Suzanne Vega Nine Objects Of Desire CD

Vega's second collaboration with husband/producer/keyboardist Mitchell Froom expands the sonic palette introduced on 99.9 F to create an atmosphere that is both more open and more distinctive. Froom's ubiquitous synthesizers and samples step aside on several songs to make way for tastefully orchestrated horns and strings. The semi-industrial pop of 99.9 F gives way to a more eclectic compositional bent. "Caramel" is a smooth, jazzy ballad that bears a strange kinship to an Astrud Gilberto bossa nova. "Lolita" boasts a lilting samba feel mediated by electronic percussion.

This being a Suzanne Vega album, there are also a few introspective acoustic-guitar based plaints. In fact, these (particularly the subtle, eerie narrative "Honeymoon Suite") are among the most memorable of NINE OBJECTS' 13 songs. Elsewhere, colorful, lighthearted arrangements offset dark subject matter, as on "Thin Man" and "Tombstone," both contemplations of mortality. NINE OBJECTS OF DESIRE finds Vega pushing the envelope slightly, while maintaining the quality songcraft that her listeners have come to expect.

Recorded at The Magic Shop, New York, New York.

Personnel: Suzanne Vega (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Tchad Blake (guitar, electric guitar); Steve Donnelly (electric guitar, slide guitar); Jane Scarpantoni (cello, strings); Matthew Pierce, Mark Feldman , Ted Falcon (strings); Cecilia Sparacio (flute); Don Byron (clarinet, bass clarinet); Dave Douglas (trumpet); Mitchell Froom (keyboards); Sebastian Steinberg (acoustic bass); Pete Thomas , Jerry Marotta (drums, percussion); Yuval Gabay (drums).

Audio Mixer: Tchad Blake.

Recording information: Magic Shop, N.Y.C., NY.

Photographers: David Seltzer; Albert Sanchez.

Unknown Contributor Role: Mitchell Froom.

Personnel: Suzanne Vega (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars); Steve Donnelly (slide guitar, guitar); Tchad Blake (guitar, samples, special effects); Jane Scarpantoni (cello, strings); Mark Feldman, Matthew Pierce, Ted Falcon (strings); Cecilia Sparacio (flute); Don Byron (bass clarinet, clarinet); Dave Douglas (trumpet); Mitchell Froom (Moog synthesizer, keyboards); Sebastian Steinberg (acoustic bass, bass); Bruce Thomas (bass); Pete Thomas (drums, percussion, samples); Jerry Marotta (drums, percussion); Yuval Gabay (drums).

Rolling Stone (11/28/96, p.136) - 4 Stars (out of 5) - "...she deftly executes a difficult artistic maneuver: moving ahead by stepping back....impressive clarity (there's hardly an oblique word of thought here) and economy (no wasted ones, either) that recall her earliest work..."
Spin (10/96, p.138) - 6 (out of 10) - "...Vega and [producer Mitchell] Froom hold their noses at cheap thrills, eager to substitute not necessarily expensive thrills, but (ah) deeper ones. Their record works, even occasionally wins, on these terms..."
Entertainment Weekly (9/20/96, p.82) - "...Vega has managed to remake herself as the most consistently challenging and exciting singer-songwriter working today." - Rating: A