Average Rating: 
Rating:  - My First Review! It Was Worth the Time
I have never written a review in my life. I don't send in letters to my favorite magazines. I rarely sign online petitions (even if it's something I agree with). And I most certainly do not do fan mail. There simply isn't any time for that. However, the beauty that is SIMPLE THINGS by ZERO 7 has compelled me to do just that. I have fallen in love with this album and I want to tell it to whoever will listen. From the person who has a hard time deciding which candy bar to get from the vending machine, I submit SIMPLE THINGS as one of my personal favorites, hands down. In the record store one day I heard DESTINY playing over the speakers. Minutes later I was standing in line waiting to purchase this strange looking cd by a group I had never heard of. That evening as I listened to the album I smiled, pleased with myself for not being practical. For going ahead and buying the album, after only barely hearing half of a really good song. Although, I bought two other cds that day and three the day before SIMPLE THINGS was the only one I listened to. It stayed that way for a good two months afterwards, rotating between my favorite tracks DESTINY, DISTRACTIONS, THIS WORLD, OUT OF TOWN... oh heck all of them! Even still, nearly 8 months later, SIMPLE THINGS remains a staple in my cd player. The album is chock full of versatile songs that make the best use of the powerfully raw and emotional voice of Sia Furler, the subtly sincere and unpolluted voice of Sophie Barker, and the infinitely smooth and calming effect of Mozez's voice (which strangely fills me with this urge to call him a "cool cat"). Each of these vocals eerily seems to linger long after the song has ended but in a good way. ZERO 7 has endlessly been compared to Air and for good reason. The similarities between them are numerous. Listen to Air's Premier and ZERO 7's I HAVE SEEN,GIVE IT AWAY, or even RED DUST yet there is a particular element that sets them apart. I find there to be a certain soulfulness that appears from time to time with Zero 7. It's not a soul that's lacking in Air just a different kind.
Though, I could rave on and on, enlisting my dictionary to help me spit out positive adjective after adjective about SIMPLE THINGS, I sense a conclusion is necessary. If you're into this style of music and even if you're not, you'll like SIMPLE THINGS. This album belongs in your collection. If you don't have a collection start one. SIMPLE THINGS is wonderful/marvelous/magnificent/fantastic/superb/divine/_____ fill in appropriate word. The only complaint I have is that the two bonus tracks that appear on the US release of SIMPLE THINGS aren't on the UK version which happens to be the one I own. Ha! Just my luck!
Rating: - Simply Wonderful Chill-Out Album
Not since Portishead's DUMMY have I been able to say unequivocably of an album that I truly love every single track. I DO agree with several other reviewers that Zero 7 DOES bear a remarkably audible similarity to AIR on many of their tracks. (I am, however, also a fan of AIR, so that doesn't really bother me.) In fact, I'd venture to say that "Give It Away," "Out Of Town," "Salt Water Sound" and "Spinning" are so similar to AIR that they're virtually indistinguishable.Nevertheless, my reason for loving Zero 7 is because of their DIFFERENCES from the ubiquituos French duo. 7's vocalists are distinctly different from AIR - far less ethereal and instead more in the vein of the well-grounded, world-weary vocals of Everything But the Girl, Portishead's Beth Gibbons, and Skye Edwards' vocals on Morcheeba's "The Sea." They really shine on tracks like "Destiny," "In The Waiting Line," "This World," "Distractions" and "Likufanele" where they only bear slight to moderate stylistic similarities to AIR. It was, in fact, "Destiny" and "In The Waiting Line" which first drew me to investigate Zero 7 further. They provided instant appeal which was perfectly followed up upon by the rest of the album. SIMPLE THINGS shows us Zero 7's own beautiful perception of the perfect blend of various mellow, chill-out musical styles. Whether you're a fan of AIR or not, there's plenty here for you to enjoy.
Rating:  - Excellent, beautiful - and diverse.
THE SOUND...
is sort of somewhere between lounge, jazz, electronica, etc. It's all around mellow, but never boring. It's soothing, but never "smooth." It's beautiful, and should not be dismissed as another silly chill-out album.THE VOCALS...
are wonderfully uplifting and beautiful. The band has several singers... some females, a male, and some songs have no vocals. The diversity of the album makes it stand out from all the past albums of 2001. Sia's vocals alone make this entire album worth it. "Destiny" is a beautiful song ... i just can't get enough of. THE INFLUENCES...
Of course it's been compared to Air's Moon Safari. I can't say that i prefer one over the other. There is a definite similarity (compare "All I Need" to "Destiny"... a STRANGE resemblance)... but they still each maintain a different feel. I would not dimiss Zero 7 as a rip-off of Air, but rather another successful attempt in the same genre. I really love this CD... it's relaxing and uplifting both at the same time. Check it out...
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