Plumb's second album is more of a slight slide than a certified sophomore slump: a mixed bag of confections where most songs surprise while others are served too sticky sweet, straight from the factory of CCM schlock.
Tiffany Arbuckle's indistinct vocals float pleasantly above these tracks, as candycoatedwaterdrops steers further away from Plumb's original brand of eclectic alterna-trip-hop and more toward a straight-forward alterna-pop mix. Skirting even closer to Sixpence None the Richer and Jars of Clay territory, the songs seem more calculated than creative. The album begins and ends well. Opener, "Late Great Planet Earth" is the sort of energetic Siouxsie & the Banshees-type wailer Plumb did exceedingly well on their debut, and the title track that closes the set fades out with a favorable Over the Rhine style. Everything in between, however, is up for grabs, and generally less upbeat but no less pop than their previous efforts.
Most of the winners are only warmly inviting, and none of the losers are overly grating--this is not an album of extremes. Gratefully, for every cliché-ridden song like "God-Shaped Hole," there is a superb one like "Drugstore Jesus," that is as beautiful as it is ambitious. And "Damaged" takes a touching, honest, and hopeful look into the heart of abuse victims. The production is topnotch and the London Symphony Recording Orchestra arranged and conducted by Tom Howard is an appealing addition on many of these songs but is no substitute for guitars, which take a back seat on this outing.
Candycoatedwaterdrops was clearly intended to be even more marketable than the last album, and I predict even greater success and appeal for the band. Although sometimes wanting in overall originality, the fact remains that Plumb still pleases with really good pop songs.
3.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #77Reviewed by Amanda NelsonPlumb's new album has a warm and wonderful airy quality. The vocal performance is also top notch. The title song, "Candy Coated Water Drops," is a beautiful song lyrically and musically. A little girl opens the song "Here With Me," by singing "He's Got the Whole World In His Hands." The contrast of the little girl is very effective, because "Here With Me" is one of the more intense songs on the…7ball #24Reviewed by Brian Quincy NewcombWith its sophomore effort, Plumb portends to reveal an organic modern rock unit in the process of growth and self-definition. The five-piece band fronted by vocalist Tiffany Arbuckle has undergone two personnel changes since its debut, and through that has honed a smoothly crafted pop sound. But candycoatedwaterdrops sounds more like a singer/producer record shaped specifically with contemporary…Exit Zine 1999Reviewed by Joel ThomasI liked Plumb's first (self-titled) album. It had a sound not unlike the band Garbage, and it had enough special effects and synthesized surprises to keep me listening. I saw them on tour with Jars of Clay in early '98, and while I really enjoyed it, I saw a lot of potential for the band to become a really top-notch act. Sure, the debut Plumb was a little forgettable in places, but it left me…The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Michial FarmerPlumb's self-titled 1997 debut record was a wonderful collection of dark alternative anthems, dipped in moody guitars and synthesizers. Unfortunately, their latest effort, candycoatedwaterdrops, could serve as a definition for the term "sophomore slump." The album starts out well enough with the stunning "Late Great Planet Earth," complete with the London Symphony Orchestra's string section…Similar sounding releases
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