Ikon - Sweden (3 of 5 stars)

Sarah Arslanian is a singer-songwriter who hides behind the name Lady Town. The songs range from beautiful, fragile songs to some rock songs. The album contains seven tracks, where six of them are written by Arslanian and the seventh is a bit unexpected cover of Bruce Springsteen's "I'm on fire", but it actually works really well in the singer's more sedate pace. Arslanians music has often been compared to Emmylou Harris and Alison Krauss. Maybe she sounds not quite like these musicians, but it is certainly music in the same spirit. It is best however, when she sticks to the simple and fragile.  http://ikon1931.se/recensioner/recension_4089


Twangville

Ladytown's ~Darling~ hits #5 as one of 2011's best EPs!
http://twangville.com/tom/


Pasadena Weekly

Sarah Arslanian, aka Ladytown, was a regular fixture at various Eastside venues before relocating to the Pacific Northwest a few years ago. Re-emerging with a seven-track EP, she kicks up her heels with the country romp “Bye-Bye Baby” but is most impressive when her clear, silky soprano explores the melodic contours of dramatic folk-pop tunes like “Bombs” and “Coins” and an acoustic cover of Springsteen’s “I’m on Fire.”


The NBT Review 

A songwriter deals(mostly) with the darkness that dwells just inside the edge of life, they are there to document the blur, to transcribe in slow motion the daily stories that most of us would take for granted.

So to open this short set with a ‘simple’ love song/thank you, a tune that says ‘the battle is done and because of your existence I can carry on this fight.’ This is most welcome, it offers up that rich redemption and hallowed hope straight away and in these troubled times that is a gift indeed.

Having given this gift, the singer can explore the darkness a little now, the melancholy that most love, even the best love, often comes wrapped in. She watches as a writer writes, knowing that her thoughts and requests may be ignored by the one person she
desperately needs to read what she puts down into words.

In ‘Bombs’ she makes the observation that at times, not doing anything maybe the most pure form of escape after all, a kinda whisper into your ear, that the ‘giving up’ is the only way to keep on. This song is drug like in it’s shading and temptations, a song that seems to say, just for today stop fighting, all the fighting all the pushing in the world will not stop the bomb from falling,

And yet (and this is the beauty here) this song never feels like a song of defeat. Rather a touching song of acceptance.

Just when we think that this will be a testament to the Internal , a set of lullabies if you will, Ladytown throws a few country rocking tunes full of wit and vigour worthy of a Neko Case or an even more rootsy Jenny Lewis. Showcasing the way the band slips into her songs like forever friends. There is musical telepathy at work here and its wonderful.

In the most touching song here,’Coins’, the fierce glow of an affair is watched as it fades into the passage of time, the finely sketched characters choosing either that escape spoken about earlier, or the heartbreak of not quite letting go.

And then you realise just how well these songs fit together as a whole, that this set has to be listened to and savoured in one setting

Find out for yourself

http://www.ladytownmusic.com

Hear Plenty of tracks from this collection on the NBTMusic Radio

http://nbtmusicradio.playtheradio.com/


Vancouver Voice 2011/Darling Review
Running away with it again
Ossie Bladine

Vancouver transplant, acclaimed singer-songwriter and Shumway neighbor Ladytown (Sarah Arslanian) has a peach of a record with her new EP, “Darling.” It’s the first set of Northwest recordings by Ladytown, whose last album, 2006’s Thirty-Nine Nineteen, reflected on time spent in Koreatown in Los Angeles.

From these seven tracks, however, it seems the Northwest has treated Ladytown well. Every song sounds like a single ready for radio play. The opening “Darling” conjures spirits of good fortune and good love, offering a peaceful nature from the beginning. The dulcet tones ramble on as Ladytown dances between country-tinged folk tunes and heartland rock, earning comparisons to Allison Krause, Loretta Lynn and Emmy Lou Harris along the way. It’s a lovely place this artist is in, writing haunting-esque songs and instilling hope and comfort with her sweet vocals.

Sarah’s other half, Aram Arslanian, produced the album out of Kingsley Garden Studio to near perfection, knowing when to let the acoustic travel to the next chorus and when the dynamics call for the slide guitar.

Ladytown will celebrate its album release with a performance at The Secret Society Ballroom in Portland on Feb. 18 at 8 p.m. She’ll be joined by Rob Stroup and the Blame.

