey to some degree what I am getting out of the songs to do so. Short of you buying the album, seeking out individual songs online or having me call you up to hum a few bars, it is the best way I know how to say what I want to say.
Passenger opens with the beautifully mournful song “Home”, a track whose heavy piano work and building vocals reminds me of work by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova of The Swell Season and also of Tori Amos’ live performances.
Her song “Knots” showcases her breathy vocals and the intense strings and driving beat reminds me at times of K.T. Tunstell’s indy rock song “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” that was all over the airwaves a few years ago. The incongruous video for the song was shot in one take and while it may not visually represent the mood of the song it nevertheless demonstrates the sense of fun Lisa Hannigan has shown in many of the videos for songs from her first album.
“What’ll I Do” is easily the most catchy song on the album and several times over the last week my wife and I have wandered into each other’s orbit only to find each other singing the “oh oh oh oh eh eh ah ah ah eh eh” chorus. I even caught myself singing it under my breath at work several times today. This song and “Safe Travels, (Don’t Die)” show more of the witty lyricism of the first album. No “official” video for the song as of yet and unfortunately all the live versions I can find are of poor quality, so here is the song with just a cute picture of Lisa for visuals. I’ll warn you once more, it is catchy.
and finally (gotta save some stuff so you’ll seek it out), I first heard the title song for this album courtesy of this live performance. I have seen enough video of her singing live that I just know she is someone I would love to see in concert. Her music has that something special that wraps round my brain and gets my little gray cells moving. If you like what you hear then I assure you that Passenger is an album worth adding to your collection.
I know very little of Hannigan, other than the fact that she sang with Damien Rice in the hauntingly beautiful “9 Crimes,” off of 9. (You do know this song? If not, you should most definitely listen to it immediately. Here, I’ll even link it for you. Now you’ve no excuse.)
Other than that, I really enjoyed her mandolin piece at the bottom, “Passenger.” And you’re right: “What’ll I Do” is catchy. Thanks for sharing, Carl.
I haven’t listened to any of her work with Damien Rice. Not sure why since I obviously like her voice. Thanks for the link, I’ll check it out and make amends for the error of my ways.
You are welcome, I’m glad you gave Lisa a try recently.
thank for sharing the link, logan. talk about bringing The Swell Season to mind…
I’m not a big concert goer, but the last one was Swell Season and whenever I hear their music I am transported back to that night, which was amazing. I need to watch Once again, its been a long time since I last saw it.
I’m as out-of-touch musically as they come, so it’s no surprise that I’ve never heard of Ms. Hannigan before. But I am SO glad you introduced her to me…I loved every one of the songs you put up here. (Well, I’m not sure about the last one because my computer suddenly got cranky, but after the first three I’m convinced!) Thanks!
I’m pretty out of touch too, Debi. I often “discover” artists well after all the cool kids already know about them and have moved on. It was actually fun to get this album not long after it came out just to be up on the latest from an artist that I enjoy.
If you loved these thing you need to check out this one as well:
from her first album
am enjoying her since your bringing her to my awareness (spotify has her Passenger album). and you spoke admirably about the singer, album, and songs. found an article on (essentially) how to review music, and using comparisons were heavily encouraged.
Well there you go, I’m a natural. :p
Glad you are enjoying her music.
L- if you do not mind, explain Spotify to me someday. I checked it out, and am not really understanding it. Seems that that Pandora is only what I can wrap my brain around. Last.fm eludes me too.
Thanks. I hadn’t heard of her. I listened to Home and it sounds like a great song on a rainy day. And you reminded me that I don’t use Pandora enough!
There are a few good rainy day songs on here, and I like rainy day music in general.
Pandora is a great way to discover new artists, that is for sure. Except when I’m doing stuff around the house I always find myself running back into the other room to see who the artist is on a certain song I am enjoying.
I should listen to Pandora when I clean. I hate cleaning and I love your idea of running back to see who is playing. Good way to avoid.
That is one of the times I often have it on.
Such a lovely voice (not to mention face!). Thanks for highlighting her songs for us, Carl. I can see what’s so special about her.
She is a cutie, and a lot of fun to watch sing as well as listen to.
As I told you on my blog the other day, I’ve been really enjoying lisening to this one since you mentioned her.
Yes, and I was, and am, glad to hear it. 🙂
It’s nice to blame someone other than Nymeth for my recent musical listening! 😉
Its my pleasure to let Nymeth off the hook for a few moments. 🙂
She collaborated with a lot of Damien Rice’s stuff back when they were going out together, not just 9 crimes. And his 9 album is well worth a listen.
Or at least I really like it 🙂
I haven’t gotten my hands on Hannigan’s latest but she has such a great voice I’m sure I will at some point.
I’ll have to spend some time soon going back to listen to her stuff with Rice. I can’t imagine I wouldn’t like it.
Finally, i am getting around to commenting.
That’s a ton for reminded me of this fabulous talent. I remembering you mentioning her to me a bit ago and I liked her music. This post has solidly convenienced me that I indeed do like her stuff well enough to place her album on my music wish list. Now to decide if i want the cd or just go with the mp3 album.
You are so very right – What’ll I Do is very catchy and I already have that whole oh oh oh oh eh eh eh ah ah eh eh in my head.
It is an infectious tune, that’s for sure. Glad you enjoy her music. I thought I’d shared some of it with you before.
“And I, I would be sorry if, due to your hurry..
You were hit by a lorry, my friend…”
Lisa was featured on much of Damien Rice’s album 9, but her solo albums have really given her he chance to show how creative she is. Sea Sew just broke my heart, I absolutely adored it, right down to the handknitted album cover! I found Passenger a little more of a slow burner, but I completely adore it. Norwich has been lucky enough to host Lisa in concert for the last two years and I cannot express how wonderful she and her band are live. If she passes her way with her little xylophone and bearded bandmates….don’t hesitate! I’m so glad she has made it to the states now 🙂
That song is so much fun, and it is often tripping around in my brain.
I thought it was wonderful that she hand-crafted the cover design. There is so much wonderful about that album, from her intimate involvement in it to the wonderful videos for the songs and live performances. Passenger is a slow burner, and that is why I think I like it so much. I don’t like it better, I just like it differently than Sea Sew. The fact that she did such different things on this album kept me from being disappointed in it as I wasn’t even tempted to compare the two. I would definitely not pass up a chance to see her in concert. I only wish Kansas City would attract this kind of artist, but that often is not the case.