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Album Review
by SashaS
1-10-2003
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| Dido: second coming for the quiet one |
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Dido: 'Life For Rent'
(Cheeky/Arista)
Dido is a mellifluous artist
Between many a critic and a demanding listener, Dido is viewed as a sonic equivalent to chic-lit and, superficially, it is correct. Someone recently noted that her demographic are successful but single thirtysomethings who buy only a few albums per annum and mainly the ones to be used as pleasant accompaniment to dinner parties. Men will simply claim that her second album, ‘Life For Rest’ is – “More of the same but less.”
Well, it is all that but also more. Dido’s disc is not only an easy-listening while waiting for the post-millennium WMD (Weapons of Mass Dookie) to cease, not just an antidote to the dystopian sounds but a very good pop album. One may expect that the aftermath of her split with her long-term partner would be an album about 12-year bitterness and memories but, as Dido pointed out, it is generally not; there are certain sections that are concretely dealing with her heartache, sorrow and the life that’s lead to the break-up.
The title of the album suggests stalking and tabloid-persecution but her tally of 12 million copies of ‘No Angel’ sold globally has been achieved pretty painlessly. Dido’s fame, for all her ‘Rent-a-life’ quips, is low profile and she can still freely walk down to a local shop/pub without gathering a posse of admirers. Simultaneously, Dido’s created a niche for herself and no one has followed her in because she is, probably, tough one to emulate; particularly at the age when image is the complete lot, she appears to manage to keep her feet firmly grounded. (To a mass despair of many.)
Ms Dido Armstrong is a lady who deals in direct and plain-to-understand symbolism in her lyrics that are delivered in a voice of flawless and simple beauty. Dido doesn’t use sex appeal to shift units as so many other lady-acts and has managed to present herself as cute, clever and sisterly, something like Meg Ryan’s preferred roles. Sorry boys, she ain’t interested in being a pin-up.
‘White Flag’ appears to be the pivotal track on the album, with mellow-techno of ‘Stoned’ and melancholic-cum-uplifting ‘Who Makes You Feel’ bringing quality to the disc-tray. The rest is pleasant, gracious and courteous to satisfy that army of exclusively female fans who are, perhaps, emotionally vulnerable. For them, this is a role model that lets them be normal and natural. [The CD shifted 152,500 copies in the UK on its first day!?]
Dido, while as ‘dangerous’ as Mach3 Turbo razor (for women), is not pretending to be anything else but herself that is just so annoying to all unemployed hype-makers.
7/10
SashaS
1-10-2003
Dido’s album ‘Life For Rent’ is released 29 September 2003 by Cheeky/Arista/BMG
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