Jennifer Kimball - "Oh Hear Us"
(Epoisse Records, 2006)
Jennifer Kimball experienced the peak of the folk-pop movement back in the mid-90s when she was headlining Lilith Fair shows with her band The Story. Now, a decade later, literate folk pop isn't finding the same radio audiences it once did when Tracy Chapman, Suzanne Vega and Rickie Lee Jones were revitalizing the genre in the late 80s and early 90s. But Jennifer's first solo album in eight years brings with it the promise of a new beginning. "Don't Take Your Love Away" is a stunning track featuring a lush backdrop of plucked strings and piano chords melted around the subtle strains of her smooth vocals. It's something radio would be playing if it wasn't all so corporate, but the hooks are there for those who want to hear.
Kimball's not breaking much new ground here, I'll admit that. Her sound borrows liberally from those who came before her -- even occasionally borrowing from herself, as it's not difficult to hear soft strains of The Story's album The Angel In The House sprinkled throughout the length of Oh Hear Us. No, what Kimball is doing here is building on that sound, smoothing it out and attempting to reach today's audience, an audience that seems to have already forgotten the days when folk was pop.
None of this is to say that Kimball doesn't change things up on us. "Is He Or Isn't He" features slightly dissonant harmonies and vocals that are rhythmic in a way that battles with the actual beat of the song -- all of which forces the listener to pay close attention to the nuances of the hook when the chorus arrives. It might be difficult to wrap one's head around at first, but the payoff is huge when a connection is finally made.
That's what sets Oh Hear Us from the pack. Kimball knows where she's been, and where others have gone before her. She takes what's been done and attempts to make it palatable to a new audience, all while challenging new and old fans alike to hear her new music in completely new ways. It's a complex listening experience, and through it is far from perfect, this is an album that pays off well upon repeated listens. Fans of Kimball's work with The Story, as well as those who enjoy the music of Chapman, Vega and Jones will definitely find this album indispensable heading into the new year.
Jennifer Kimball experienced the peak of the folk-pop movement back in the mid-90s when she was headlining Lilith Fair shows with her band The Story. Now, a decade later, literate folk pop isn't finding the same radio audiences it once did when Tracy Chapman, Suzanne Vega and Rickie Lee Jones were revitalizing the genre in the late 80s and early 90s. But Jennifer's first solo album in eight years brings with it the promise of a new beginning. "Don't Take Your Love Away" is a stunning track featuring a lush backdrop of plucked strings and piano chords melted around the subtle strains of her smooth vocals. It's something radio would be playing if it wasn't all so corporate, but the hooks are there for those who want to hear.
Kimball's not breaking much new ground here, I'll admit that. Her sound borrows liberally from those who came before her -- even occasionally borrowing from herself, as it's not difficult to hear soft strains of The Story's album The Angel In The House sprinkled throughout the length of Oh Hear Us. No, what Kimball is doing here is building on that sound, smoothing it out and attempting to reach today's audience, an audience that seems to have already forgotten the days when folk was pop.
None of this is to say that Kimball doesn't change things up on us. "Is He Or Isn't He" features slightly dissonant harmonies and vocals that are rhythmic in a way that battles with the actual beat of the song -- all of which forces the listener to pay close attention to the nuances of the hook when the chorus arrives. It might be difficult to wrap one's head around at first, but the payoff is huge when a connection is finally made.
That's what sets Oh Hear Us from the pack. Kimball knows where she's been, and where others have gone before her. She takes what's been done and attempts to make it palatable to a new audience, all while challenging new and old fans alike to hear her new music in completely new ways. It's a complex listening experience, and through it is far from perfect, this is an album that pays off well upon repeated listens. Fans of Kimball's work with The Story, as well as those who enjoy the music of Chapman, Vega and Jones will definitely find this album indispensable heading into the new year.
posted by Jonathan Sanders @ 1:02 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home