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By Ellen Rawson
She has one of those little girl voices that could be
compared to early Stevie Nicks; the voice combined with her guitar playing is
reminiscent of Lucinda Williams. However, Klein creates her own unique
sound that rocks and stomps its way from start to finish. Little girl she
isn’t.
Opening with "Little White Dove," Klein’s dobro
gives her a rough roots finish to match her sweet-sounding voice and contrast
the rock-style drums that give the song its overall rock edge.
"Goodbye, Goodbye," the second track continues in the same vein.
However, the country feel is barely there; instead, Klein strikes out with
full-fledged rock which continues with songs
such as "Open Me" and "I Tried."
"Love is Where You Find It" lets her play successfully with a
driving-rock mood. Complete with the requisite horns in the background,
Klein honestly sounds as if she’s having a grand time belting out the song’s
upbeat lyrics. Love indeed may be where you find it, and Klein is enjoying
it.
Even on the slower numbers, such as "Song for an
Angel," Klein still hits home with her music and lyrics. Overall, her
lyrics may seem simple at first, but blended with her melodies, they seem to
take on new meaning. "All that I want to say is/I am here/And I
believe" doesn’t seem particularly poetic at first read, but the way she
pulls her voice about those words is so earnest and convincing that they sound
just right. "Springtime" sees her becoming even more
contemplative with lines such as "The old woman who lives in my
head/Throws open the window and breathes in/The sun is exploding her, the sky
sparkles blue/Joy overwhelms her/Life is a boon." With its melody,
this song easily could be a AAA-radio style ballad.
With the right publicity and radio airplay, Jess Klein could
become a major factor in the singer-songwriter world. This album certainly
points her in that direction.