It's hard to believe it, but Steady Pull ( Bad Dog ) is technically singer/songwriter/ mike- stand ballerina Jonatha Brooke's second solo studio album. It always feels, to me, like I've been listening to her for years, her voice as comfortable as a favorite t-shirt. After two brilliant major-label albums, released in the early nineties, as one half of The Story ( Jennifer Kimball was the other half ) , the duo split up, but Brooke kept the name for the terrific album PLUMB ( credited to Jonatha Brooke & The Story ) . 10 Cent Wings, Brooke's follow-up disc had only her name on the cover. Following major-label mishegas Brooke released a well-received live album in 1998 on her own label ( Bad Dog ) . Which brings us to Steady Pull. The harder-edged Jonatha, hinted at on previous discs, is in full-bloom here, particularly on "How Deep Is Your Love?" ( which will never be confused with the Bee Gees' song of the same name ) and "Out Of Your Mind." Longtime Brooke lovers won't be disappointed by "Linger," "Red Dress," the funky "Steady Pull" ( a duet with Michael Franti ) , "I'll Take It From Here" ( which reminded me of Shawn Colvin ) , and the dazzling duet with Neil Finn, "New Dress," is a career high point.
Speaking of Shawn Colvin, her 1998 album A Few Small Repairs is my favorite album of hers and also rank as one of my all-time favorite albums by anyone. After becoming a mother, she followed up that Grammy-winning disc with a lovely album of winter holiday songs and lullabies. Whole New You is Colvin's first studio album of all-new material in five years, and it finds her moving in interesting new musical directions without ever losing the qualities that have made her such a singular performer. Working, once again, with producer ( and co-songwriter ) John Leventhal, Colvin had the difficult task of following up the biggest album of her career ( ...Repairs ) at a time when female singer/songwriters are taking a back seat to pneumatic teens. However, Colvin appears to be up to the challenge. Take the jingling title track, for example. The keyboard effects give the song a "dance" energy that had me wondering if remixers were lining up for their chance to try their hand at converting the song into a dancefloor sensation. The synthesized beats on "Anywhere You Go" and "Bonefields" ( which features harmony vocals by James Taylor ) could make the song appealing to fans of David Gray and Eliza Carthy. "Roger Wilco" ( co-written with Edie Brickell ) , with its stirring string arrangement and "Mr. Levon" with its haunting horns are two more examples of Colvin's expansion as an artist. Longtime followers will probably gravitate towards the songs "A Matter Of Minutes," "Nothing Like You," "Bound To You," and "One Small Year," which come the closest to sounding like the Shawn Colvin of old.
Another chance
David Gray @ Riviera Theater 4.21 / Gary Numan @ House Of Blues on 4.28 / Evan & Jaron @ House Of Blues 5.30
by Gregg Shapiro
There's more rocking and rolling going on at record labels than just music. An artist signs a contract and before their album is properly promoted, the person who signed them leaves for greener pastures, leaving the newly signed artist in the weeds at the whims of record label "suits."
David Gray is a perfect example of an artist who never got the attention he deserved on the previous labels with which he was affiliated. Now on ATO ( co-founded by Dave Matthews ) , Gray's self-released White Ladder ( ATO/RCA/IHT/BMG ) has become something of an underground-to-mainstream success. It's amazing what a few samples and drum loops can do for an artist's sound. The technology actually softens and humanizes Gray's vocals and songs, creating one of the most heartfelt albums in recent memory. Beginning with the album's emotional ( yet rhythmic ) opener "Please Forgive Me" and moving on to the album's hit single, the infectious "Babylon," Gray has scored a genuine comeback, even though many people had no idea who he is.
Like singer/songwriter Eliza Carthy, Gray deposits his folk-pop songs in a nest of samples and beats for the most compelling results. For example, I wouldn't want to hear the aforementioned songs, or "We're Not Right" or the title track, in any other versions than the ones on White Ladder, because they feel so completely realized. Gray also knows when to let a song stand on its own, as he does on the stunning ballad "This Years Love." If all of this isn't enough to recommend this album, Gray also covers "Say Hello Wave Goodbye," a Soft Cell song co-written by openly gay Marc Almond. Gray's 1996 Sell, Sell, Sell ( originally released on EMI, with the minor radio hit "Late Night Radio" ) has been reissued on Nettwerk America/ Capital to cash in on his resurgence in popularity.
