Dido - Life for Rent

Life for Rent doesn't offer anything that drastically different from Dido's debut album, No Angel -- the dance beats are marginally fresher, the production is clean and new -- but this predictibility is actually rather refreshing because the album delivers on its promise, unlike many sophomore affairs in 2003. That its promise is rather modest doesn't really matter, since Dido is successful at modest songs. She has a sweet, warm voice and a knack for tuneful modern folk-pop that sounds intimate while being confidently catchy and nicely atmospheric. In other words, it retains the feel of No Angel and its two big hits, "Here With Me" and "Thank You," without ever rewriting either song, but contributing songs like "White Flag," "Stoned," "Life for Rent," and "Do You Have a Little Time," which are nearly as memorable. The appeal of Life for Rent is what makes Dido appealing -- she's unassuming and gentle, but her songs are so melodic and atmospheric they easily work their way into the subconscious, and the records are well-crafted enough to be engaging on repeated plays. So, Life for Rent isn't much different than its predecessor, but that's a very good thing in this case. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Adam Zimmon Guitar (Acoustic) Andy Treacey Drums Ash Howes Mixing, Engineer Aubrey Nunn Keyboards, Guitar, Piano, Bass, Drum Programming, Pre-Production Carlos Paucar Percussion Dave Randall Guitar Dido Producer, Programming, Guitar Ellen Von Unwerth Photography Gavin Callaghan Studio Assistant Gavyn Wright Leader, String Conductor Ger McDonnell Engineer Grippa Engineer James Sanger Programming Lester Mendez Engineer Makoto Sakamoto Drums Mark Bates Percussion, Piano, Programming, Pre-Production, Harmonium, Keyboards Matthieu Clouard Production Assistant, Assistant Producer Mike Hedges Producer Miles Showell Mastering Nathan Loughran Studio Assistant Nick Ingman String Arrangements Ollie Henshall Studio Assistant P-Nut Bass, Drums, Drum Programming, Keyboards, Pre-Production, Programming Paul Herman Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar Pauline Taylor Vocals (Background) Pete Davies Keyboards, Programming Peter Edge A&R Phil Brown Engineer, Mixing Richard John Parfitt Guitar Rick Nowels Fender Rhodes, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar, Keyboards Robbie Nelson Studio Assistant Rollo Producer Rusty Anderson Guitar (Electric) Simon Corkin Design Sister Bliss Drum Programming, Keyboards, Programming, Piano Steve Sidelnyk Drums, Drum Programming, Programming Sudha Percussion, Percussion