Customer Reviews

It All Starts Here

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

There may not appear to be much room in the musical landscape between Portishead and Dido, but Jem Griffiths has found a comfortable home there with her debut EP. More accessible than Portishead but trippier than Dido, "It All Starts Here" opens with an almost ridiculously catchy number called "They," popular on XFM radio. It's followed by a slightly slower, jazzier song called "Come on Closer," which attains some of the edgy majesty of Garbage when the guitar chords kick in. The rest of the EP is not as memorable, but still worthwhile listening. "Finally Woken" moves closer to Portishead, while the last two songs quiet things down with acoustic guitars figuring prominently. Jem is not exactly breaking new ground, but fans of this style of song-based Brit electronica should find plenty to appreciate here.

Note: The first four of this EP's five tracks will also appear on Jem's forthcoming full-length release, due in March 2004.

Addendum: The full-length release, "Finally Woken," is definitely worth buying over this EP, as it includes most of this EP and the killer track "24."

I have not heard this EP, which is why i gave it 4 stars, but i have heard a few songs off it. I also have heard her new album, "Finally Woken" which i have to say is pretty dynamite... however, i wish she would of have kept it more in the trip hop theme... her album is pretty trippy, and becuase i am a DJ, and into many styles of music, i really dig the trip hop beats she makes, and her singing goes real well over it. but there are some tracks that sound almost like metal, like Evanescence, whom i dig too, but if you make a trippy, dj like, electronica cd, you should sort of stick w/ that and not go into extreme lands like metal unless you can really cover that music good... she makes it work, but those are tracks i'd skip over fast...

I say get her new album. why pay x amt for the EP, the the full length is just a few bux more.

Fans of Dido, Sarah McLachlan should dig this... but anyone into trip hop, ambient, or chill music, who likes a lil hip hop in their beats, should def check Jem out... She does sound very similar to Dido, but where she differs is in here music steez... she's more trip and dj like then Dido. Jem was a DJ before she was a producer, so she knows her way around the decks, and she def knows what she is doing.. I'm trying to get her full lentgh right now on ebay, but ppl are mad bidding me out...

Welsh pop singer Jem burst onto the scene with her multi-faceted debut, "Fianally Woken." In the aptly named EP "It All Starts Here," Jem gave a taste to the world of what to expect -- catchy pop laced with trip-hop and folk, all from her debut.

Starting off the EP is the exotic, hip-hop-laced "They," followed by the sultry, sexy "Come On Closer." She shifts into a slower gear with the mellow, flowing "Finally Woken," before revving up with the pleasant but unexceptional "Just A Ride," and finally finishing with the gentle "Flying High."

If Dido joined Portishead and started playing folk, the sound that resulted might be a bit like Jem. While "It All Starts Here" has some of Jem's strongest songs, it feels a little constricted. Only "Flying High" could be considered a ballad; the others are almost insanely catchy pop. As a result, listeners don't get to experience everything she can do.

Jem's voice is sweet and sensuous, especially in the final track where it's unencumbered by electronica, and the sketchy lyrics even out to a pretty little ballad. Her music is a crazy quilt of trip-hop, strummy guitars, bells, and who knows what else. It takes what might have been run-of-the-mill pop and makes it feel fresh and new.

"It All Starts Here" displays some of the best of pop newcomer Jem, although it doesn't really show everything she can do. Pretty, fun, exotic and catchy.

So many new artists have such forgettable music. Jem does not fall into that category. Check out her website, jem-music.net to listen.

I must say that the album is eclectic. Jems voice is soothing and fits with the music. She mixes beats with straight ahead bass player with great lyrics and Jem's amazing voice. Although I can here similarities to Dido, Jem is different in that the music is original and fits in with Jems style, not Dido. I was not sure am I wanted to buy her EP until I heard her live performance on Morning Becomes Eclectic I knew right then that her voice was for real. There is not a bad track on this album . Just a Ride is a great track and Flying High really shows off Jems range and voice. Come on Closer and They are not the best tracks, but still worth a listen. I am looking forward to her first full-length album. This is an album that anyone can like and get into.

The filler songs that are normally stuck in most albums are just not there. At less than $5.00 you can't go wrong (the big record labels are not slapping on their massive overhead). Each song is great in its own way; fun and uniquely Jem. Some have compared her to Dido, but Dodo's depressive anger is changed to an uplifting melodic voice. I hope the album (which Jem is working on) is half as good as this first five song release. There is great potential with Jem, and this should be just the beginning. GO JEM!!!

I like everyone else flipped over hearing "they". "closer" is a distant 2nd and the last 3 songs... eh. I was not going to get the LP but a coworker got it and it's great, several strong songs. don't be turned off by the EP.

just found out about Jem at the KCRW show in L.A. I liked her so much I went out to the lobby and bought this cd. Her voice is pretty aamzing and I dig her Fly Girl style :)

I agree with the previous reviewer from seattle -- I bought the EP after hearing the first song on KEXP. The rest of the EP for the most part is musically/lyrically totally unoriginal. She has a cute voice, yet there's no substance to the music. I'll probably listen to the first song a few more times, then retire the entire CD.

While working in New York my sister received many promotional cds and eps. She brought them home for Christmas and I went through all of them. jem is definately the greatest talent out of the mile high pile! Her voice is clear,clean and has great tonal quality. All of the songs are new...they are not bubblegum pop. I'm a dancer and I'm always looking for good danceable music...jem grooves! Each song on this ep is worth the money.