Customer Reviews

Key of a Minor

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I first heard Jessica Riddle's song "Even Angels Fall" in the movie "10 Things I Hate About You." I do believe that's the most well known of the songs on this album, and for good reason as it is one of the best. The songs on this album are truly from the heart of Jessica. Her lyrics seem to all revolve around her life's experiences. One of the best things about this album is the lack of electronic music. She can not only sing very well, but plays instruments too. A great change from the manufactured pop groups dominating the charts these days. If you like true lyrics and a voice that isn't overpowering when singing, and also want something that is a change from the norm, get this CD.

From the first aggressive chord to the last haunting refrain, Jessica Riddle's debut release Key of a Minor will grab ahold of your ears, your heart, and your emotion, refusing to release you.

Twenty year old Jessica is a singer, songwriter, pianist and true performer. Her lyrics are so personal that you at first feel like you're reading her diary -- and then you realize perhaps it is she giving voice to yours. She discusses a wide range of experienves that many listeners share. Heartbreak. Divorce. Pain. Joy. Disgust. Childhood. Adulthood. She offers us a reflection of our own emotions. We've all been cynical. Apathetic. Sympathetic. Wistful. Hopeful. Faithful. Faithless. Quiet sometimes. Loud when we need to be. All of these and more.
Every song sounds different and every song strikes a chord close to home. The moods range from the sad (Track 11, "Gone") to the jubilant (Track 1, "I Want You"). The chauvinistic relationship of Track 5, "I'm Sorry" makes us all cringe and plead for such victims to get out -- get out now! We grab our old yearbooks or call a pal on the phone after hearing her tribute to a high school friend in Track 8, "For Wowzer". Track 3 and second single "Symphony" employs a beautiful string section and a sample from 'Mr. Big Stuff' concurrently with grand results. At the other end is the simplistic of a girl, a piano, her voice, and her pain with "Gone".A simple piano line backs up questions that may never be answered. She is wise beyond her years (Track 10, "Dreams Will Fade") and still acts her age (Track 7, "Everything"). Her voice is amazing, combining fire and power with dynamic effects.

Unlike some current young female artists who are either all smiles or all tears, Jessica is able to show us various sides of personality. She is not afraid to share her thoughts and feelings. She is extremely talented in all areas here - vocal, piano, songwriting - and you can tell she's singing from her heart and her soul. Not one song should be skipped - no pages from the diary left unturned - not one person unmoved.

The fourth track "Even Angels Fall" is the first single, previously heard on the 1999 soundtrack to "10 Things I Hate About You". It in itself discusses the rollercoaster that is life. "You found hope / You found faith / Found how fast she could take it away / Found true love / But lost your heart / Now you don't know who you are." The upbeat tune makes you tap your feet but the story makes you think. It is a reminder than even those with the best track record can make a mistake -- and it's okay. Life will go on. "Even angels fall" -- you can't be perfect every minute of every day.

The standout appears smack-dab in the middle as Track 6. "Your Girl." Written about her parents' divorce but placed in third person instead of first, that perhaps allows for some distance. Meanwhile, it allows the listener to crate vastly unique and personal interpretations. Words such as "divorce" or "parents" are never used, so the girl could be anyone, anything. "You don't know now / And you see how / Much pain you made her feel / It's real, real now / It's real now."

I remember when I first heard Jessica Riddle on the 10 things i hate about you soundtrack, and at first, i thought it was more WB type dribble. But I kept listeming, and I could'nt get it out of my head. Now with her her debut finally out all I can say is it was worth the wait.

This CD was released in 2000, which was when the "teen-pop" trend was big. At that time, anything not teen pop was basically ignored, and true talent was pushed aside. This CD proves that. In a music industry where song lyrics were shallow and cliched, Jessica Riddle stood out with her meaningful lyrics about her life. Now might be the time to mention that besides the fact that she can sing and play the piano, she has talent in writing/co-writing songs and music. Every song on this CD has a message, whether it's about the good and bad side of love, her best friend, or how she fits in. Song number five, "I'm Sorry", is the only song where the message is sarcastic. A couple of the songs on her CD really stand out. Song number three "Symphony", stands out because it's about Jessica's real relationship with her boyfriend. Sometime she goes overboard with description, but the whole song seems to be about her personally. Song number four, "Even Angels Fall," stands out because it talks about both the good and bad points of being in love, and how it feels. The best line in the song might just be, "It ain't no fairytale, take it from me, that's the way it's supposed to be." This is the one song that most people say introduced them to Jessica Riddle. There are a few songs that stand out because of their lyrics. Songs four, nine, and ten have the best lyrics. With all that talent for singing, playing the piano, and writing/co-writing, where is Jessica now?

