Reviewer: Delusions of Adequacy In the true indie sense, Jenn Lindsay has made a lot of fans while doing just about everything herself. She financed this album by playing guitar and singing in the New York City subway, and her receptionist job helped with the cover art printing (and office supplies, of course). In fact, her biggest help - beyond fan support of course - was from Major Matt Mason USA, who produced the album. As an important figure in the New York antifolk scene and owner of Olive Juice Music, Mason's name may lend the album weight and get more out of Lindsay's sound, but the music here is all Lindsay. You've heard female singer/songwriters before, and there's not much here besides Lindsay's voice and acoustic guitar. As a transplant to New York City's antifolk scene, Lindsay fits right in, playing songs that are at times biting and sardonic, at other times lighthearted and playful. Most of all, her music is sincere and honest, and you get the sense that she loves what she's doing with all her heart, which goes a long way to making this album more accessible and enjoyable. The opener "Red Shirt," is a lovely song, light and sweet sounding, with Lindsay singing sweetly "hold me close." Her catchiest song, "Olly Olly Oxen Free" will have you singing along, as her voice blends nicely with her music, sounding akin to Joni Mitchell many times. When she speeds up a bit, telling her stories in songs like the impressive and rebellious "I Am Not Going Home Yet," her music feels a bit more like Ani Difranco and takes on more intensity. She fills out "I Call Myself a Flower" with keyboard, giving the song a more playful, kaleidoscope feel, while some nice vocal effects fill out the sweet sounding "I Stayed Home Today." The very quiet "Tower of Toys" feels very honest, very powerful due to Lindsay's singing and some soft strings. If you've had it up to your ears with acoustic singer/songwriters, you're not going to like Lindsay much more, but her music has an undeniably sincere and honest approach, which goes a long way in my book. These songs are very well performed and produced, and the music is charming and sweet while still being sarcastic and introspective at times. It makes for a fine album. - Jeff, 9/23/02 Funny, charming, poignant, and overall intelligent stuff! Reviewer: Femmusic Reviewer: www.coolgrrrls.com $$$$ Wow I don't even know where to start with this CD. It is folk music in its finest form produced by one of the most ambitious self made women I've ever come across. She is both inspiring and talented. Jenn Lindsay is someone with an unquenchable fire for what she does that comes out in her music. She passes the torch of her words along to her fans. She sings about issues of substance but also maintains a frivolity in her music that leaves those listening to her for pure entertainment value satisfied. I always used to think that folk music was for children of the sixties but thanks to Jenn Lindsay I now know it can be enjoyable for people of any age. This CD definitely stands out to me and makes major label CDs look like sonic Gap ads in comparison. To quote one of Jenn's songs "you really gotta want it if you want anything good." She obviously has the desire and as a result, Gotta Lotta is an amazing album, worth all the blood, sweat and tears. Good things will come Jenn Lindsay. She has all the qualities she needs: talent, desire and ambition. -Katie Kiedyk Reviewer: Radio Crystal Blue www.jennlindsay.com Honest, intelligent politcal lyrics crafted alongside guitar and related sounds. Her background inclues plays, UK/CA stints on the coffeehouse circuits. Readily embraced by the burgeoning antifolk scene in NYC, she has made a name for herself playing in some notable-profile venues. Her CD "Gotta Lotta" will be released 10/12, a most enjoyable listen. From the CD I played "Olly Olly Oxen Free" and "I Stayed Home Today" Casey Holford is heard on some tracks. I interviewed Jenn for my website. Read the full q/a at http://www.radiocrystalblue.com/q_a/q_a/lindsay.html Reviewer: Suite 101.com Choice Cuts of August-September 2002 The Scoop: I hate to do itI tried not tobut there's just no getting around the Joni and Ani comparisons. Jenn Lindsay has a vocal brightness that is reminiscent of early Joni, while