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| | The Honesty Room | | | Music Artist : | | Dar Williams | | Music Style : | | General | | Record Label : | | Razor & Tie | | Release Date : | | 1995-02-21 | | Store Price : | | $18.97 | | Artistopia's Price: $18.97 | | Usually ships in 24 hours | | |
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CD Tracks/Songs
Disc 11. When I Was a Boy
2. Alleluia
3. Great Unknown
4. When Sal's Burned Down
5. Babysitter's Here
6. You're Aging Well
7. Traveling Again (Traveling I)
8. In Love But Not at Peace
9. Mark Rothko Song
10. This Is Not the House That Pain Built
11. I Love, I Love (Traveling II)
12. Flinty Kind of Woman
13. Arrival
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Other Artist Albums
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Customer Reviews of This Album/CD |
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 All these years, and it still brings the tears
Submitted on: 2009-05-12 |
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The first time I heard "When I Was a Boy" I was moved by the first part as Dar describes her life as a tomboy. By the time the song ended I had tears of recognition and loss running down my face. No one had described what we lose as we fit ourselves into our socially prescribed roles with such effect.
Today, as I listened again 14 years later, I felt the same. This song is a work of genius, pure and simple. |
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Dar's First Album
Submitted on: 2009-03-10 |
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Dar Williams grew up in Chappaqua, an affluent suburb of New York, in the 70s and 80s. That might seem a strange place to produce one of the leading folk rock singer/songwriters of her generation, but Chappaqua has an excellent school system that nurtures the artistic talents and language skills of its kids. (I grew up there a few years ahead of Dar and have always been grateful for the excellent education I received.) So, maybe it's not so surprising that Dar came from there. Maybe it would be better to describe her as a suburban singer/songwriter. If you don't generally listen to folk rock music, but like songs with thoughtful lyrics and good melodies, then check her out.
This was Dar's first album, originally released on her own label in 1993, but eventually re-released on the Razor & Tie label with two extra songs "Flinty Kind of Woman" and "Arrival". I was extremely impressed and moved when I first heard this album. Dar writes very intelligent lyrics and combines them with lovely melodies which she sings with great expressiveness. While the "folk rock" label might lead you to expect lots of songs about the environment and other social issues, you won't find them on this album. Instead, you'll find thoughtful songs about various topics and vignettes that depict personal or social scenes with vivid details and emotions. Some of the songs will certainly touch your heart.
I wrote a list describing my favorite songs on this album, but listed so many songs that I decided to just list them all since it seemed silly to leave out 2 or 3 songs when describing all the others:
*"When I Was a Boy" is a lovely tune about gender nonconformance.
*"Alleluia" is a funny song about a girl who finds Heaven boring.
*"The Great Unknown" is a poignant song about nuclear war angst which showcases the upper range of Dar's voice.
*"When Sal's Burned Down" is a song that mourns the burning down of a bar and will remind you of something you've lost in your life.
"The Babysitter's Here" is a charming song about a girl's infatuation with her babysitter but also the sadness she feels when the babysitter leaves for college.
*"You're Aging Well" is a moving song that depicts the fears we all share at different points in our lives as well as the inspiration we can draw from someone who encourages our talents and believes in us.
*"Traveling Again" is a more upbeat song with great lyrics about - surprise! - traveling.
*"In Love But Not At Peace" is another moving song similar in spirit to "You're Aging Well" with cello accompaniment.
"Mark Rothko Song" is a sad song about the sadness inspired by some artists and by their death. (Rothko committed suicide.)
*"This is Not the House that Pain Built" is also quite moving with good lyrics.
*"I Love, I Love" has an incredibly beautiful bridge that I can listen to over and over again.
*"Flinty Kind of Woman" is a hilarious song about some Massachusetts women chasing a stripper through cranberry bogs.
*"Arrival" is a touching tune about the love and comfort provided by parents and friends.
Many of Dar's songs are multi-layered and have multiple meanings. So, I'm sure I have not done them justice in describing them. You'll need to listen to them yourself multiple times and pay close attention to the lyrics. It's a shame that our society makes stars out of young teenagers with little to offer but sex appeal instead of gifted songwriters like Dar Williams. But maybe it's for the best; all that fame and fortune would probably have distracted Dar from her true mission in life which has continued to be the writing and singing of great songs on many albums during the past 16 years (and hopefully many more to come). |
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Classic Dar
Submitted on: 2007-11-13 |
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| This is a classic Dar album. Solid folk guitar over quirky, fun lyrics. A must have for Dar fans, folk fans, or girl rockers! |
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Dar Rocks!
Submitted on: 2007-01-13 |
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| "The Honesty Room" was Dar Williams' first commercial CD. She is a hippie folk singer for Generation X. The best song on the CD is "When I Was a Boy" about being a tom boy. "The Babysitter's Here" is about being a child and having a great babysitter who has a lousy boyfriend. "Alleluia" has a great melody. Overall, an impressive first CD. |
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It's Aging Well
Submitted on: 2006-01-19 |
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| Dar's debut is utter perfection. Lyrically and musically, this is why Dar Williams became one of the premier folk singers in the U.S. and U.K. after this emerged in 1993 from a studio in Belchertown in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and the college town of Northampton, where Dar was living when she recorded this little gem. Overlooked, but vastly important to this record's success are the contributions of co-producer Adam Rothberg who adds crucial instrumental accompaniment to nearly every track, including a toy xylophone on "The Baysitter's Here," perhaps the definitive Dar track of all time. One cannot begin to know Dar until one hears this. It's gorgeous, and only gathers more luster with the passing of time. |
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