Gary Numan is perhaps best known for his use of synthetic beats in his hit song "Cars," from 1979 ( ! ) . More than 20 years later, Numan has returned with the harder-edged Pure ( Eagle/Spitfire ) . On the aggressive opening title track, his distinctive vocals play against a Nine Inch Nails-like musical assault of electric guitars, drums and keyboards. The Nine Inch Nails comparison arises again on the tracks "Rip" and "Torn," to name a few. Numan appears to be in the midst of a crisis of faith and there is a great deal of religious imagery in the songs "One Perfect Lie," "My Jesus," "Listen To My Voice," and "A Prayer For The Unborn." I think I liked him better when he was behind the wheel of his car.
Ever since Volkswagen used the song "Pink Moon" by the late Nick Drake in one of their car commercials ( and before that, gay jazz vocalist Andy Bey covered Drake's "River Man" ) , interest has increased in the British singer/songwriter. In his own way, American singer/songwriter Duncan Sheik ( best known for his 1996 hit single "Barely Breathing" ) pays homage to Drake with this lovely acoustic album Phantom Moon ( Nonesuch/Atlantic ) . A songwriting collaboration with playwright Steven Sater, most of the songs on this disc have little in common with Sheik's pop/rock sensibilities. Acoustic tracks, augmented by strings, piano or drums, such as "Mr. Chess," "The Winds That Blow," "Mouth On Fire," "This Is How My Heart Heard," "Requiescat," and "The Wilderness," reveal a whole other side to Sheik.
Gorgeous twin brothers Evan & Jaron went virtually ignored after the release of their 1998 major-label debut disc We've Never Heard Of You Either. Two years later, "Crazy For This Girl," the single from their album evan and jaron ( Columbia ) has become a familiar sound on the radio. Executive producer T Bone Burnett worked with Lowenstein brothers and John Fields to make this pop-friendly disc radiate with warmth and a spirit of fun. Although they have a serious side ( "The Distance," "Wouldn't It Be Nice To Be Proud," "I Could Fall" ) , songs such as "Done Hangin' On Maybe," "From My Head To My Heart," and "Make It Better," are the kind that people bored with boy-bands are craving and Evan and Jaron deliver them, no strings attached.
Jeb Loy Nichols and David Gray have a few things in common. At one point they were both affiliated with EMI/Capitol ( Nichols's debut disc Lover's Knot was released on Capitol ) . Also, like Gray, Jeb Loy Nichols garnishes some of the songs ( such as "Say Goodbye To Christopher," "Trying To Get Over" ) on his new album Just What Time It Is ( Ryko/Rough Trade ) with subtle programming touches. He also uses elements of reggae ( Al Pancho's vocal solo on "Perfect Stranger" ) to move his songs to another place. The choir on "Heaven Right Here" had the same impact, moving the song out of the ordinary.
Also like Gray, Nichols knows when a song doesn't need any extra flourishes ( "Hold Me Till I Fall," "Room 522," "She Reminded Me" ) to communicate a mood.
Nichols, who is also a painter, filled the CD booklet with some of own work, as well as the work of others, including a couple of exceptional paintings by Martin Grover.
Lloyd Cole has had a couple of incarnations over the course of his nearly 20-year career. We were first introduced to him as Lloyd Cole & The Commotions ( in the 1980s ) , when he had hits with the songs "Perfect Skin" and "My Bag." He spent the '90s as a solo artist and his album Don't Get Weird On Me, Babe has one of the most stunning song sequences ( "Butterfly," "Margo's Waltz," "Half Of Everything," "Man Enough," "What He Doesn't Know" ) ever recorded. His latest incarnation finds him fronting a band again ( as in Lloyd Cole & The Negatives ) on his new album The Negatives ( March ) . Of particular queer interest is the fact that Jill Sobule is a member of Cole's band, playing guitar and supplying backing vocals. Standouts include "Impossible Girl," "Past Imperfect," "What's Wrong With This Picture," "Man On The Verge," and "That Boy."
With Maverick A Strike, his well-received 1997 major-label debut disc, Finley Quaye proved he was going to make a name for himself, with or without the help of any famous family members ( Tricky is a relative ) . The long-awaited follow-up, Vanguard ( Epic ) , finds Quaye at the peak of his skills, incorporating jungle ( "Broadcast" ) , reggae ( "Burning" ) , and straight ahead rock ( the amazing "Spiritualized" ) , in his songs for a varied and vibrant sound. This is one of those follow-up albums that actually lives up to expectations.
Two more male singer/songwriters, Martin Sexton and Shawn Mullins, who made names for themselves in the late '90s have returned. Sexton's album is Wonder Bar ( Atlantic ) and Mullins's is Beneath The Velvet Sun ( Columbia ) .
