Artist Review: Jo Kroger, Troubled Night
Artist: Jo Kroger
EP: Troubled Night
Genre: Acoustic Folk
RIYL: Beth Orton, Neko Case, Jenny Lewis, Chantal Kreviazuk
I listen to my fair share of folk artists these days. In fact, a wealth of material makes its way to my inbox and it’s tempting to shelve it on occasion in favor of some blistering hard rock or peppy pop. But shelving this particular submission would have meant missing out on Jo Kroger, a New York-based acoustic folk artist who seems to have bewitched me upon first listen. In fact, her new EP, Troubled Night, has only garnered more and more of my attention with every hit on the repeat button.
Clocking in just under a minute, the title track is really just the amuse bouche of what’s to follow. “I Can’t Sleep” perhaps rings too close to home, employing a soft, lilting acoustic guitar rhythm with a repetitive vocal melody (“I can’t sleep/I got no time to think/I got no time to think/during the day”) that sounds eerily like the thoughts that run through my head during bouts of insomnia. “gum and cigarettes” opens up for Kroger vocally, showing more strength and urgency in style that matches the tone of the lyrics perfectly.
“June” is a standout track, a real storytellers lyrical gem, highly reminiscent of songwriters from times gone by. The vocals are warm and engaging, and it’s nearly impossible not to be charmed by the life story of June. This track is a testament to the true talent that Kroger possesses in creating vivid imagery with a succinctness and compassionate quality that’s so often missing from the musical landscape. It’s refreshing, and an incredibly effective skill to be able to call upon when needed. Such a bittersweet and lovely example of what Kroger is capable of.
I’m particularly moved by the sparseness of the arrangements in Kroger’s material. All of the songs possess this particular type of restraint. But a song like closing track “Morrow” is even more effective with the addition of background harmonies and the pulsating sound of the acoustic guitar accompanying the quiet strength of the vocals. The lyrics are given room to breathe and shine on their own merit.
Jo Kroger possesses a subtler brand of charisma not unlike a singer-songwriter such as Beth Orton or even Joni Mitchell. There’s a vulnerability in the performance that exposes the strength of Kroger’s truth, a quiet confidence that acts as a magnet drawing you in for a closer listen. The best performers don’t have to shout or scream to get their message across; it’s the words left unsung and the spaces between that say the most. With Troubled Night, Jo Kroger leaves the door wide open and invites us to walk through it, sit down and stay for a spell.
Jo Kroger website: http://jokroger.com/wordpress/
(This originally appeared on Indie-Music.com at: http://www.indie-music.com/ee/index.php/blog/comments/review_jo_kroger_troubled_night)
EP: Troubled Night
Genre: Acoustic Folk
RIYL: Beth Orton, Neko Case, Jenny Lewis, Chantal Kreviazuk
I listen to my fair share of folk artists these days. In fact, a wealth of material makes its way to my inbox and it’s tempting to shelve it on occasion in favor of some blistering hard rock or peppy pop. But shelving this particular submission would have meant missing out on Jo Kroger, a New York-based acoustic folk artist who seems to have bewitched me upon first listen. In fact, her new EP, Troubled Night, has only garnered more and more of my attention with every hit on the repeat button.
Clocking in just under a minute, the title track is really just the amuse bouche of what’s to follow. “I Can’t Sleep” perhaps rings too close to home, employing a soft, lilting acoustic guitar rhythm with a repetitive vocal melody (“I can’t sleep/I got no time to think/I got no time to think/during the day”) that sounds eerily like the thoughts that run through my head during bouts of insomnia. “gum and cigarettes” opens up for Kroger vocally, showing more strength and urgency in style that matches the tone of the lyrics perfectly.
“June” is a standout track, a real storytellers lyrical gem, highly reminiscent of songwriters from times gone by. The vocals are warm and engaging, and it’s nearly impossible not to be charmed by the life story of June. This track is a testament to the true talent that Kroger possesses in creating vivid imagery with a succinctness and compassionate quality that’s so often missing from the musical landscape. It’s refreshing, and an incredibly effective skill to be able to call upon when needed. Such a bittersweet and lovely example of what Kroger is capable of.
I’m particularly moved by the sparseness of the arrangements in Kroger’s material. All of the songs possess this particular type of restraint. But a song like closing track “Morrow” is even more effective with the addition of background harmonies and the pulsating sound of the acoustic guitar accompanying the quiet strength of the vocals. The lyrics are given room to breathe and shine on their own merit.
Jo Kroger possesses a subtler brand of charisma not unlike a singer-songwriter such as Beth Orton or even Joni Mitchell. There’s a vulnerability in the performance that exposes the strength of Kroger’s truth, a quiet confidence that acts as a magnet drawing you in for a closer listen. The best performers don’t have to shout or scream to get their message across; it’s the words left unsung and the spaces between that say the most. With Troubled Night, Jo Kroger leaves the door wide open and invites us to walk through it, sit down and stay for a spell.
Jo Kroger website: http://jokroger.com/wordpress/
(This originally appeared on Indie-Music.com at: http://www.indie-music.com/ee/index.php/blog/comments/review_jo_kroger_troubled_night)
Comments