Stereogum Hearts My Brightest Diamond

We bristle at Jeff Buckley comparisons as much as the next Grace obsessed super fan, but Shara Worden's debut full length as My Brightest Diamond employs strings, dark dramatics, and full-blown arias to create a sound that's true to Jeff's spirit, if not his signature sound. We just saw Shara's multi-instrumental abilities on display as part of Sufjan's band of butterflies at that ACL taping and can't wait to check her set opening for Soof (sans wings) at Town Hall next week.

This cut sees Shara flexing her University of North Texas-honed vocal chops over bowed-then-pizzicato violins and a "Grace"-inspired ride out:

My Brightest Diamond – "Golden Star" (MP3)

Looks like she's made a fan of Mr. Meloy, too, 'cause he recently told Pitchfork that My Brightest Diamond was his favorite new artist, adding that "Workhorses" is "so creepy and cool, and so Kate Bush." Read the rest of Colin's list of favorites here, and take a listen to see how well he knows his Kate Bush:

My Brightest Diamond – "Workhorse" (MP3)

In July, LaBlogatheque took Shara to Prospect Park and coaxed the opera singer out of her on a gorgeous, waterside take on Edith Piaf's "Hymne A L'Amour." Guess who else sang that song? Check out Live From The Bataclan for Buckley's medley of "Hymne" and "Je N'en Connais Pas La Fin."

If you haven't yet, be sure to get your ears on Bring Me The Workhorse, full album stream compliments of Asthmatic Kitty. And if this whole music thing doesn't work out for her, Shara can always fall back on her rollerblading skills.

Posted at 5:58 PM in MP3, Video
Tags: My Brightest Diamond

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12 Comments

Sigh. My Brightest Diamond jumps the shark before she had a chance.

Posted by: Booster Gold at 09/19/06 10:21 PM | Reply
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she be soooo good.

Posted by: janelle at 09/19/06 11:02 PM | Reply
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she reminds me very much of shannon wright

Posted by: gina at 09/19/06 11:07 PM | Reply
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The album is so dry...Its so generically experimental...i didn't like it at all

Posted by: anthony at 09/20/06 12:26 AM | Reply
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Sigh. I remember when "jumped the shark" didn't mean "released an album." Poor, deluded artist hoping to connect with an audience.

Soon you'll be called a sell-out just for learning to play an instrument. Or were you trying to be a troll? I can never tell.

Posted by: TJ at 09/20/06 1:29 AM | Reply
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i am supposed to like it for reasons i could never mention but i'm totally w/anthony on this. it's really safe, boring, not for me at all. i want danger in my music. daring beauty. this seems real contrived and not totally legit.

Posted by: me at 09/20/06 2:55 AM | Reply
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i really really like it. Safe or not, this album is just beautiful.

Posted by: kebab dylan at 09/20/06 8:22 AM | Reply
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It's not breaking a ton of new ground, musically or lyrically, but she's got a hell of a voice, a good sense of dynamics, and the strings are nicely done. If she's still covering the same ground on her second or third album, I'll be bored, but it's a promising debut.

Posted by: d at 09/20/06 11:25 AM | Reply
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Sounds like Portishead.

Posted by: Bribo at 09/20/06 2:42 PM | Reply
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i don't feel the kate bush vibe......but i like.

Posted by: foxsparrow at 09/21/06 12:24 PM | Reply
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My favorite discovery of this year. Yes, it may come on as a Bjork/PJ Harvey pastiche on first listen, but stick around. This one'll sneak up on you. Top 10 of '06 right now.

Posted by: Reid Davis at 09/22/06 3:28 PM | Reply
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My Brightest Diamond Yahoo Group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mybrightestdiamond/

Posted by: Citizen Keith at 10/16/06 11:21 AM | Reply
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