Customer Rating: 
Summary: Unbelievable Voice
Comment: This woman can sing. It's too bad, for the world's ears sake, that she is semi-focused on singing Christian music. Christian music doesn't get as popular as, I guess, "normal" music. It would be a benefit to the musical world if she were more mainstream because the singers out there today are downright aweful and embarrasing.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Beautiful ....Indeed
Comment: Tiffany Arbuckle Lee is one of the most gifted artist I have ever heard.She writes and sings her own songs with a passion that will move you to.....tears?Sorry,I'm a guy but when I heard "Taken" Wheww!! I was blown away.There is way too much Christian music out there that sounds "manufactured" and not much else,fortunatly for us,Plumb hasn't fallen prey to that trend a la Mercyme,Third Day and Newsboys to name a few.Plumb is different and I respect her for that,she reminds us that we live in a fallen world and not all is rosy and perfect.I hope to hear much more from this uniqually talented young woman.Enjoy!
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Good Stuff
Comment: If you like Plumb's music, try Brooke Fraser "what to do with the daylight" is her debut cd, that was released a couple of years ago in New Zealand (her birth place).Both Plumb and Brooke have proven you don't have to write trashy songs and compromise your beliefs just to get a hit song.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Plumb is like a fine wine.....
Comment: Since I discovered Plumb a little over 3 months ago thanks to the film Brokedown Palace I've been almost infactuated with their music. I like how they, now she, blends rock and pop so seemlessly. Plumb is a band I'm in no way ashamed of liking. Where the popular people of pop music say they're doing it for the music you know they're not. But in Plumb's case, I do feel that she loves what she's doing. I've heard the Greatest Hits CD, candycoatedwaterdrops, and now Beautiful Lumps Of Coal, and I have to say that in all of those CDs I've yet to hear a song I don't like. Once I heard that Tiffany and the rest of the band split leaving only Tiffany to claim the name of Plumb, I figured the 'solo' releases wouldn't be as good, but boy was I wrong. If anything she's become more sure of her voice and the music has taken a more decidedly rock edge to it. With both of these reasons, there is no reason to not run out and buy this right now.
Free starts the CD off on a high note. I feel when a CD starts off this good the rest will follow in it's path. And my notion is proven right in this case. This song quickly measures up to Plumb's earlier greats such as Late Great Planet Earth. So you know you're in for a wonderful ride from the get-go. Boys Don't Cry is quite possibly some of Tiffany's strongest material to date. It's a touching song if I've ever heard one and you feel as if you can relate to every word she says. Walk Away, while sounding completely upbeat, is actually a sad song. But in the end it sounds as if it's more of a declaration if anything. Taken is a beautiful ballad-type song. While not being a highlight, it sets itself apart with a lush melody and great vocals. Nice Naive And Beautiful is the best song on here. I don't think anyone could say something bad about this song and be able to stand behind it. The way I see it, Tiffany puts herself in someone elses shoes and tells their story. Anyone who can do that successfully, such as she has done, is a good songwriter because that's not easy. Real is a song any person with feelings will be able to identify with, especially women. Yet another great song. Go is an appropriate ballad closer. After 10 songs of mostly upbeat melodies, it's a great choice to save a beautiful ballad for last. Go is really a ballad that people could take notes from, there's excellent use of strings, a perfect backdrop of music, everything is executed as it should've been.
My favorite songs on here are Free, Boys Don't Cry, Walk Away, Nice Naive And Beautiful, and Real. Plumb plays Christian music the way it should be played. They don't beat you over the head with excerpts from the Bible, they just slide in vague references. While I hate to say it, Plumb has gotten a bit better since the band left, Tiffany has really had the chance to shine and I hope to see wonderful things from her in the future.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Do you know what "Navel-Gazing" is?
Comment: My writing teacher uses that term to describe when a writer is totally lost in themselves. Tiffany Arbuckle-Lee is almost all about herself. It's evident in this CD. Some artists are capable of writing lyrics that are accessible to other people. Mrs. Lee has always struggled with this in her music, and she's nearly lost the battle BLoC. Were it not for "Nice, Naive & Beautiful," "Unnoticed" and "Real" I could say she's ALL about herself.
Wouldn't it be nice if Christian Artists were all about Jesus? (Sorry to be simplistic and naive.) I would be more impressed if Mrs. Lee worked harder at the "Christian" and backed off of the "Artist" thing a bit.
Most of the songs I sit and try to read the lyrics and figure out what they're really about. I don't have the decoder ring, I guess. She's so vague and cryptic and cerebral sometimes that it doesn't make sense. (At least with an unsaved artist, we could blame the drugs!) Seriously though, she should work on this aspect of her writing.
I don't want to tear this apart, because I really was eager to get this CD. I liked her "candycoatedwaterdrops", despite its vaguery. But it seems that where that last CD was a bit vague and a bit secular (let's be honest) this CD is opaque and completely removes Christ. Good luck with that...
I disagree with the other reviewers who say her Christianity is evident. They see what they want to see. Truth is, her first song on this album, is an angst-ridden taunt to the music industry and record label who dumped her on her backside after her last CD (admittedly, that was a dumb move--she's unique, beautiful, and very talented--she has what it takes.) It's just not evidence of the Spirit at work in her life. Especially to give it the preeminence of song #1. "Hold Me" is just NOT even moral, unless the context is marriage.
The other issue I'll address, is "Nice, Naive & Beautiful." It appeals to a female audience who's had a hard life, and that's noble. But just telling someone who struggles with abuse self-loathing or bitterness, "There's life out there; choose it!" is not the answer. If I had one chance to give a message to someone broken and abused, I'd introduce them to the power of Jesus Christ in their lives. Not just tell them to snap out of it. Healing is not making something beautiful out of the lumps of coal that life throws at us. Healing is trusting that the Saviour knows and is in control of our lives, that he loves us and wants to give us "beauty for ashes, strength for fear, gladness for mourning, and peace for despair." But I'm no therapist...
Okay, the positives. The photography, the color scheme, the artwork and design integration on this CD are stupendous! Especially the rooftop set. Enviable work. If I could cut "Taken" and "Hold Me" and add them to "candycoatedwaterdrops" I would have never had to buy this CD. They are by far the best songs here. RAVE! RAVE! RAVE! Musically, lyrically, emotionally (but not spiritually, alas) you just can't say enough good about these two.
So, anybody want to buy my copy of the CD?
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