Has it been five years already? Are the stars finally right? Must be, because Songs in Red and Gray, the new album from Suzanne Vega, is out today.
It’s really a shame that most people only know “Luka” and “Tom’s Diner” from Suzanne, and have missed the excellent albums she’s put out since then. I haven’t heard anything from or about this new CD yet, but I’ll be swinging by the store on my way home from work to pick it up.
Please post a review. I like Suzanne Vega quite a bit. I saw her about 4 or 5 years ago at a small bar here in Tampa with Marshall Crenshaw opening. She really writes some great tunes.
I’m three songs in. Thus far it lacks a certain Mitchell Froom-ness; it seems more folky and straightforward, like her first couple of albums. Whether that is a good thing or not remains to be seen; I liked “Nine Objects of Desire” a lot, but those first albums were great, too.
More later…
Dr. J
I’ve been waiting for this album for awhile, so I went out and bought it as soon as I could today. After hearing it once, I definitely dig it. I think it’s going to be one of those albums that grow on you with each hearing, though. The songs sound very similiar the first time around (but then again, alot of her stuff does.)
Penitent, Widow’s Walk, and Songs in Red and Gray are my favorites so far. I also love Harbor Song, but that’s because I heard her do a live version that was amazing. I’m not sure if I’d like it as much if I’d only heard this version.
I looked it up on CDnow about 2 weeks ago, and they had this picture up. I was disappointed that it wasn’t in the booklet, but oh well. You can’t have everything 
If you’re me, and I know I am, the first thing you’re going to wonder upon hearing this CD is, “Man, did Suzanne have a divorce or something?”
The answer is: YES. Yes she did. I knew she was married to Mitchell Froom, father of Ruby Froom, namesake of the Soul Coughing album ‘Ruby Vroom’ but that was the extent of my Suzanne Vega trivia. Yes, Mitchell Froom didn’t produce this album, isn’t thanked, and isn’t mentioned at all. Except in the pointed, biting lyrics aimed directly at him.
The album itself is very nice, running the gamut from lushly produced (by Rupert Hine, not Mitchell Froom) songs to more stark songs that echo her classic first album.
If you like Suzanne, you’ll like this. If you don’t know Suzanne, I wouldn’t start here, I’d instead go with her self-titled debut or Nine Objects of Desire.