I’ve had to run a bunch of errands
this week and as a result I took my car to work a couple days in a row. I’ve really missed getting my walk in, drinking
my coffee and letting my mind wander with whatever music I’m listening to.
Instead I’ve reverted back to the ‘in
the car’ listening that was more common when I started the CD Odyssey. The short city drive is a lot more mentally
engaging than the long highway drive to Sidney I used to do, and not so
musically immersive, but I still got in a couple good listens of this next
album, and I know it well in any case.
Disc 450 is… Firecracker
Artist: The
Wailin’ Jennys
Year of Release: 2006
What’s up with the Cover? The cover is designed to look like some vintage box
of firecrackers or something like that.
It is OK, but nothing to write home about. All three little girl heads are crying, making
me wonder if there was a fireworks accident.
A timely reminder of safety first this Halloween, you crazy kids.
How I Came To Know It: I am a huge fan of the Jennys’ earlier album, “Forty
Days” (reviewed way back at Disc 92), so when this one came out I bought it without hesitation. I also saw them touring in support of this
album, and so had heard a number of songs from it in advance.
How It Stacks Up: I have all three Wailin’ Jennys albums. Of the three, “Firecracker” is excellent, but
still second to “Forty Days”
Rating: 4 stars.
Two
years after their first album, the Jennys returned in 2006 with a new lineup (Annabelle
Chvostek replacing Cara Luft) and a new record, “Firecracker.” Against the odds, the Jennys had replaced one
third of their lineup and still managed to capture lightning in a bottle for a
second time.
This
time the slightly bluesier and more contemporary sounding Annabelle Chvostek
had joined the lineup. I had just seen
the tour for the new songs, so I wasn’t concerned how she would fit into the
harmonies, although I am a bit amazed the Jennys were able to so seamlessly
blend Chvostek’s voice in and carry on at such a high level.
In many
respects, “Firecracker” is a superior album musically to “Forty Days” even if
the latter speaks more to my soul. “Firecracker”
has a modern edge to it that really helps its artistic range. In listening to it, I was reminded of how
important Jimmy Rankin was to the Rankin Family, providing an update to the
music, while still staying firmly within Canadian folk traditions.
As with
the previous album, all three Jennys contribute songs to the record. Newcomer Chvostek leads the record off with
the fast-paced “Devil’s Paintbrush Road”
which is a song that evokes images of a double-time knee slap around a campfire,
if only to drive the dark spirits a little further off, for just a little
longer.
Chvostek
also contributes “Swallow” which has
a bit of a strained chorus (“oh swallow/
what did you swallow?”) but apart from that has a strong and sweet melody,
and features a Chvostek playing a sweet mandolin as well.
Nicky
Mehta’s contributions are more traditional in flavor, but they are also the
glue that holds Chvostek’s contemporary flair with Moody’s soft spoken
spiritualism. I don’t favour her four
songs as much but without them the album would lose its subtle centre, and
sometimes that’s the hardest part of a record to get right. Songs like “Starlight” are an artful combination of harmony constructions,
violin pieces and drum beats that demonstrate what the Jennys do best, which is
make each other better.
When
Mehta leads her two fellow Jennys into the opening of “Avila” singing:
“O sweet peace, never have you
fallen
Never have you fallen upon this
town.”
She does
so quietly, leaving plenty of room for the harmonies to swell together. The Jennys have the most beautiful harmonies
I’ve ever heard, and “Avila” has this
talent on full display. It isn’t my
favourite song on the record, but it is worth a pause to admire it in all its
selfless simplicity.
That
said, once again I find myself drawn mostly to Ruth Moody’s songs. Although all three Jennys get a hold of my
heart, Moody’s voice always seems to wrap its embrace a little bit tighter.
“Glory Bound” is a devotional that sounds
like it has existed for one hundred and sixty years, but has only been around
for six. I’m not a religious man, but
this song reminds me that there is a depth to the human spirit that transcends
any institutional expression. Moody’s
solo vocals lift me out of myself, and then perfectly timed harmonies give it
wings.
My other
Moody favourite is “Prairie Town”
which speaks to me about the experience of leaving a small town for something (hopefully)
bigger. However Moody’s leaving is
bitter-sweet, and the going is fraught with inner conflict. Parting with her home town is like breaking
up with a first love – or maybe it’s the other way around. Whatever the case the tone is mournful,
emotionally conflicted and yet wholly necessary. Out here on the west coast, we like to say “when
it rains it pours” but Moody reminds us:
“When it rains it snows in this
prairie town
There’s a good three inches on
the ground.
It seems I’ll be losing any peace
I’ve found.”
The song
is as cold and open as I imagine the prairies would be to the lonely. It makes me grateful for the rain.
Moody
has a great solo album as well called “The Garden” which I heartily recommend,
but more on that when I roll it. For now
I’ll just say she’s my favourite Jenny and leave it at that.
The
album ends with a return to Chvostek and the title track, “Firecracker” which rather than providing a quiet fade to the
record, has a feeling like things are just getting started. My favourite verse is:
“You can get used to almost
anything
Deep sea eyes and porcelain skin
Love sweet nests and their boxing
rings
It’s late night heading into
morning.”
There’s
a tempest to the relationship in this song that is palpable, charged with the
energy and abandon of an all-nighter.
Lyrically and musically “Firecracker”
and fittingly ends the album with a bang.
The
Wailin’ Jennys are one of Canada’s great folk bands, and their rendition of “The Parting Glass” was recently featured
on an episode of the hit show “The Walking Dead.” I hope that exposure gives them the fame they
richly deserve, whatever their lineup, because they deserve it.
Best tracks: Glory Bound, This Heart of Mine, Long Time
Traveller, Avila, Prairie Town, Firecracker.
No comments:
Post a Comment