The Ocean Way Sessions
| The Ocean Way Sessions | ||||
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| EP by Christina Perri | ||||
| Released | November 9, 2010 | |||
| Recorded | 2010 | |||
| Studio |
Ocean Way Studios (Los Angeles, California) |
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| Genre | ||||
| Length | 17:00 | |||
| Label | Atlantic | |||
| Christina Perri chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   |
| BLAST |  |
The Ocean Way Sessions is the debut extended play (EP) by American singer-songwriter Christina Perri. The EP serves as the first official release by Perri, signed to Atlantic Records. The EP contains live recordings of Perri performing at the Ocean Way Studios in Los Angeles.
The Ocean Way Sessions serves as Perri's first proper release from Atlantic Records, who signed her in the wake of the unexpected success of her debut single "Jar of Hearts". All five songs on the EP were performed live at Ocean Way Studios in Los Angeles. All songs were performed with a full band, with the exception of "Jar of Hearts" receiving a solo performance.
In an interview with CosmoGirl, Perri described the album as "Raw and bluesy and heartfelt and bold". Perri revealed that inspiration for the album was drawn by everything around her. Love takes a major part in the creation of the album, Perri adding that everything from falling in love, to losing love is the main inspiration. She described that loving love and hating it influenced the choice of the songs for the album and inspired the sound of the EP. The EP showcases Perri's vocal skills and range in emotion, as Perri alternates between breeze midtempo songs to light country sways. In songs such as "Bang Bang Bang", Perri reveals a great sense of humor to her songwriting. Since the entire EP is recorded live, Perri showcases her ability to emotionally strain her voice in performances like "Jar of Hearts", and achy, belted vocals on "Black + Blue".
Andrew Leahey of AllMusic described the EP as original, with smoky/pop-based sounds that are reminiscent of a saucier Sara Bareilles or a more metropolitan Brandi Carlile. Leahey added that, "With her rebel-chic tattoos and swaggering voice, Perri certainly plays the part of a pop star, and new songs like 'Black + Blue' indicate that 'Jar of Hearts' wasn’t necessarily a fluke success."iTunes reviewed the entire album, and its content positively, stating "'Bang Bang Bang' opens blending bouncy piano-pop with hints of Broadway musical pizzazz as Perri confidently croons like a slightly tougher Sara Bareilles. Her voice inflects with slightly raspier tones on the standout tune 'Black + Blue' where a lazy, twangy, slide-guitar nicely contrasts livelier drumming. The breezy 'Daydream' reveals that Perri can sing harmonies as well as anyone else on the pop charts while 'Tragedy' shows that she can also pull pretty melodies from a melancholy musing. The best is saved for last with a fleshed out version of 'Jar of Hearts.'"
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