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| Yael Naim | 
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| Artists: Yael Naim, David Donatien
Label: Atlantic
Category: Music
List Price: $13.99
Buy New: $7.29
You Save: $6.70 (48%)
Buy New/Used from $6.43
Avg. Customer Rating:  (38 reviews)
Sales Rank: 694
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.4 x 4.9 x 0.4
MPN: 461628
UPC: 825646960385
EAN: 0825646960385
ASIN: B0013LP86Q
Release Date: March 18, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
How's your Hebrew? March 27, 2008
42 out of 46 found this review helpful
Like many people, I got this album because of the MacBook Air laptop ad featuring the track "New Soul", which is already released as a single. Yael Naim is a French artiste now living in Israel, and the tracks are in Hebrew, French and English.
She has a distinctive singing voice, and specializes in sultry jazzy numbers, sometimes with a folksy lilt. The song of the album is of course "New Soul", and there's an unusual, unexpected and very strange interpretation of "Toxic", originally sung by Britney Spears.
Other tracks to note are:
"Paris" - sung in Hebrew and French, which translated is an ode to her favorite city.
"Too Long" - a plaintive song in English where she sings "I waited for so long / Outside myself / You see I was pretending / To be someone else"
"Shelcha" - a slow Enya-type song in Hebrew and English
"Lonely" - a minimalistic, simple, melancholy song in English, definitely NOT a karaoke song
"Far Far" - another single, in English, that goes "How can you stay outside? / There's a beautiful mess inside"
"Lachlom" - a dreamy song in Hebrew
"Pachad" - jazzy piano intro leading into Hebrew lyrics
A great easy-listening album for when you're in the mood for something new and a little different.
Amanda Richards, March 26, 2008
 Israeli Nouvelle Chanson March 25, 2008
16 out of 17 found this review helpful
Yael Naim's self-titled album is a refreshing musical discovery. It's a breakup album, but it is more thoughtful and melancholy. It was recorded entirely in Yael's Parisian apartment. The album art recalls the Jewish feast of Sukkot, the harvest festival when people make booths open to the stars above. It's a musical feast. Like autumn, it is melancholy, yet it is fruitful.
The opening song,"Paris",is a bittersweet ode to the City of Light. "Too Long" is a mesmerizing song of longing. Of course, there's the klezmer/trip-hop of the hit "New Soul." "Levater" and "Shelcha" are hypnotic,haunting melodies. "Lonely" is a plea to an emotionally distant lover, with the words "I'll never leave you/standing in a storm." "Far far" is colored with sampled birdsong. The closing song, "Endless Song of Happiness" is optimistic and hopeful. The most surprising track is Naim's cover of Britney Spears' "Toxic." She turns bubblegum pop into something desperate and sad.
Yael Naim is an amazing musical discovery. She's brought new soul into the world of music! Along with the Idan Raichel Project and David Broza, she's transforming Israel into a musical oasis.
Thanks to Apple! March 22, 2008
4 out of 7 found this review helpful
New Soul is a big hit thanks to APPLE using it for the new macbook air ads! Apple really does a good job promoting new artists. I liked the "Toxic" song a lot really haunting voice. Enjoy!
 Whiny, whispery nasal voice - fit for drowsing or tranquil moments March 20, 2008
2 out of 14 found this review helpful
Just what all you emo's needed ...
how can you be so commercial or even persuaded by a commercial to run out and get the 'best song you've ever heard'? Get out much?
Ok, now that I've been hypercritical on to some redeeming qualities.
There are songs on the album that I'm able to listen without going into a drowse-like trance. I liked Far Far and Pachad. However, most of them are fit for wistful, broken-hearted times when one feels like putting their face into a pillow and crying themselves to sleep.
She is no Corrinne Bailey Rae. Very limited range and barely singing above a whisper. Even the instruments are used sparingly and rightly so because otherwise you wouldn't be able to hear her voice. Fit for those very, very quite and pacified moments of tranquility.
"There's a beautiful mess inside..." (4.5 stars) March 15, 2008
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
One day while browsing Amazon I somehow stumbled upon Yael Naim. I had never heard of her before but when I learned that she was the voice behind the wispy music featured on Apple's Macbook Air commercial my interest peaked. "New World" has such a fun, playful feel to it but the rest of the album is a bit more somber sounding. More notable tracks like "Too Long" and "Far Far" are definitely accessible to the ears, making for perfect radio play, but for me the highlights include those not sung in English. "Levatar", "Shelcha" with David Donatien, and "Pachad" in particular stood out with me the most. Her voice is like sweet silk rolling off the tongue when she sings in French and Hebrew, which I find to be a wonderful example of how music can be universal. She breaks through the language barriers for a truly unique listening experience that centers heavily on her gorgeous, expressive vocals with just subtle acoustics and electronics to enhance the mood. She even does a decent downtempo cover of Britney Spears' "Toxic" that's actually made tolerable in the hands of someone with talent.
Yael Naim is definitely a promising new artist to watch out for. I can't stop listening to her debut album and hope this isn't the last I hear from her.
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