the introspective frankness of her lyrics recalls early Ani (although lacking the ripped-out rage of, say, Dilate). Musically, Gotta Lotta doesn't venture much outside familiar, strum-heavy folk territory. This is a disaster for most folkies, becausefranklyit focuses too much attention on shaky voices and even shakier poetry. Fortunately, Lindsay has an engaging voice-both sweet and scarred-and has plenty of insightful observations to fill notebooks. Some lyrics are startling in their honesty and their embrace of moments of weakness. And yet she doesn't take herself too seriously, either, as evidenced by songs like "Salvation Army" (about not finding anything her size at the thrift store). Highlight Tracks: "Fangs and Fur" and "I Am Not Going Home Yet," a powerful call-to-arms for struggling urban artists everywhere. Reviewer: Americana-UK JENN LINDSAY "Gotta Lotta" (No Evil Star Records, 2002) "Take Joni Mitchell, add a dash of Ani Di Franco, roast alongside Dan bern and PJ Harvey and baste lightly with Woody Guthrie!" Her description, but it's a fairly comprehensive one - raised in San Diego (not by wolves, as it happens) and kickstarting her musical career here in Liverpool, she's now an integral part of the New York anti-folk scene and manages to sing about politics with a background in gay/lesbian issues in a way that other singer-songwriters must only be able to hope for. The nearest modern comparison would have to be Dar Williams, and although Lindsay doesn't quite hit the spot in terms of memorable songs that Dar does so often, she's still pretty damn good - the lyrical feast of songs like"Fangs and Fur" and "I Am Not Going Home Yet" ("What is New York but a cinematic dream, Somewhere you swear to yourself you've been") are both wry, deep and most of all really enjoyable. Excellent. Reviewer: Harmony Ridge Music I've listened to GOTTA LOTTA several times and really enjoy it. Your songwriting is outstanding, it's the kind of stuff that makes me really listen. My favorite cut is "I am Not Going Home Yet", great job powerful song. Congratulations on a superb album. |
Reviews |
JENN LINDSAY reviews |
Reviewer: Delusions of Adequacy In the true indie sense, Jenn Lindsay has made a lot of fans while doing just about everything herself. She financed this album by playing guitar and singing in the New York City subway, and her receptionist job helped with the cover art printing (and office supplies, of course). In fact, her biggest help - beyond fan support of course - was from Major Matt Mason USA, who produced the album. As an important figure in the New York antifolk scene and owner of Olive Juice Music, Mason's name may lend the album weight and get more out of Lindsay's sound, but the music here is all Lindsay. You've heard female singer/songwriters before, and there's not much here besides Lindsay's voice and acoustic guitar. As a transplant to New York City's antifolk scene, Lindsay fits right in, playing songs that are at times biting and sardonic, at other times lighthearted and playful. Most of all, her music is sincere and honest, and you get the sense that she loves what she's doing with all her heart, which goes a long way to making this album more accessible and enjoyable. The opener "Red Shirt," is a lovely song, light and sweet sounding, with Lindsay singing sweetly "hold me close." Her catchiest song, "Olly Olly Oxen Free" will have you singing along, as her voice blends nicely with her music, sounding akin to Joni Mitchell many times. When she speeds up a bit, telling her stories in songs like the impressive and rebellious "I Am Not Going Home Yet," her music feels a bit more like Ani Difranco and takes on more intensity. She fills out "I Call Myself a Flower" with keyboard, giving the song a more playful, kaleidoscope feel, while some nice vocal effects fill out the sweet sounding "I Stayed Home Today." The very quiet "Tower of Toys" feels very honest, very powerful due to Lindsay's singing and some soft strings. If you've had it up to your ears with acoustic singer/songwriters, you're not going to like Lindsay much more, but her music has an undeniably sincere and honest approach, which goes a long way in my book. These songs are very well performed and produced, and the music is charming and