Customer Reviews

Jennifer Marks

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

According to her self-titled Bardic records debut, Jennifer Marks is a huge talent just screaming to be discovered. Having recently finished a successful tour opening for Cyndi Lauper, the redheaded singer/songwriter is still performing various showcase dates to promote awareness of her album. Dates for the many shows in the tri-state area can be found via her official website, www.jennifermarks.com.

A collection of 12 pop/rock songs that showcase Marks' personality as well as talent, there are as many moments of serious urgency as there are tongue-in-cheek comments on events that occur not only in her life, but in those of her listeners as well. An example of the latter leaps out at the listener in the form of the hook-laden, smile-inducing opening track and lead single "Live," a song inspired by a terrible day that began with her spilling coffee all over her laptop computer.

"Woke up this morning on the wrong side of the bed/I should have stayed in dreamland where warm and fuzzy thoughts fill my head/My breakfast of champions is a cold pizza and a cold cup of coffee and an even colder shower/I'm late for work and my boss is a jerk you know he drives me crazy but it won't change me."

Another bonafide standout on the album is "Thick," where Marks confronts someone whose mind is in desperate need of opening and needs to stop blaming all the problems of his life on those around him. Anyone who has known such a person can certainly relate.

"You could fix it but you can't admit you're wrong/Cuz your thicker than blood/Thicker than stone/I'm always talking to myself/I wanna get through/But you're a brick wall/You're so thick you don't hear at all."

For a good laugh, the disc concludes with "High School Reunion," where Marks makes a list of comments about others from her graduating class until she wonders why she even came to the reunion in the first place.

"If you wanted to prove you still had hair/I'm sorry I don't care/Hope my ambivalence doesn't disappoint you/I find myself asking why I even came/I'm choking on my answers/Then and now's the same/Why am I at my high school reunion?"

Other must-listens include the therapeutic, confessional "Walk Away", "Naked" and the edgy "Avalanche."

In short, every single track on "Jennifer Marks" is a hit; there isn't a miss among the dozen. Every track lives and breathes its own individual story. This is the kind of music that speaks for itself. If justice prevails, this music will make Jennifer Marks a huge star.

My wife and I happened to catch Ms. Marks when she opened for Cyndi Lauper in San Diego. We had read a bit about her clever yet insightful lyrics and pleasing voice but were also pleased to find out that her stage presence was also top-notch. Some might make the mistake of comparing her to other popular singer-songwriters, but Marks is her own woman and her music is just as unique as it is great to listen to.

We purchased this CD that evening and listened to it on the way home, both of us appreciating the fact that we had just caught a rising talent who not only entertains but lets us see a bit of who she is at the same time.

Her music is as delightful as her amazing red hair - there's a lot of layers to enjoy.

If you want to listen to someone who matters now and will continue to matter, don't miss jumping on the Marks Band Wagon. It's a ride that everyone will enjoy.

Jennifer Marks delivers the goods. The tracks on this album cover a broad range of sounds, from the sultry stylings of "Window" to the infectious grooves of "Live" to the thoughtful vulnerability of "Raggedy Ann" and "Fragile." Jennifer Marks mixes up a fresh sound with her unique, slighty-skewed worldview and leaves your lips smiling and your toes tapping. "Any Other Way" and "High School Reunion" are tasty songs that you'll probably find yourself singing as you step out of the shower (if you're inclined to do that sort of thing). I highly recommend this CD.

Jennifer Marks once again delivers an Amazing CD with truthful lyrics and a unique sound. From upbeat, sing in the shower songs like "Any Other Way" to deep, thoughtful ballads like "Raggedy Ann" and "Fragile". "Really Something" will touch your heart, and "Live" will put a lasting smile on your face. I recommend HIGHLY!

It has been said, that an artist has their whole life to prepare their first album. Jennifer Marks is kind of cheating. This very good "self titled" CD is really (with a couple of exceptions) a re- produced, re- engineered version of "My Name's Not Red" which was okay, if you are an eighties, nineties kind of MTV/VH1 pop fan.

Six years of Maturity and better music trends later, "Jennifer Marks" is a very good album that flirts with being a great album. Although as an artist she still (at this 2004) outing seems to be looking for her unique "voice" in music, (the metaphor works better for writing) she has a certain something about her music that feels right. While Ms Marks voice is far from perfect, her sense of timing is absolutly flawless.

I have these two albums because they were suggested to my by Amazon. When I got them I listened to "My Name's Not Red", and I wasn't impressed enough to put it in again or listen to "Jennifer Marks". They sat in my back seat for over a year, and I put on "Jennifer Marks", on a whim last week and quite enjoyed it all week.

Here is the deal though, she seems to be a cross of Sheryl Crow, Fiona Apple, and Meredith Brooks, (both vocally, and lyrically),who are three of my personal favorites, but I like them because they are unique, so go figure. Another quirk about this CD, you can kind of tell the Musicians that she was listening to personally while recording this CD, as styles you recognize seem apparent in the songs.

Embarrassingly, the song that really sticks out is "Window", (which is a fantasy ode to exhibitionism) again ... go figure.

So, for me here is the deal, this is a worthwhile album, and I enjoy it quite a bit, (and a lot more than "My Name's Not Red") I think there may be greatness inside of Ms. Marks if she is allowed to cultivate her craft until it is hers alone.

If not for hearing a few of these songs on launchcast radio I would have continued on having never ever heard of Jennifer Marks or her music. Hearing a few of these songs such as "Avalanche" prompted me to preview the rest and immediately purchase the CD. It is an extremely easy listen, a good mix of uptempo and slower songs that will probably find the most appeal in that age 30-50 audience.

I am proud to say i have had the pleasure to have jennifer as a voice teacher. I remember the first time listening to her first CD's and thinking wow one day she will find the right record deal and produce something that would increasingly grow! Well this is it. Her self titled CD features some of her newer masterpieces, and older ones as well. It is amazing to hear the difference, see the transition and feel the growth of her voice and musicianship. The songs are so meaningful and all written with care and have a special meaning to her. I recommend you buy this CD first and if you enjoy it definitely buy her others. Raggedy Ann, Avalanche, Live and Really something are just a few of my favorites!

So buy and enjoy!