Album Review: Dido – No Angel (25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition Vinyl)
4 min read
We here at Renowned For Sound have been long-time Dido fans. Ever since hearing Here With Me on the early noughties alien TV show, Roswell, we were hooked, and we have continued that love affair ever since. We have also been hoping for vinyl releases of early masterpieces, No Angel and Life For Rent, since they were released – and at least one of those wishes has come true this week as the reclusive superstar has unveiled a beautiful vinyl release of her phenomenal debut.
To mark the 25th anniversary of its release, Dido’s iconic debut album No Angel has been reissued in a stunning new vinyl edition that not only pays tribute to its original spirit but enhances its emotional impact. It’s a fitting celebration of an album that, against all odds, evolved from a slow-burn success into one of the most quietly influential records of its time. Since the release of No Angel, Dido has gone on to become one of the world’s best-selling artists.
Initially released in 1999 with little commercial buzz, No Angel took time to find its audience, but when it did, the response was overwhelming. The album spent seven weeks at Number 1 on the UK Albums Chart (and was a massive hit back in my homeland of New Zealand) and remained in the Top 10 for over a year. With over three million UK sales and a 10× Platinum certification, it became one of the country’s best-selling albums of all time. Dido was awarded two BRIT Awards – for Best British Album and Best British Female Solo Artist – and the prestigious Ivor Novello Award for songwriting. Globally, No Angel has sold over 15 million copies and continues to resonate with new generations of listeners, boasting over 1.2 billion streams and 20 million monthly Spotify listeners – an astonishing feat for an album released well before the streaming era.
The reissue arrives in the form of a limited 25th Anniversary Edition vinyl. Pressed on striking marbled red vinyl (also available in classic black or a clean white Spotify version), the LP is housed in a gatefold sleeve that opens like a double door to reveal beautiful pics and portraits of the star from the album’s era – a contact sheet of photographs from the original No Angel campaign. It’s a subtle, thoughtful touch that enhances the sense of nostalgia without feeling over-designed or indulgent. Seeing these instantly transported me back to New Zealand where I saw Dido perform the album shortly after its release on a mini tour of the southern hemisphere. The sleeve holding the impressive red vinyl contains the lyrics to each song and is separated by pictures from Dido’s childhood, adding to the highly personal feel of the record for the star.
Musically, No Angel remains as confessional, understated, and emotionally resonant as ever. Dido’s voice – calm, clear, and deeply human – is the anchor across an album filled with hushed arrangements, sparse beats, and tender acoustic guitar lines. The singles released from the album – Here With Me, Thank You, Hunter, and Don’t Think of Me – each showcased a different aspect of her songwriting, from haunting vulnerability to quiet defiance. Fan favourite All You Want can also be found in the centre of this incredible release.
Perhaps the most culturally significant moment in the album’s lifecycle came when Thank You was sampled by Eminem for his 2000 single Stan, catapulting both artists into a new level of fame. Dido’s original track, already a standout, gained a second life – her soft-spoken delivery providing the emotional heartbeat to one of hip-hop’s most enduring songs. The collaboration also introduced her to a much wider, global audience, and helped cement No Angel’s place in pop history.
Away from the singles, the strength of No Angel lies in its deep cuts. Tracks like Isobel, Honestly OK, and Worthless are unafraid to sit in their own quiet sorrow, embracing simplicity rather than spectacle. The songwriting is unflinching, exploring love, regret, hope, and solitude without cliché or melodrama. On vinyl, the warmth of these recordings becomes even more apparent – there’s a tactile intimacy that digital formats often fail to capture.
Even 25 years on, No Angel still feels emotionally current. Dido’s brand of soft-spoken storytelling has aged remarkably well, and the clarity of her vision – minimal production, clear vocal lines, and deeply personal lyrics – makes the album feel timeless. It’s no surprise that newer artists like Caroline Polachek have cited her as an influence; Dido’s restraint and elegance are as powerful today as they were in 1999 when this beauty was gifted to the world.
The 25th Anniversary Edition doesn’t try to recontextualize or modernize No Angel – instead, it invites us to sit with it again, perhaps more closely this time, and remember why we connected with it in the first place. Whether you’re revisiting the record or hearing it for the first time, this reissue is a beautifully produced and respectfully handled celebration of a landmark debut.
::: RenownedForSound.com’s Editor and Founder –
Interviewing and reviewing the best in new music and globally recognized artists is his passion.
Over the years he has been lucky enough to review thousands of music releases and concerts and interview artists ranging from top selling superstars like 27-time Grammy Award winner Alison Krauss, Boyz II Men, Roxette, Cyndi Lauper, Lisa Loeb and iconic Eagles front man/songwriter, Glenn Frey through to more recent successes including Newton Faulkner, Janelle Monae and Caro Emerald.
Brendon manages and coordinates the amazing team of writers on RenownedForSound.com who are based in the UK, the U.S and Australia.
