Leona Naess
I Tried to Rock You But You Only Roll (2001)

review by: Alexander Washburn
Date: 11/14/01

It's only appropriate that I review Leona Naess' new record at 2 Walls Webzine. It was here that I first read about Ms. Naess' first record, the underrated and under appreciated, Comatized. She's back and glad to say, she's not only side stepping that sophomore slump, she's given it the stiff arm as well.

I Tried to Rock You But You Only Roll almost falls into that Fiona Apple too-long-a-title problem and it turns out the length of the title is the only problem the record has. For starters its "Mexico" where Naess angelic vocals take front stage. Listen to her sing and tell me you wouldn't go anywhere with her. "Mayor of Your Town" has a pop feel to it but its too good for radio.

Naess is Nelly Furtado, with talent. Lyrics about love and lost, like in 'Weak Strong Heart' where she complains that "it's so hard to find you in this cold world designed to bleed you. Grieve you," proves she's also a realist.

Equal doses of guitar driven songs and elements of electronic beats and samples shows Naess has branched out from her mainly heavily rock-and-roll influenced first record.

Leona Naess
Comatised (2000)

review by: Michael Walls
Date: 10/2/00

Great voice. Not like a Macy Gray type of great (which I don't necessarily think is so much great as different) but a sexy, sophisticated, adult pop type of great. I think she has a bit of an Edie Brickell sounding voice. Which I don't know why I like, because I never really liked Edie Brickell. But I think it's because the music and lyrics are more interested and more sophisticated then Edie screaming "what I am, is what I am" over and over again.

From the liners I gather Leona Naess is English, but think she resides in NYC. But even without reading that, I would have guessed it from the tone and lyrics of her songs. She has a bit of a cynical story telling style and a mellow dark musical sound. Heavy acoustic guitar with some good instrumental backup and studio production makes for a very good record.

No bad songs here, but some standouts include: Charm Attack, Anything, Lazy Days, and New York Baby.

If you enjoy the girl singer genre, then you won't be disappointed with Leona Naess. She falls somewhere in between Natalie Merchant and Garbage.