Accidental Pilgrimage

Jen Cass (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 17, 2006)
• Original Release Date: April 17, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blind Justice
• ASIN: B000FFP2KS
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #115,143 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

Born to unusually hip parents in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan, singer-songwriter Jen Cass was raised on a healthy mix of folk music, homegrown vegetables, spontaneous dancing, black licorice and Motown. When asked about her childhood Jen muses, "I remember my mom doing pirouettes around the living room with Joan Baez and Simon & Garfunkel blasting in the background. Then dad would pull out his guitar and we'd all sing Tom Paxton songs. “My sister and I weren’t allowed to watch TV, so we sang, danced and read every book we could get our hands on. By the age of five, I was a miniature troubadour in bad seventies clothing, quoting Jack London and belting out Jim Croce tunes. I love my parents for that.” While her fashion sense has evolved over time, Jen has always remained true to her roots, writing beautifully crafted songs that draw comparisons to songwriting legends Bob Dylan, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Indigo Girls, and Dar Williams, as well as playwright Eugene O'Neill. In the words of Suzanne Glass of Indie-Music.com, “Cass’ songs are lyrical gems. She weaves fables with her words that would make Aesop jealous.” In November 1996, Jen released her first CD, Brave Enough To Say, and quickly sold over 2000 copies. Jen recorded Brave with the help of the world famous Russian surf-rock band Red Elvises. “We mixed contemporary folk, traditional country, gypsy scales, oatmeal raisin cookies and extreme sleep deprivation to create a totally unique sound,” quips Jen. Since the release of Brave Enough To Say, Jen has played hundreds of gigs throughout the world, including an Official Showcase at the 2004 Americana Music Awards, an Emerging Artist Showcase at the 2003 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, and several Sunday Night Writers’ Nights at Nashville’s legendary The Bluebird Café. After years of tireless touring, Jen caught the attention of producer John Jennings, who has co-produced eight albums and four #1 singles by Mary Chapin Carpenter, as well as discs by John Gorka, Janis Ian, Beausoleil, and many others. The result of their first collaboration, Jen’s sophomore release Skies Burning Red, received glowing reviews from fans and critics alike including Rich Warren of Sing Out! and Pam Winters of Dirty Linen, was nominated for 2 Detroit Music Awards and 6 Review Music Awards, was #12 on WHFR's Best of 2003 list (between John Mayer and Evanescence), was a Midnight Special Pick Hit of the Week, and received radio play all over the world. The songs from Skies Burning Red won awards in nearly every major songwriting contest, including the 2003 John Lennon Songwriting Contest, the 2003 USA Songwriting Competition, the 2003 International Songwriting Competition, the 2004 Great American Song Contest, and the 2004 Billboard Worldsong Contest. With the April 2006 release of "Accidental Pilgrimage" (again produced by John Jennings), Jen is set to take her place among the finest storytellers of her generation. Find out more at www.jencass.com!

Product Description

"An achingly honest collection of songs from one of America’s most gifted and versatile young singer/songwriters. 'Accidental Pilgrimage' is haunted by the ghosts of Phil Ochs, Johnny and June Carter Cash, and countless other back-porch players whose names have been forever lost to the shifting sands of time. Without a doubt, this is Cass' finest work to date."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Accidental Pilgrimage -- Lessons in Love, July 4, 2006

By 

Doktor Krankheit "Spang" (Newton MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Accidental Pilgrimage (Audio CD)

Jen Cass's "Accidental Pilgrimage" is brilliant. The whole package -- the singer, the songs, the arrangements, the musicians-- is exemplary.

Jen Cass wrote and sang all ten songs. Their simplicity, understatement, and delivery render them all the more powerful. She has written about love in three ways -- political, personal, and story-telling.

The political songs describe Jen Cass's love of her country. Still they run the risk that Michelle Shocked pointed out about all political songs -- "preaching to the choir" and alienating those who might disagree. But "Dear Mr. President", "Hallelujah", "Standing in Your Memory" , and "I Believe" do not preach. Rather they subtly challenge the listener to think about the issues. They are very optimistic, hopeful songs that reflect America's universal desire to overcome adversity and find solutions.

In "Dear Mr. President", Jen sings as a soldier who has been overseas so long that he is forgetting his family. He just says he doen't think "it's treason to ask for a reason" why he is fighting.

