The Facts
Artist	Marina V
Album	Let Me Dream
Musicians	Marina V - Vocals, Piano, Keyboards, Guitar Nick Baker - Bass, Drums, Guitar
Produced By	Marina V & Nick Baker
Recorded and Mixed By	Mark Rubel
Recorded At	Pogo Studios, Champaign
Track Listing	1). Always 2). Butterfly 3). Little Tear 4). Odna (In Russian) 5). Diving 6). Let Me Dream 7). Leaving 8). Waiting 9). I Miss You In My Life
Record Label	Self-released
Available At	Tower Records, www.cdbaby.com/MarinaV, or 1-800-448-6369
Reviewed By	Eric J. Olsen
The Opinion
When you first start listening to Marina V's "Let Me Dream" two words immediately pop into your head. Tori and Amos. Even though Marina's voice is strikingly similar to Tori's, she is not a Tori-clone. Marina adds her own imprint to the "girl and her piano" style of music. While the songs are beautiful, the production of the album distracts from their delivery. The mix is a bit muddied, with the vocals buried too deep to truly appreciate them. Although there are spots where Marina's amazing voice transcends the limitation and really shines. Unfortunately, this doesn't happen enough and you really only get a glimpse of the potential that Marina holds. Lyrically, the recurring theme is one of self-discovery. Through the heartfelt lyrics, Marina takes the listener along on that journey. Even though she laments of the pains of life, the basic message is one of hope. As exemplified by the lyrics on "Leaving," particularly the lines: I don't regret the time we spent Before the walls fell in But if I keep looking back I'll only be what I have been Once you wade through the muddy water of the mix, there are some really good songs and solid playing. The album serves as an introduction to a voice that has the power to really move the listener.
Nutshell Review
A rough album that holds the potential and promise of amazing music.
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