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strong winds, real life and poetry |
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Written by Keith Sabella
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Wednesday, 04 October 2006 |
The title track from Catherine Feeny’s second album, “Hurricane Glass,” feels like driving down a long, straight stretch of highway in an old Chevy. Windows down, music blaring, Lucinda Williams in the passenger seat and Bob Dylan grinning like the Cheshire Cat in the back as she sings, “It’s not what I wanted, it’s not what I planned, it’s not where I thought I’d be.” Now downshift, pull over into the parking lot of a dusty old honky-tonk with an out-of-tune piano, ukulele and some horns and you have “Mr. Blue.” It’s a slightly sad, but upbeat and sparkling love song featured in the soon to be released movie “Running with Scissors.” Feeny has put together a fine collection of songs of rare accomplishment which she performs in a voice of crystalline beauty—like the glass surrounding the flame in a hurricane lamp. Online: www.catherinefeeny.com.
Joan as Policewoman, the Brooklyn and U.K.-based band featuring Joan Wasser, bassist Rainy Orteca and drummer Ben Perowsky, have a saying: “Beauty is the new punk.” It seems the perfect summation for this group and for Wasser’s black-leather, soulful collection of songs that make up their new album, “Real Life.” These songs are indeed real life, both hard-knock and sweet, about love and loss. Wasser sings them with a strength, beauty and mature phrasing that have drawn comparisons to artists as disparate as Chrissie Hynde and Nina Simone. Songs such as “The Ride,” “Real Life,” and “Eternal Flame” are evidence of an original sound and a huge talent that is Joan as Policewoman. Online: www.joanaspolicewoman.com
You’ve never heard “Great Balls of Fire” until you’ve heard Teitur’s version. Teitur Lassen, formally of the Faroe Islands, now of London, transforms the full-steam-ahead Jerry Lee Lewis rock ’n’ roll classic into a slow sailing, angst-ridden art song, complete with small chamber ensemble. What’s more, it actually works, which should give you some idea of the measure of this man’s talent. Teitur’s gifts shine most brightly, however, in his original songs, mostly about love or love lost, such as “Sleeping With the Lights On,” “I Was Just Thinking” and “Let’s Go Dancing,” all from his most recent album “Poetry and Airplanes.” Teitur has a gift for melodies that are light and catchy in a way that good pop music is, but his lyrics give this music a depth and poetry not found in typical pop songs. It’s no wonder he has toured with Aimee Mann and will soon be on the road with John Mayer. Online: www.teitur.com
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