Kaleidoscope Heart

The maturation from Sara Bareilles' major label debut to Kaleidoscope Heart is nothing short of astounding. Her prior LP, Little Voice, was a pleasant album with a few killer singles and one too many samey songs with titular metaphors. It was memorable more for its parts than its whole. "Love Song" sounded understandably tacked-on, because it was - the label sent Bareilles back to the drawing board to pen a big single. Kaleidoscope Heart dumps trite tunes and interminable balladeering in favor of an entire disc of "Love Song" caliber songwriting. The album runs at least five singles deep, a la Kelly Clarkson's explosive Breakaway, and as a whole it lays waste to every other pop album dropped in 2010. Take note, Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry, T-Swift, and other aspiring pop songstresses ... Ms. Bareilles has got your number. Songs stride from piano-girl pop ("Uncharted" and "Say You're Sorry") to wailing American Idol-worthy ballads ("Hold My Heart" and "Machine Gun") with stops in between for rolling bluesy licks ("Gonna Get Over You"), folky 70s AM radio ballads ("Basket Case"), and an Imogen Heap style vocoder title track. Almost of those songs stand up to the killer lead single "King of Anything," which should be ruled an illegal stimulant due to its obscenely catchy handclap-drive chorus. Its opening call and response piano/vocal duet surely owes to Bareilles' show choir club experience - it seems designed especially for a Glee club cover. Throughout the album, mature lyrics avoid any hint of girlish triteness and still contain the snappish bite of angst that fueled the best tunes on her debut. More impressively, the sonic palette of the disc manages to differentiate each tune without becoming gimmicky. That allows for great tracking, dropping slower songs at all the right points on the album. Sara Bareilles has created an incredibly confident LP rife with solid turns of songwriting and sometimes stunning vocal chops. Kaleidoscope Heart is a follow-up record that requires no caveats to enjoy - it's simply great.

let me tell you what Sara "gets": MELODY, MELODY, MELODY! you know why we still listen to the beatles 40+ years after they started? because their songs have elements that become en-grained in our minds. i'm not trying to compare Sara to the beatles......BUT i am saying that this new cd is incredible from start to finish and it's because she has presented a set of songs that are memorable, upbeat and dripping with melody and harmony. once you hear these songs you cannot get them out of your head. it's hard to believe that she had a self described case of writer's block leading up to this album....obviously, she broke out of it and her standards are set way high because these songs are fantastic!!!! the performances are top notch......she has a GREAT voice and one that I could listen to for hours....her piano playing is aggressive at times and she knows exactly when its time to pull back and pull you in with great dynamics. the rest of her band has turned in perfect performances for these songs. here's the cool thing; not only does she sing great melodies....many of her songs have multiple memorable melodies taking place all at once.....the piano weaves effortlessly amongst great melodies being played by the bass and sometimes guitar all WHILE she is a singing the main melody. i dont say this lightly but at times it reminds me of what you would hear in a paul mcartney written song. but dont take my word for it....BUY this cd and hear it for yourself. PLEASE take the time to support this kind of artist.....she is the kind of artist that truly understands how to present to the listener a great collection of songs! thank you sara!

Best kept secrets are those that really aren't - in the span of just 10 days, I have gone from not knowing anything about Sara Bareilles to becoming a raving fan. We saw Sugarland at the Greek Theater in L.A. on 7/25/11, and Sara Bareilles was a supporting act. I was engrossed and touched by her performance, and thus ordered this CD from Amazon. Kaleidoscope Heart is such a refreshing and satisfying experience - the musical blends, brilliant lyrics, and heavenly voice all combine to create a nearly flawless record. Sara truly sings from the heart, and her insight into life and love and pain and understanding really borders on the remarkable. She is a very special (pure) talent. 'Let the Rain' is the best song that I have heard in a long, long time. It's Sara's anthem, and now it's mine too. The rest of the record is packed with hits like 'Uncharted', 'King of Anything', 'Gonna Get Over You', 'Hold My Heart', 'The Light', 'Machine Gun', etc. Not a single loser to skip among the bunch - how many records can we honestly say that about? [edit: 'Breathe Again' has become another favorite of mine - what a tremendous song, the more I listen to it the more I fall in love with it). I wouldn't hesitate for a second to see her perform again, either as a headline or supporting act - Sara B. deserves to be a major star, and with astounding albums like this one, she's well on her way to becoming one.

Great CD, for Christmas gift

Amazon had one of their super sales and having loved her follow up CD, The Blessed Unrest which I highly recommend, I turned back in time to this one. It's good, but not great. You can hear her potential and the enormous talent and skills she is starting to pull together and resulted in The Blessed Unrest. Her touring with Weezer and Pharell Williams probably helped her see her way to the stratosphere she would soon reach. It may be just what you are looking for, but I guess I was hoping for the same lightening in a bottle that The Blessed Unrest was. By the way, her live follow up CD, Brave Enough: Live demonstrates just how enormous a talent she is. Like Elton John and Elton John her skill on the piano and ridiculously powerful and pitch perfect voice will keep her on the music scene a long time.

