Flying With Angels

This is the tenth studio album from Suzanne Vega. It was produced by guitarist and longtime collaborator Garry Leonard, who co-wrote many of the tracks. It lacks the consistency of her earlier albums, but the recommended songs are very smart and catchy. The others are decent and listenable.

No FCC
Recommended: 2,3,4,8

1. (3:20) Speakers’ Corner – bouncy number describing that special place in London. This was the second single released.
2. (4:29) Flying with Angels – What Vega does best is to create a mood, not just a song. She’s doing this with the rhythmic electric guitar and then layers a spooky riff on top. The song feels like we’re really flying with Angels.
3. (4:36) Witch – another great song with an intro build-up before the beat kicks in and takes on a sonic journey with layered guitars as she describes our state of emergency brought on by “what witch that sent this glitch”.
4. (3:23) Chambermaid – a catchy and light tale from the perspective of a chambermaid. "Chambermaid" is an adaptation of "I Want You", written by Bob Dylan, with additional lyrics by Vega and additional music by Vega and Leonard. This was the third single released.
5. (3:35) Love Thief – this kitschy yet haunting song sounds like something out of the early 60’s and nothing like other Vega songs.
6. (3:36) Lucinda – a stripped down raw electric guitar provides a background to Suzanne’s vocals.
7. (2:53) Last Train from Mariupol – sad song featuring acoustic guitar and voice.
8. (3:31) Alley – very catchy tune that builds up to a satisfying super melodic vocal and euphoric lyric about flying free, perhaps with angels? This was the fourth and last single released.
9. (4:09) Rats – heavy guitar with a frenetic voice that conveys the situation of rats everywhere in an apocalyptic world. This was the first single released.
10. (3:57) Galway – has the tempo and sound of an Irish folk tune.