Track Listing

1. On Your Shore
2. Limits Of Our Love
3. Your Armor
4. Every Time It Rains
5. Steel
6. Sweet Chariot
7. Madman
8. Up All Night
9. Haunted
10. Parade On
11. Something Like A Hero
12. Beautiful Life
13. Wild Horses

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #18254 in Music
• Released on: 2004-08-10
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Content/Copy-Protected CD
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Amazon.com
Those who at one time toyed with the idea of becoming Tori Amos fans but ultimately rejected the idea (face facts: her music can be alienating) will want to throw out a life raft for Charlotte Martin who, with On Your Shore, manages to send Amos-like shivers up the spine without overblowing the oddball, quirky, I'm-so-complex stuff. The vibe throughout these 13 songs is pure Amos--piano-driven, dark, theatrical, sweepingly orchestral--but doses of Kate Bush-style button-pushing and Cure-modeled insouciance bump up the interest level. So does the songwriting. "You can't judge the love by the lover/The sky by its thunder," goes the opening verse of "Beautiful Life," and similarly contemplative concepts course through songs like the first single "Every Time It Rains," also a lyrical stunner. The sole cover here, a tender take on the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses" presented as a bonus track, swats away doubts that Martin is a pour-it-on performer. Best of all is how this CD bodes for female singer/songwriters to come. Instead of dumbing down the songs and playing the pop tart or, worse, drowning us in a mellowness that makes us search for our own pulse, Martin's music probes the girl within. She gets us thinking, and without shunting us aside in the process. --Tammy La Gorce

Customer Reviews

Nothing short of sensational!
I was lucky enough to discover Charlotte Martin here on amazon when she appeared in my recommendations. After hearing the sound clips, I was completely hooked and had to get my hands on the CD. Since then, this album hasn't left my CD player, and I have also purchased her In Parenthesis EP.

Though comparisons to Tori Amos are unavoidable, due to the similarities in their gorgeous piano playing, it should be noted that there are differences as well. Charlotte Martin's lyrics are somewhat less obscure, though no less meaningful. It seems that Martin might simply be slightly more accessible. Nonetheless, each song will move you in some way or another, and will touch your soul in a way that many of today's shallow, money-grubbing artists simply don't come anywhere near accomplishing. Her lyrics, throughout the course of this album, span an immense gamut of emotions.

The seamlessly astounding blend of piano, strings, and driving drum beats, along with Charlotte's captivating voice (on both lead and backing vocals), can only be described as phenomenal. Charlotte's classical training definitely permeates the sumptuously graceful arrangements, and is clearly identifiable as her voice soars over a rather impressive range.

Though each track is amazing in it's own right, some of my favorites on this album include:

Track 1; "On Your Shore" - Amazing opening/title track! Though not extremely upbeat, it is no less memorable. I love the lyrics on this one, and the chorus is superb.

Track 4; "Every Time it Rains" - Great drums lend a driving beat to the uplifting and hopeful lyrics, despite the dark undertones.

Track 5; "Steel" - This one always gets stuck in my head, and I end up humming/singing it the rest of the day. I really love the simple, yet elegant piano on this one. The bridge is definitely reminiscent of Tori Amos, as is the piano playing near the end of the song.

Track 10; "Parade On" - Exquisite ballad that will almost bring you to tears.

Track 11; "Something Like a Hero" - Touching lyrics, great piano, and great chorus

Very few artists appeal to me this strongly and this quickly, and most take several listens before I come to any conclusions about them, but On Your Shore struck a chord with me immediately. This is an album you can pop into your stereo and listen to all the way through, without once hitting the skip button. If you are a fan of female vocalists with amazing accompaniment, including a strong piano presence, then you NEED to buy this album! I'm only sorry I didn't discover Charlotte Martin sooner, and I anxiously await any forthcoming albums with baited breath!

A woman to watch
The names in the "most gratefully" section of the liner notes to Charlotte Martin's full-length major-label debut say a mouthful: Howie Day, Kate Bush, Kevin Shields (of My Bloody Valentine fame), Pete Yorn, Peter Gabriel ("do you remember I auditioned to play piano for you"), and Tori Amos to name just a few. Indeed, if you rolled all these folks together, you might end up with something very much like _On Your Shore_. This is a good thing.

Kate's influence is arguably the strongest: both the rhythm section and vocal harmonies on "Limits of Our Love" are straight out of "Running Up That Hill," and it can't be an accident that Charlotte sings the title line of "Every Time It Rains" with the same cadence that Kate sings that same line in "Cloudbusting," and those are the two singles.

So far, I like Charlotte best when she rocks out. (In particular, the bridge sections of "On Your Shore" and "Madman" are stunners.) When she does the ballad thing...well, so far the results aren't quite up to Tori or Vienna Teng standards, but that's setting the bar awfully high. The notable exception to this rule is her gorgeous rendition of the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses": while I was never much of a Stones fan, this cover has me picking my jaw up off the floor.

As for the lyrics, it's evident that some folks don't think they're very good, and Charlotte herself has been heard to confess that she could use some improvement in this area. While it's true that she probably won't be getting published in poetry journals anytime soon, I don't think she's got anything to be embarrassed about, and a fair number of her turns of phrase are just plain fun. ("Chasing you around the room is tempting...")

While Charlotte may not yet have separated herself entirely from the pack, she's clearly well on her way. In fact, _On Your Shore_ gets beaten out only by Casey Stratton's _Standing at the Edge_ for my "most welcome debut by a singer-songwriter" award for 2004. Good stuff.

A true masterpiece
Perhaps you haven't heard about this captivating musician, because she is not as well-promoted as other young artists. However, I am certain that you will enjoy this album if you give it a chance. ANYONE can relate to life's challenges that Charlotte sings about such as: rejection, anguish, hope, and love. But Charlotte addresses these trials in a manner that distinguishes her from other artists.



Along with her angelic voice, Charlotte reveals her emotions by creating graphic images in the minds of her listeners. For example, in her song "Parade On" Charlotte sings, "She tried to stop a train for him without shoes..." Such powerful metaphors, illustrate the great sacrifices people make for those they care about.



In addition to her original songs, Charlotte recreates a tear-jerking version of "Wild Horses" by the Rolling Stones. With the way she pours her heart and soul into this classic, one would think this it is her own creation.



Discovering true musical talent is rare these days, but this is your opportunity to do just that! So please don't pass on this CD. :- ) The fact that Charlotte writes her own songs and creates her own music cannot be said enough. If you buy this album, I am sure you will not be disappointed. However, if you are still in doubt, just click on some of the sample tracks. For more information about this brilliant artist, please visit charlottemartin.com