Kaleidoscope Heart [+digital booklet]Sara Bareilles (MP3 Download)

Genres: Pop/General

Sara mixes up the tempo of the songs well on this disc. My other favorite song is "Not Alone". This song is about feeling insecure about being alone. Sara sounds so sultry and sensual on this track.

The tempo of the song "Let It Rain" makes me feel empowered. This song is about striving and struggling for a sense of truth and freedom. Most of Sara's song are written for women, but this song and this album will resonate with men too. I also believe that rain can make things seem new again.
Matt Chamberlain is the drummer on this album. He also performs percussion on several tracks. He makes beautiful sound with any instrument he plays. He shines on the track "Uncharted" by providing a simple beat. This is a song about the thrill of starting something new in life.
"Gonna Get Over You" is a song that puts a positive spin about breaking up with someone. There is an inner strength that can be gained from ending a relationship. This is the message that Sara is trying to convey with this song. "Basket Case" is a track that features Sara playing the acoustic guitar. This is a slower tempo and a moving song about how people can drive each other crazy at times. "Bluebird" is a beautiful song that features Sara on this piano again. This song is a reminder that it takes a lot of strength to let someone go. "Machine Gun" is a song about the things people do to hurt each other emotionally. There is something about Sara's vocals that makes me believe the lyrics come from a honest point of view. "Hold My Heart" is a song about the difficulty of being in a relationship with another person. It is a goregous love song. "Kaleidoscope Heart" is a strong sophomore album from Sara Bareilles. Kaleidoscope Heart [+digital booklet]
Let's take a walk, track-to-track:

* Kaleidoscope Heart (*/*) - No need to rate the intro, though it is a perfect intro! Feels like a minute of Hide & Seek from Imogen Heap. Definitely sparks your interest for what's about to come.

* Uncharted (5/5) - And Bam! Off we go... catchy simple piano backed with violin work. Simple progression into full band kick-in. Her singing style is great with this song. I simply love how the verse lines each start slow and finish with rapid-fire lyrics. Not only a perfect start to the album, but I also feel this would be a perfect start to a live show for her.
* Gonna Get Over You (4.5/5/) - Four beats of 1820's burlesque piano into Neo-New York pop piano work... perfect. Snapping fingers perfectly assist the verses into a very catchy and sweet/sassy chorus. "Maybe... it's a vicious little word that could, Slay Me..." I love how each line isn't necessarily a full sentence yet broken up into bits and pieces of full thoughts, a style of work she does so poetically well in nearly all her tracks.
* Hold My Heart (4.5/5) - A perfect "lights go down, slow-mo scene, character realization piece. Bass drum beat with three-chord piano progression and handclaps carry Act 1 of this song perfectly leading up to the full band lead-in for the remainder. The bridge is excellent on this song by the way! Reminds me of "Come Around Soon" but without that beautiful, treasure-esque note she hits (which I still find as the best note recorded this decade). Finishes beautifully with another chorus. Excellent songwriting once again.
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