Artist: Plumb
Album: Beautiful History (A Hits Collection)
Year: 2009
Label: Curb Records
Website: http://www.plumbinfo.com/
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/plumb
Twitter: @plumb_artist
Buy: iTunes - Amazon - Official Store
Sounds Like: Dido, Amy Lee, Evanescence, Alanis Morrisette, Poe, Suzanne Vega, Garbage, Patty Griffin, Sarah McLachlan
Rating: 3/5 ♥♥♥

After mutation of Plumb sound from “Chaotic Resolve” to “Blink”, many think that we would miss the grueling pop/rock that Tiffany Arbuckle Lee accustomed us. But “Blink” explicitly showed us the heart of this singer/songwriter, through songs with themes like motherhood that reflected the new style of life she led. Her sound evolved, it became more mature, more solid and we loved it. Now “Beautiful History” would be a collection that honors the long career of Plumb since its inception, adding 2 new songs and giving their fans the essence of this wonderful musical history.

“Stranded” rightly opens the album, with more consistent arrangements like guitars and harmonies, leaving aside the sound of it first fragrance version. It’s a love song sung in the silence of the heart: “I miss you, I need you / Without you, I’m stranded / I love you, so come back”. The new version of “Here With Me” nothing reminiscent of 1999’s one, replacing the electronic drums for an acoustic one, and adding a heavy guitar sound that is based on its lyrical confessing that we can do nothing without God’s help: “It doesn’t mean anything / Without you here with me / ‘cause after all is said and done / I still need you here with me”. Treating the dark issue of sexual abuse from the perspective of a girl who feels faint and never again to be loved, “Damaged (Redemption Extended Version)” also adds a chance for redemption and healing in the uncertainty of this disturbing song: “There is healing / There is peace / There is freedom from fear / And who will love you / Like no one’s loved you? / You will never be afraid”. Originally, “God-Shaped Hole” began with acoustic guitars and still with that feel for the rest of the song, but this new version begins softly with the deployment of an electric guitar, which progresses to mingle with the powerful drums, pianos and melodies similar to “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol: “There’s a God-shaped hole in all of us / And the restless soul is searching / And it’s a void only he can fill”. Then we have “Real”, a song inspired by the controversy caused by the Versace dress that Jennifer Lopez wore at the 2000’s Grammy Awards, and helps us see the lifestyle of the rich and famous in an interesting perspective: “Aren’t I lovely / And do you want me cause / I am hungry for something that will make me real / Can you see me and / Do you love me cause / I am desperately searching for something real”. The fiery “I Can’t Do This” adds an attractive touch to the album, with sweeping guitars, violins and synthesizers, with a despairing cry that asks God for help: “I’m standing still / Move so peaceful / I can’t pretend / That I’m fine / I get so ill / Crazy agitated / When I’m not really dying”. I’m glad that she doesn’t edit the symphony of violins at the end of this song, it’s almost divine. “Cut” is deepened with a lyrical piano, written for those people struggling with suicide to find relief from their emotional pain: “I do not want to be afraid / I do not want to die inside just to breathe in / I’m tired of feeling so numb / Relief exists I found it when I was cut”. The tireless piano and sequenced drums on “Better”, faces the fear and doubt of a person trying to bring down our dreams: “I don’t want to care / And I don’t want to hate / And I don’t want to see you fall too far away / All because of fear / ‘Cause when you’re afraid / You lash out and blame / And you say all the things that you never meant to say / And try to break me”. I’d never given adequate attention to “Blush (Only You)”, but today I am in love with this song. Excellent arrangements, a delirious beat, a great melody that expresses our reaction to being in love: “I wanna be in love with only you / I wanna watch the sky turn grey then blue / I wanna know the kiss thats always new”. The radio success that “In My Arms” has accomplished is immeasurable. This time the radio edit summarizes the atmospheric sounds and fragile lyrical that Tiffany wrote in his first experience as a mother. Sublime and sweet: “Castles they might crumble / Dreams may not come true / But you are never all alone / Because I will always love you”. We reached the end of the album, with 2 amazing new compositions. We started with “Hang On” (first single) with a mixture of Chaotic Resolve and Blink, which has become a personal anthem for Tiffany in a message of hope and tenacity. The song was inspired by a survivor of Katrina hurricane, and is contrasted with a dark piano: “I’m so hungry / How can I stay here? / Starving for what I hold so dear / Like a hurricane it takes everything from me / Wake me from this dream”. While titletrack “Beautiful History” (second and current single) is a pop/rock ballad with soft piano and a powerful ‘don’t give up’ message: ““Whenever you run away / Whenever you lose your faith / It’s just another shake of / The pen on the page / A lonely ray of hope / Is all that you need / To see a beautiful history”. Additionally the second disc offers us 8 remixes of the most successful Plumb’ singles, produced and mixed by producer Matt Bronleewe along with Bimbo Jones, Dave Aude, Pete Hammond, among others. This bonus CD is suitable for a mainstream market and for an audience that follows artists like Lady GaGa, Britney Spears and Black Eyed Peas.

“Beautiful History” is the perfect collection of recent years, including songs inspiring, engaging in a personal and unique career of this great pop artist. And personal charms are the 2 new songs, which provides provide images of Plumb boundless talent and a way to rediscover his music.

