Beth Orton

The first release of Beth Orton's debut single is pretty much for completists -- the title cut and "Tangent" are readily available on the LP Trailer Park, fer Chrissakes. Both work better in the context of the original album; in particular, the soaring, string-enriched "She Cries Your Name" now seems somewhat sterile and manufactured in comparison with the singer's later, more naturalistic work, but it remains a showcase for Orton's potent, heartbreaking vocals. Of the remaining entries, the lovely solo acoustic reading of the Gerry Goffin-penned "It's Not the Spotlight" also appears on a subsequent and superior version of the She Cries Your Name EP. That leaves but one song, "Safety," that's truly exclusive to this release -- and alone worth the price of admission: a chiming, supple acoustic performance, it captures Orton at her most tender and vulnerable. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide