The Family Jewels

I am a fan of Marina, so I decided to buy her albums as CD's since I want to start collecting CD's. If you are a fan of her albums, I would say that you should buy the CD. Of course there's classics that everyone will know like "Hollywood" "Oh no!" "The Family Jewels" and "Hermit the Frog", these you would have probably heard on TikTok if you are on that side of the FYP. However, the're many more songs in here that I would suggest listening to (especially if you have only listened to her songs that are viral on social media.) Shampain is my personal favourite from the album and I would suggest sitting down on an autumn afternoon and listening to it while doing a hobby or if you have nothing else to do. I hope you get this album and play it fully without breaks as the songs tell a story if you listen closely. I promise that it will not disappoint! Plus the design of the album and the physical quality are great and would fit well in any CD collection of similar genres!

It's rare these days that I come across an album where I can listen to it the whole way through and not lose interest at any point. There are no "weak" songs on this album. It starts off strongly with ""Are You Satisfied?", exhibiting just a teaser of Marina's unique (an incredibly overused term I know, but you'll see what I mean when you listen to this woman sing) vocal style and some clever writing of lyrics. The upbeat "Shampain" follows with a distinctive 80s feel and is one of the highlights of the album. "I Am Not A Robot" has a warm, pleasant vibe and slows down the pace a bit. The middle of the album doesn't waver in quality at all. "Girls" is very catchy, "Hollywood" is an instant pop classic, and "The Outsider" is a song many will no doubt find themselves relating to. As the album draws to a close we are treated to another instant pop classic in "Oh No!" before the album takes a melancholic turn and ends on a rather sad note. "Rootless", "Numb", and "Guilty" are mournful and moving. They feel like the most heartfelt, introspective songs on the album. Marina takes us through a range of moods and emotions as she establishes herself as a future force in the pop world. Treat yourself to an innovative, authentic display of alternative pop and give this a listen.

Another reviewer suggested that "word of mouth" should be thanked for bringing this album to people's attention. I would go along with that! Someone told me about this artist and then, lo and behold, I read a piece in the Guardian about her. Then came the 'research' as I sought out Myspace and Youtube - yeah, we've all done that kind of research! Anyway, this is a glorious debut album, full of soaring vocals and very catchy tunes, with "I Am Not A Robot", "Hollywood" and "Mowgli's Road" all shining a bright light in the direction of Marina Diamandis. Boy, can she deliver a note! She delivers some searing, soaring vocals here, not least on "Numb", my favourite of all the tracks. "Robot" is the other favourite and is just so catchy. The vocal is staccato-like and the lyrics sound very doom-laden and cynical, but I just love it. I wracked my little brain to see what was a better album produced in 2010 and, for me, none bettered this. It is just a wonderful album and, now in 2012, the CD must be knackered and my family fed up with me listening to it and singing along (badly). Of course, the problem is for Marina to build on the wonderment of this album with the difficult second album but, for now, I'll just celebrate this joy of a record!

Thank you word of mouth because without you I would never had sought out the singles and then downloaded this album. This is one of the most catchy, carefree and enjoyable albums I've heard in a while and it's getting many plays on my CD player and iPod. With a voice like a Greco-Cymru Lily Allen fused with an updated Kate Bush and song writing talent to match, Marina's going to be big in 2010. Most of her songs, including the fantastic Mowgli's Road and Hermit The Frog demonstrate an exuberance and disregard for convention that show genius just on the knife edge of sanity, with lyrics that keep rushing at you like ants on a sugar rush, a verbal pile up looming should they trip. There are some great slower songs too, with I Am Not A Robot and Obsessions bound to get much airtime. You really need to try this album. Rare that people say this and are right, but you will thank yourself you did.

pretty great cd but the outside plastic case doesnt last long before it snaps! snaps very easily but the cd inside is v good and doesnt have any flaws

I purchased this album having first come across Marina via Spotify (what a wonderful tool for discovering new music) and occasional radio play of Hollywood. With so many new acts hitting the airwaves because of the likes of Youtube promotion and the internet generally, one often feels bombarded and overwhelmed with new tracks and names. So much so that decent music often get's lost in a sea of mediocrity and 'wallpaper music'. Not so with Marina and the Diamonds. Couple her distinctive voice and addictively different and inventive song writing, with the fact that she happens to be drop-dead gorgeous, and you have someone who hopefully be more than just a flash in the pan. Family Jewels is the kind of varied and interesting album which can be listened to again and again without becoming tired or boring - it's currently on week two of it's residence as my in-car CD listening. Lasting through a play and a bit in each direction, without the need to listen to the radio, for over a week is a pretty stern test and one that precious few new albums have survived in the last few years. Well done Marina. I look forward to hearing more of you.

C'est ma 16 ans qui m'a fait découvrir Marina. Et quelle claque ! Un son pop-rock très travaillé, une voix magnifique capable de se promener dans les graves et les aigus, des textes très bien écrits, des mélodies ciselées qui s'installent pour un moment dans la tête : voilà ce qui fait le sel de cette artiste. Rien à jeter dans cet album. A ce prix, on aurait tort de se priver.

Came well packaged not damaged at all! <3 this ablum

This has become such a classic. Her signature vocals, her skilled witty writing style, the different beats. This made marina a huge name in the indie market. The vinyl is really cute and has a great sound quality despite being just one single disk and not two.

The vinyl is STUNNING. I love it so much.

Excellent