Sara Bareilles's second album proves that you don't always have to dread an artist's sophomore entry. Following up her terrific debut album, "Little Voice," Sara once again proves that she has the musical chops to outperform many others who have been in the music business for over a decade. Please don't judge this album by the single, "King of Anything." I would say that song is the least enjoyable one on the album (I have no idea why it was picked for a single). When I first heard this song on the radio several months ago I was very worried that she had gone in a different direction. Thankfully, I was delighted by the rest of the album. That single not withstanding, the rest of the album is much better and has a lot to offer. The majority of the album showcases the sophistication of Sara's songwriting skills and the beauty of her voice. Sara is an exceptional performer whose gorgeous voice can transform any song, but it really shines in: "The Light" and "Breath Again." This album is indeed a very strong effort with a mix of upbeat tunes and ballads. If you are a fan of her first album, definitely grab "Kaleidoscope Heart."

I don't buy many entire albums these days, what with itunes in town, but this one is truly worth it. I've had this album for a couple of months now, so I feel I can review it objectively. Each of the "b-sides" has gotten caught in my head on different occasions, and the radio hits have competed for the number one slot in my heart. I disagree with the initial reviewer's opinion that the intro doesn't count; albeit short, it's one of my favorites, and sets the mood for the whole album. And the last song on the album was the most surprising reward, as if we needed one for listening to it all the way through. I've been a Bareilles fan for some years, and I own her debut album as well. The music industry these days can be challenging to navigate, with so many "artists" selling music that is in fact written by other people just to be performed by moderately talented singers with pretty faces. Don't get the wrong idea here: Sara Bareilles is beautiful. But she is also a brilliant singer AND songwriter, who writes straightforward, creative, eclectic music. Props to you, Sara! If you are even the tiniest bit of a fan, you'd be missing out if you didn't acquire this album.

Well, my husband will be happy to get some new Sara B songs b/c I know he is sick of the Little Voices Album, which I have played and sang to more than is probably a healthy amount since it was first released! :). I wasn't too worried album #2 because her talent is so huge...but I was wondering if the energy required of a new artist (constant touring and self promotion) might not leave enough time for living and experiencing things that would inspire her to write well. But after one listen...hell, after I heard the first TRACK!!!....she clearly found her muse. Something about her tonation, her inflections, the deep, touching and well-thought lyrics, the arrangements...I can go on..! Sorry dear..prepare for plenty of Kaleidoscope b/c you are going to be hearing A LOT of it :). Sara, please don't EVER stop writing. I intend to buy every album you ever produce!

superbe artiste américaine méconnue ici mais injustement on va dire. l'album est plaisant très beaux arrangements un style bien a elle ...à écouter sans modération..

サラのアルバムの中でもこれは最も素晴らしいものだと断言できます。 曲調もバリエーションに富み、アップテンポのポップスからしっとり歌うバラード、カントリー調…こんなに様々なジャンルのものを歌いこなせるのかという驚きでいっぱいです。 しかし、音楽の美しさやキャッチーさはもとより、アルバムを通した世界観、サラの内面の表現の仕方は無二で、自分の辛さや悲しみ、最後に開き直りを、歌とかそういうものを超えたメッセージを持つ芸術としか言いようがないものに昇華しています。 ライナーノーツは誤訳が目立つものの、大意としては伝わるので是非読みながら聴いてほしいと思います。 最後の曲「ラブソングなんて書きたくない」、から一周戻って「心を万華鏡にとりかえてしまいたい」、そしてアンチャーテッドで叫ぶ「これが私の道、私の音楽」…サラの迷いながら進む内面を美しい旋律とポップでキャッチーなメロディで彩る混沌の万華鏡、是非楽しんでほしいと思います。

Mi era capitato di ascoltarla su YouTube tempo fa e mi era piaciuta la sua voce, tanto da mettere da parte un paio di suoi lavori, con la voglia di acquistarli in futuro. Ora è stato quel futuro e ho acquistato questo album e un altro, per scoprire altre cose, tipo chi suonava con lei, dove ha registrato i brani, se scrive lei i suoi testi e le musiche. Insomma per capire chi è e che cosa dice. In effetti devo ancora ascoltarla, seduto dinanzi a due ottime casse acustiche, ad occhi chiusi. In futuro potrò continuare a scrivere delle mie impressioni sul suo lavoro.

Das ist meiner Meinung nach eine ihrer besten Alben. Ich habe sie schon lange als CD und immer auf eine günstige Gelegenheit gewartet, ein Vinyl Album davon zu erwerben. Wirklich tolle leichte Songs die Spass machen. Danke Sara 💝

Fabulous album full of strong songs