Luego de la mutación del sonido de Plumb desde “Chaotic Resolve” hasta Blink, muchos pensamos que echaríamos de menos el agotador pop/rock al que Tiffany Arbuckle Lee nos había acostumbrado. Sin embargo, “Blink” nos mostró explícitamente el corazón de esta cantante y compositora, a través de canciones con temas de maternidad que reflejaban el nuevo estilo de vida que llevaba. Su sonido evolucionó, se volvió más maduro, más sólido y esto nos encantaba. Ahora “Beautiful History” vendría a ser una colección que honra la extensa carrera de Plumb desde sus inicios, agregándole 2 nuevas composiciones y dando a sus fans la esencia de esta maravillosa historia musical.

“Stranded” apertura el álbum acertadamente, con arreglos más consistentes como harmonías y guitarras, dejando de lado la fragancia acústica de su primera versión. Es una canción de amor que canta en el silencio del corazón: “I miss you, I need you / Without you, I’m stranded / I love you, so come back”. La nueva versión de “Here With Me” en nada recuerda a la de 1999, reemplazando la batería electrónica por una acústica y agregándole intensas guitarras que se cimenta en la lírica que confiesa que no podemos hacer nada sin la ayuda de Dios: “It doesn’t mean anything / Without you here with me / ‘cause after all is said and done / I still need you here with me”. Tratando el oscuro tema del abuso sexual desde la perspectiva de una niña que se siente desfallecer y nunca más volver a ser amada, “Damaged (Redemption Extender Version)” además le agrega la oportunidad de redención y sanidad en la incertidumbre de esta inquietante canción: “There is healing / There is peace / There is freedom from fear / And who will love you / Like no one’s loved you? / You will never be afraid”. Originalmente “God-Shape Hole” comenzaba con guitarras acústicas y se mantenía así durante el resto de la canción, pero esta nueva versión comienza suavemente con el despliegue de una guitarra eléctrica, que avanza hasta mezclarse con la poderosa batería, pianos y melodías que se asemejan a “Chasing Cars” de Snow Patrol: “There’s a God-shaped hole in all of us / And the restless soul is searching / And it’s a void only he can fill”. Seguidamente tenemos a “Real”, una canción inspirada en la controversia causada por el vestido Versace que Jennifer Lopez usó en los premios Grammy 2000, y nos ayuda a ver el estilo de vida de los ricos y famosos en una interesante perspectiva: “Aren’t I lovely / And do you want me cause / I am hungry for something that will make me real / Can you see me and / Do you love me cause / I am desperately searching for something real”. La ardiente “I Can’t Do This” le agrega un toque atractivo al álbum, con arrasadoras guitarras, violines y sintetizadores, que mediante un clamor desesperado le pide a Dios ayuda: “I’m standing still / Move so peaceful / I can’t pretend / That I’m fine / I get so ill / Crazy agitated / When I’m not really dying”. Qué bueno que no editaron la sinfonía de violines al final de esta canción, es casi divina. “Cut” se profundiza con pianos en una lírica escrita a aquellas personas que luchan con el suicidio para hallar el alivio de su dolor emocional: “I do not want to be afraid / I do not want to die inside just to breathe in / I’m tired of feeling so numb / Relief exists I found it when I was cut”. Los incansables pianos y la secuenciada batería en “Better”, que se enfrenta al temor y la duda de una persona que intenta derrumbar nuestros sueños: “I don’t want to care / And I don’t want to hate / And I don’t want to see you fall too far away / All because of fear / ‘Cause when you’re afraid / You lash out and blame / And you say all the things that you never meant to say / And try to break me”. Nunca le había prestado la atención debida a “Blush (Only You)”, pero hoy me he enamorado de esta canción. Excelentes arreglos, un beat delirante, una fenomenal melodía que expresa nuestra reacción al estar enamorados: “I wanna be in love with only you / I wanna watch the sky turn grey then blue / I wanna know the kiss thats always new”. El éxito de radio que “In My Arms” ha logrado es inmensurable. Esta vez la edición de radio sintetiza los sonidos atmosféricos y la frágil lírica que Tiffany escribió en su primera experiencia como madre. Sublime y dulce: “Castles they might crumble / Dreams may not come true / But you are never all alone / Because I will always love you”. Llegamos al final del álbum, con 2 sorprendentes nuevas composiciones. Empezamos con “Hang On” (primer sencillo) con una mezcla entre Chaotic Resolve y Blink, que se ha convertido en un himno personal para Tiffany con un mensaje de esperanza y tenacidad. La canción fue inspirada en un sobreviviente del huracán Katrina, y se contrasta con un oscuro piano: “I’m so hungry / How can I stay here? / Starving for what I hold so dear / Like a hurricane it takes everything from me / Wake me from this dream”. Mientras que el titletrack “Beautiful History” (segundo y actual sencillo) es una balada pop/rock con dulces pianos y un mensaje poderoso de no rendirse: “Whenever you run away / Whenever you lose your faith / It’s just another shake of / The pen on the page / A lonely ray of hope / Is all that you need / To see a beautiful history”. Adicionalmente el segundo disco nos ofrece 8 remixes de los sencillos más exitosos de Plumb, producidos y mezclados por su productor personal Matt Bronleewe, además de Bimbo Jones, Dave Aude, Pete Hammond, entre otros. Este bonus cd es acertado para un mercado mainstream y para un público que sigue a artistas como Lady GaGa, Britney Spears o Black Eyed Peas.

“Beautiful History” es la perfecta colección de estos últimos años, incluyendo canciones inspiradores, cautivantes en una única y personal carrera de esta magnífica artista pop. Y un encanto personal son las 2 nuevas canciones, que nos entregan imágenes del infinito talento de Plumb y una manera de redescubrir su música.