"Hallelujah" is a real toe-tapper filled with lively piano riffs by Jon Carroll. But the lively beat doesn't conceal the irony-laden lyrics. For the "hallelujahs" coming from the churches are to take comfort in fear, guilt, and hate. Just thank the Lord it wasn't "me." But in spite of all the horrible news, Jen Cass manages to give a real reason to sing "hallelujah" -- "refuse to live my life in fear", "stood my ground and dared to speak", by doing "all I could". Then the "hallelujahs" will be deserved.

"Standing in Your Memory" paints a reveting picture of the troubadour ghosts remaining in New York City's Greenwich Village. She recounts her "accidental pilgrimage" to the Bitter End on Bleeker Street. The listener can feel her awe and reverence for Phil Ochs ghost even no one seemed to take an interest in a rebel's dying words at the time. Caroll's poignant piano accentuates the lesson -- that Phil Ochs "was always heard" and still being listened to today. The liner notes show Phil Ochs at Newport in 1966 in a Robert Corwin photo (www.robertcorwin.com) that encapsulates this magnificent song. The notes point out that those interested might consult www.sonnyochs.com to find out more about this "truth-teller in times of dishonesty and disillusionment".

The hopeful "I Believe" immediately catches the listener's attention with the five opening words of the Battle Hymn of the Republic. It is filled with John Jenning's masterful guitar riffs which serve the optimistic "surging tide" where the arrogance and lies will be replaced. In the tradition of Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger, Jen Cass convinces us that "winds of change are blowing".

The four love songs -- "Forever Damned", "Take the Fall", "Faith (Johnny's Song)", "One True Thing" -- recount different aspects of love.

" Forever Damned" has a very similar beat to "Dear Mr. President" with a similar theme of being tricked. In this song, Jen Cass repents for being taken in by the lies. She asks if her capacity for love and trust is forever damned. The next three personal love songs provide the optimistic answer.

In "Take the Fall", Jen Cass falls in love with someone who doesn't even know it. But it's OK to "take the fall". Despite being too shy even to reveal her name, she decides to savour the pure enjoyment of being in love . . . even if it is one-sided. The song ends with a very clever unique "telephone" chorus at end.

In "Faith (Johnny's Song)", Jen Cass gets more down to earth. A forthcoming marriage will take time, strength. Love requires realism and practicality. But, there is still much room for emotional love. Just "look into my eyes, boy", she says. And the Mark Bradford liner cover captures this feeling with Jen Cass looking deeply into the viewers eyes.

The last personal love song, "One True Thing", rounds out the four. She starts by singing of of love nearly lost. Then, she finds true love is all about honesty and caring. It must be genuine. It makes both lovers more when together than when separate.

The two story songs paint pictures and images which will long remain indelibly in the listener's heart.

In "Small Town Boy" Jen Cass maintains the suspense as we follow the journey with Helen and Clyde Cass struggling to survive the 1933 depression economy. While she reassures us that "love was the simplest thing. and it meant everything", it never was certain until the end that love would conquer all. Jen Cass takes us on a memorable journey into her family background. At the end, we feel we are part of her family. Poignant.

"No Reply" is a family story of sorts but not Jen Cass's rather . . . straight out of Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho". Jen Cass tells the story of a man who murders his wife from HIS perspective. Although he "gets away with it", his anguish and regret catch up with him in the surprising ending. Listen to the brilliant arrangement and instrumental backing of John Jennings as fate starts to turn on the husband. Listen to this song carefully if you dare! You may have nightmares. Powerful.

You must savor this album. It is strong from beginning to end and, like all albums should, forms a unified whole. Like Jen Cass's brilliant blue eyes on the liner notes cover, "Accidental Pilgrimage" shines brightly from beginning to end. Jen Cass describes love for us -- true love that is totally honest, false love that goes terribly wrong, but most of all love of her country and her family.

And, oh by the way, when you listen to Jen Cass's warm melodic singing, you are not imagining things. Mary Chapin Carpenter does sound a bit like Jen Cass. But perhaps that was just the result of recording with John Jennings in Virginia rather than Michigan.

5.0 out of 5 stars Heart on a platter, May 13, 2010

By 

Ray - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Accidental Pilgrimage (Audio CD)

When a singer puts their heart and soul on a platter for all to see, it's not an accident. Accidental Pilgrimage does just that.