Oh, I almost forgot, on my last Ladytown reivew, I likened the singer’s gritty soul to a female Springsteen. A beautiful cover of “I’m On Fire” is the finishing touch to Darling, and corroborates the prior statement that I’m sticking to. 


Rocktimes
http://www.rocktimes.de/gesamt/l/ladytown/darling.html

There's a somewhat puzzling story behind "Ladytown." You might guess it was
created by a band, but in fact it is a solo project by the musician known only
as "Sarah.." So, what is her true name then?? On her myspace, she calls herself
both "Sarah Coleman" and "Sarah Arslanian." She didn't create the EP solely
alone, but like herself, she doesn't tell us much about her collaborators. She
says that "Aram Arslanian" helps her often. Is this her brother or her husband?
Anyway…

After her self titled debut in 2003, and "Nineteen Thirty-Nine" in 2006, and now
with her third production, an EP, its certain that Ladytown is underway. And if
you ignore the confusing information about the person and simply focus on the
music alone, you get quite an amazing offer from the artist. A nice mix of
singer/songwriter, country and folk is offered on "Darling." In "Bye Bye Baby,"
she jams out some Country Rock, and her voice is reminiscent of the great
Emmylou Harris, to name a reference.

The title song is opened only by the clear as glass vocals of Arslanian (or
Coleman). Polyphonic singing, hand clapping and further percussion join in, and
its clear this number needs nothing more to be totally convincing. In "Bombs,"
acoustic guitar, keyboards, percussion, and that great voice can once more bring
us back to a comforting feeling, even when the underlying mood here may also be
a little sad. But sadness can of course sometimes be so beautiful.
"Midnight Notes" offers wonderful vocal melodies with the character of a true
hit, and I'd recommend this track as the first one you should play. Similiarly
poppy (and my recommendation for the second to play) is "Let's Run Away," a song
made specifically for the radio but without having to sell its soul, because it
doesn't deviate from the true, honest recipe. It simply introduces new tone
colors.

"Coins" is thoughtful, while the flute is accompanied by a ponderous, melancholy
accordion. The voice of the protagonist produces great feeling through melodic
variety. And finally, the American dares to tackle Bruce Springsten's "I'm on
Fire." The number is arranged cautiously but forcefully. It sounds (fortunately)
quite different than the original, but not too bad. In a nutshell, its stripped
down to the bone, but If a song can work, then its good. And here it works.

I can simply recommend checking out this EP and listening closely, for therein
lay a little treasure. Hopefully Ladytown is pushed soon into a complete album,
because the seven tracks presented here are very promising.


Moors Magazine 
http://www.moorsmagazine.com/musicanova/3eps/
Ladytown
De Canadese Sarah Arslanian is een veelzijdige singer/songwriter die haar liedjes bovendien steeds een andere verpakking weet te geven, van prachtig breekbare meerstemmige folky liedjes tot pure rauwe rock. Elk liedje hier staat als een huis. Op Darling laat ze een mooie staalkaart van haar kunnen zien, en dat smaakt vooral naar veel meer. Er staan zeven nummers op dit album, waarvan er zes door Arslanian zelf geschreven zijn. Het zevende is een opmerkelijke coverversie van Bruce Springsteen's I'm on Fire, waarin ze laat horen dat ze ook als performer van anderen wel wat aandurft. Een dame om in de gaten te houden.

Roughly translated: 
Sarah Arslanian is a versatile singer / songwriter who's songs also always know how to give a different package of beautifully fragile polyphonic folk songs of pure raw rock. Every song here is rock solid. Darling to leave them a nice sampling of her to see, and that leaves you wanting more. There are seven songs on this album, including six self-written Arslanian. The seventh is a remarkable cover version of Bruce Springsteen's I'm on Fire, which she also shows us that as a performer of some others dare. A lady to hold on to.


~Darling~ Customer Reviews

OH.MY.DARLING.
What a superb blend of thought-provoking rhythms and thick, sweet harmonies. Very well done.

What a Voice!
Great songs too. All of them very distinct characters. Reminiscent of Emmylou Harris or Lone Justice. Only complaint is that the record is over too early! Can't wait to hear more. 