sweet while still being sarcastic and introspective at times. It makes for a fine album. - Jeff, 9/23/02 Funny, charming, poignant, and overall intelligent stuff! Reviewer: Femmusic Reviewer: www.coolgrrrls.com $$$$ Wow I don't even know where to start with this CD. It is folk music in its finest form produced by one of the most ambitious self made women I've ever come across. She is both inspiring and talented. Jenn Lindsay is someone with an unquenchable fire for what she does that comes out in her music. She passes the torch of her words along to her fans. She sings about issues of substance but also maintains a frivolity in her music that leaves those listening to her for pure entertainment value satisfied. I always used to think that folk music was for children of the sixties but thanks to Jenn Lindsay I now know it can be enjoyable for people of any age. This CD definitely stands out to me and makes major label CDs look like sonic Gap ads in comparison. To quote one of Jenn's songs "you really gotta want it if you want anything good." She obviously has the desire and as a result, Gotta Lotta is an amazing album, worth all the blood, sweat and tears. Good things will come Jenn Lindsay. She has all the qualities she needs: talent, desire and ambition. -Katie Kiedyk Reviewer: Radio Crystal Blue www.jennlindsay.com Honest, intelligent politcal lyrics crafted alongside guitar and related sounds. Her background inclues plays, UK/CA stints on the coffeehouse circuits. Readily embraced by the burgeoning antifolk scene in NYC, she has made a name for herself playing in some notable-profile venues. Her CD "Gotta Lotta" will be released 10/12, a most enjoyable listen. From the CD I played "Olly Olly Oxen Free" and "I Stayed Home Today" Casey Holford is heard on some tracks. I interviewed Jenn for my website. Read the full q/a at http://www.radiocrystalblue.com/q_a/q_a/lindsay.html Reviewer: Suite 101.com Choice Cuts of August-September 2002 The Scoop: I hate to do itI tried not tobut there's just no getting around the Joni and Ani comparisons. Jenn Lindsay has a vocal brightness that is reminiscent of early Joni, while the introspective frankness of her lyrics recalls early Ani (although lacking the ripped-out rage of, say, Dilate). Musically, Gotta Lotta doesn't venture much outside familiar, strum-heavy folk territory. This is a disaster for most folkies, becausefranklyit focuses too much attention on shaky voices and even shakier poetry. Fortunately, Lindsay has an engaging voice-both sweet and scarred-and has plenty of insightful observations to fill notebooks. Some lyrics are startling in their honesty and their embrace of moments of weakness. And yet she doesn't take herself too seriously, either, as evidenced by songs like "Salvation Army" (about not finding anything her size at the thrift store). Highlight Tracks: "Fangs and Fur" and "I Am Not Going Home Yet," a powerful call-to-arms for struggling urban artists everywhere. Reviewer: Americana-UK JENN LINDSAY "Gotta Lotta" (No Evil Star Records, 2002) "Take Joni Mitchell, add a dash of Ani Di Franco, roast alongside Dan bern and PJ Harvey and baste lightly with Woody Guthrie!" Her description, but it's a fairly comprehensive one - raised in San Diego (not by wolves, as it happens) and kickstarting her musical career here in Liverpool, she's now an integral part of the New York anti-folk scene and manages to sing about politics with a background in gay/lesbian issues in a way that other singer-songwriters must only be able to hope for. The nearest modern comparison would have to be Dar Williams, and although Lindsay doesn't quite hit the spot in terms of memorable songs that Dar does so often, she's still pretty damn good - the lyrical feast of songs like"Fangs and Fur" and "I Am Not Going Home Yet" ("What is New York but a cinematic dream, Somewhere you swear to yourself you've been") are both wry, deep and most of all really enjoyable. Excellent. Reviewer: Harmony Ridge Music I've listened to GOTTA LOTTA several times and really enjoy it. Your songwriting is outstanding, it's the kind of stuff that makes me really listen. My favorite cut is "I am Not Going Home Yet", great job powerful song. Congratulations on a superb album. |
GOTTA LOTTA REVIEWS JENN LINDSAY |
