Everybody's Girl

Jen Foster | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 14, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rt. / Amer Garage
• ASIN: B0000CNY2A
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #191,388 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Everybody's Girl

2. Used Black Cars

3. Superwoman

4. In Between Poses

5. Water in Your Hands

6. Web of Roses

7. She

8. Seize the Moment

9. I Just Wanna Be Happy

10. Ready to Go

11. The One Who Got Away

12. Sleeping

13. Everybody's Girl [Guitar Mix]

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Here’s an earnest debut of honest songs sung earnestly by a talented young singer in the Joan Osborne/ Michelle Branch vein. Foster came to attention in 2001 when she won the "Great American Song Contest" in the pop category, and was a finalist in the "John Lennon songwriting contest" for her song "She"--a pleasant, straightforward tune about falling in love with another woman. There are a few standout tracks, but overall the album fails for trying too hard. The production uses samples but sounds curiously dated, and the whole project sounds like it was pieced together by a confused committee who didn’t know whether to go for the Dawson’s Creek crowd or the Melissa Etheridge demographic, so they opted for a strange middle-ground between the two. Foster’s singing, while a highlight throughout, is too overwrought too many times; she sounds like Alanis Morisette’s mom on a bad day on the annoying anthem "Superwoman." Here’s to hoping that she records her next album with just an acoustic guitar and a microphone. Foster doesn’t need all the bombastic studio trickery that clutters up and overwhelms this well-intentioned debut. --Mike McGonigal

Product Description

On her melodically rich and exuberantly rocking debut effort, "Everybody's Girl," the award-winning singer, songwriter and guitarist displays a spirit that's both timeless and up-to-date.

Tracks such as "Superwoman," "Water in Your Hands," "The One Who Got Away," the award winning track "She" and her first single "Used Black Cars" are more incisive examinations of relationships, while "Seize the Moment" champions the benefits of doing just what the title says. And who can't relate to the sentiment expressed in the title -- and the lyrics -- of "I Just Wanna Be Happy?" Then there's "In Between Poses," Foster's personal favorite on "Everybody's Girl" and an emotional lynch pin for the entire album.

Her frankness -- heartfelt and forthright, but never cloying -- are, in fact, the hallmark of Foster's songwriting. That philosophy is displayed throughout "Everybody's Girl," which takes events and lessons from Foster's own experience and transcribes them into universal sentiments.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful CD by a Beautiful Person., July 19, 2004

By 

Keyglow (New York,, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Everybody's Girl (Audio CD)

My review starts first with an anecdote. The story begins with the band I frequently play keyboard for being scheduled to perform at the new york pride parade last month. Among the many talents slated, Jen Foster performed as well. Never having heard of her or her music (and to be honest feeling somewhat fatigued by SO much rainbow...) my ear did not really feel willing to listen to anyone that day. And then she played. And I was in tears.

Her presence on stage was simply put, magnetic. I can not remember the last time someone's words and music effected me so viscerally. And I fancy myself a composer lyricist no less.
The interesting part of this story, though, comes afterward, right as Ms. Foster stepped off the stage. She said "come on down to the booth I want to meet every single one of you."
And I believe she did. Then I went home and listened to the title track and cried some more. (if you know the song, this will make more sense)

So here's the skinny on her CD from someone who thinks he knows something about stuff. The casual listener might think her lyrics are unsophisticated or cheesey. The casual listener would be mistaken. Foster's songs make no apologies for how they feel and are exquisitely fashioned to be at once raw/exposed and still endearing/open. The marriage of word to music is nothing short of brilliant. The casual listener (or the editorial reviewer) might also think the production of this album implies it can't decide WHAT it wants to be: either ranting alanis or pop-pretty brittany. Again, they would be mistaken. Part of this album's excellence stems from the fact that though the songs are all authored by the same woman, they do not, in fact, all sound the same- a pitfall that singer/songwriters often fall victim to when producing their first albums. Or fifth. That the producers made the daring choice to engineer each song in a new and unique way speaks to the daring of the songwriter herself.

Any lover of singer/songwriters or female vocalists will love this disc. Any lover of poetry will love this disc. Anyone who has ever experienced a simple joy and the heartbreak that comes from not being able to express that joy in words... will say "yes. that is exactly what I was trying to say."

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Something new AND something good, November 14, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Everybody's Girl (Audio CD)

At first her voice sounded a little TOO different. It took some getting used to but after listening to the CD, I cannot get the songs out of my mind and I can't get the CD out of my car! It's a must for the road. The lyrics, the music, the tone is all different from song to song. Some songs are slow and thoughtful and other songs are hip and poppy and they make you want to bounce around. To be honest, I can't stop dancing in my car when I listen to "Ready to Go" or "Sieze the Moment" and I can't help but space out in my own little world and sing along to "Used Black Cars" or "Web of Roses". It's a great CD from a great, new upcoming artist.
I also saw her perform and she's unlike any other. Even though her songs are somewhat slower, she uses the entire stage and really get's into her music.
It's a great CD and a great investment!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Album!!, October 17, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Everybody's Girl (Audio CD)

I was looking for some new music and came across this album. I listened to the sample music on Amazon and then read the review by Mike McGonigal.
DUDE, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING!!!!!!!
This album is full of great lyrics, melodies and hooks in every song! Jen's voice is amazing and the production is as good as any mega-stars' label could come up with. Anybody out there that wants to embrace an up and coming star should buy this CD!!