Isobel Campbell - Milk White Sheets

Genre rock Publisher V2 Records External Links Official Isobel Campbell Website Official V2 Records Website

In her second solo album Milk White Sheets, (third if you count her collaboration with Mark Lanegan) released late in 2006, Isobel Campbell blends the beautiful sounds of her cello with the jangling guitars of what is commonly known as twee-pop to produce an easy-listening album of folk music. As is usually attributed to twee-pop, Campbell's songs are comprised of soothing vocal melodies and minimal instrumentals. Generally, the tune is carried by the picking of a guitar, though strings and hand percussion are played in many of the songs. The sound that results is purely acoustic, a sweet yet simple compilation of soft music.

Isobel's voice itself is alluring and smooth, but after a while, I found that it got a little bit dry, and at times, irritating. In contrast to other folk artists who can communicate emotion through their voices, when you listen to Isobel Campbell sing, it seems that she does it simply for the recording mic, and nothing more. Putting some feeling into her songs would certainly make this album more appealing.

As for the lyrics themselves, they are mostly plain and rather boring; there is nothing that really inspires or captivates or moves the soul, for some, this is the very reason why they listen to music in the first place. In "Loving Hannah", Isobel sings that "my true love passed me by," as she "rode to church on Sunday." These are hardly lyrics that we can relate to, unless some of us have, in fact, experienced heartbreak on a Sunday morning. Elsewhere, in "How Here", she croons for her "love to be my own, my fair one."

There are several songs on here that I enjoyed. "James" and the title track are both instrumental tracks, but the musical talent that is shown in them is phenomenal, and worth your time. "How Here" combines some beautiful guitar picking with a melody that is more exciting than usual for the genre, while "Loving Hannah" showcases Isobel's lovely, if not slightly grating voice a capella.

Overall, Milk White Sheets isn't bad, but it fails to stand out in a genre that is oft times boring. But hey, if relaxing, simple music and meaningless lyrics are what float your boat, then Milk White Sheets is definitely worth a listen.