Another Impressive Ladytown Record! 
I'll never forget the first time I heard Sarah sing. Everyone in the room stopped what they were doing to stand on their toes and peer over heads and shoulders to find out who owned that amazing voice. Whether she's singing to a room of fifty or five-hundred, her gift is that she can make every note sound like she's singing just for you. Comparisons to Emmylou Harris, Iris Dement, and Gillian Welch might be appropriate, but ultimately unnecessary because in this latest release she stands apart from her contemporaries and makes this genre her own. Every song on "Darling" is terrific, but my personal favorites are "Midnight Notes", "Bombs", and "Coins". Aram Arslanian's production and musical accompaniment are the perfect match for Sarah's talents, helping to elevate her craft to new heights. At a time when the world really needs great music, thank God for Ladytown.

More Reviews....... [[Prior Releases]]

Hector Zazou / Producer
There is in Sarah's voice a quality one could have thought has been
lost in new singers. A slight quiver which makes me shiver because it
takes us out of time, into a poetic West where the music has the
color of sand and the lyrics have the taste of an infinite sky".

The Audio Nut
Grade: A
Ladytown is the creation of Sarah Coleman, an impressive guitarist and songwriter with a golden voice from the days of old. Coleman sings from the heart and bares her soul on this twelve-track release, which is sure to cause you to reflect on subjects that youll find in common with her and her music. She sort of reminds me of Patsy Cline or a female Hank Williams Sr. in some spots with her voice and style. Now Im not saying that she bellows out Your Cheatin Heart or I Saw the Light, but her overall delivery is really reminiscent to great singer/songwriters from the past. Glass You Laid, Lolita, and Ill Give to You are all extraordinary songs, while Wo Xiang Ni (I Miss You) is a moving tune where Sarah sings to us in Chinese and doesnt lose a bit of emotion in the translation. There is a new Ladytown CD due out later this year and I am eagerly waiting to hear how it sounds. Fans of P.J. Harvey, Alison Kraus, or Ani DiFranco should have the benefit of visiting Ladytown.

Maverick Magazine
Ladytown is Sarah Coleman, a honey-voiced lady whose stripped-down, emotive country music is quietly becoming a staple on the LA/Southern California Americana scene, and who's ricochet of success has already been felt as far afield as New Zealand and Belgium. Recorded in a friend's living room, LADYTOWN should punch holes much greater than its budget, such is the quality of her battered heart song-writing and siren like, eye-opening vocal performance. Content-wise, Ms. Coleman'ts offerings exhibit acres of desert hurt, much in common with the frayed emotions of more recent LA scenester Lucinda Williams. In aural semblance however, they share startling similarities with the pure-bred lonesome echoes of Dolly Parton. Any number of her twelve tracks would make a seductive lo-fi follow-up to Jolene. The bare acoustic strumming and sympathetic resonator accompanying her cries, making her hardship all the more poignant. "Yeah I'm alright, thanks for asking," she soars on "Easy Come/I'm Alright". The beauty with Coleman, of course, is you can clearly tell she isn't. (HK)

HK Magazine
Sarah is a singer-songwriter in the country-folk tradition with an expressive appealing voice that brings to mind the classic singers of the past. Accompanying herself on guitar, she records under the band name of Ladytown. Here are excerpts of a couple of reviews of her debut CD.
Coleman sings from the heart and bares her soul on this twelve-track release, which is sure to cause you to reflect on subjects that you’ll find in common with her and her music. She sort of reminds me of Patsy Cline or a female Hank Williams Sr. in some spots with her voice and style. Glass You Laid, Lolita, and Ill Give to You are all extraordinary songs, while Wo Xiang Ni (I Miss You) is a moving tune where Sarah sings to us in Chinese and doesn’t lose a bit of emotion in the translation. Fans of P.J. Harvey, Alison Kraus, or Ani DiFranco should have the benefit of visiting Ladytown.

Traditional Music Maker Magazine -UK
Ladytown is Sarah Coleman, a honey-voiced lady whose stripped-down, emotive country music is quietly becoming a staple on the LA/Southern California Americana scene, and who's ricochet of success has already been felt as far afield as New Zealand and Belgium. Recorded in a friend's living room, LADYTOWN should punch holes much greater than its budget, such is the quality of her battered heart song-writing and siren like, eye-opening vocal performance. Content-wise, Ms. Coleman's offerings exhibit acres of desert hurt, much in common with the frayed emotions of more recent LA scenester Lucinda Williams. In aural semblance however, they share startling similarities with the pure-bred lonesome echoes of Dolly Parton. Any number of her twelve tracks would make a seductive lo-fi follow-up to Jolene. The bare acoustic strumming and sympathetic resonator accompanying her cries, making her hardship all the more poignant.