I gotta give amazon credit for reccomending me this album from the very much unknown young artist Jessica Riddle. A highschool student when she wrote most of these songs, the maturity and poise that she shows here belies her young age as she crafts some very memorable and catchy tunes.

The first four songs are probably the strongest, opening with the youthful longing of "I Want You", "Even Angels Fall", which got some airplay once upon a time on the WB, "Symphonic", and my personal favorite "Sadly Beautiful". Other strong songs include "Everthing", "Your Girl", and "I'm sorry", the anti-feminist song of the decade... provided, of course, that you have no concept of biting sarcasm. The second half of the album is definitely softer than the first, and she does a great job of using her piano to back up her vocals.

Overall, this is an album that should have gotten more attention, and one that I'm very glad I stumbled across. Although dropped from Hollywood Records, Jessica (now recording under her married name Jessica Jacobs) has released a follow up independent album "Chapter 2", which is also quite good, and hopefully her career can take off from there. I wouldn't call this an 'essential album', but if you're into female music this one's definitely worth picking up while you still can.

Something so rare in a sea of so called "bubblegum" acts, Jessica writes and sings her own songs. Each one is full of emotion from the poignant "I'm Sorry," a battlecry for every woman who's had enough to her delicious cover of Mr. Big Stuff, "Symphony". This cd will be on perma play for days.

1. I Want You-Not your typical love ballad, but still bursting with feeling, this is a playful song to a lover, that isn't full of sappy "I love you's."

2. Sadly Beautiful-Everyone's had someone they've lost...Absence makes the heart grow fonder. The song's emotion can be summed up in the lyrics "Baby needs a new pair of eyes/cause the one's you got now see only goodbyes/I had no chance at all to watch you grow up/so sadly beautiful."

3. Symphony-Delicious remake of Mr. Big Stuff..Symphony conveys the feelings you feel when touched by love. How you want to be with them always and how everything is alive when they're around.

4. Even Angels Fall-The most well known track is for the broken hearted, after you're alone and disillusioned about yourself. "Found true love/Lost your heart/Now you don't know who you are."

5. I'm Sorry-A wicked and edgy ode to male dominance, Jessica gives across a sarcastic tone, apologizing that "She can't run the world cause she can't even decide what to make for dinner"...The perfect song for those feeling less than perfect in a relationship.

6. Your Girl-"Dont tell her lies/cause she'll believe/boy she's still got baby teeth" speaks of honesty or lack of. It's a "Somebodys been decieving, girl's gotta be leaving," kinda song that is perfect to listen when bruised by whoever stole your heart. This was written about her parents divorce and is a very heartfelt song.

Unlike a lot of the other teeny bopper acts out in the world, Jessica Riddle is actually talented and has depth in her material.

Like many other people, I had previously heard "Angels Fall" on TV and the movies, and was completely entranced by it. I drove my friends and family nuts searching for this CD and finally found it.

Although it will problaly sadly join the ranks of underappreciated greats Magnapop and Letters to Cleo, It wallops Britney, the Spice Girls and Jessica Lopez any day of the week, and I have yet to meet a person who hates this reccording.

I heard one of her songs on a TV show, and it was the most wonderful song I had ever heard. So as soon as I bought the CD I really experienced the power. Jessica Riddle is a very talented vocalist, not only is her harmony wonderful, but in now a days meaning less teenage songs, hers strike a chord deep inside. Her CD is a must for all collections.

I had heard Jessica's Even Angels Fall on Ten Things I Hate About You, but it wasn't til after i saw her open for BBMAK that i bought her cd after hearing how heartfelt her songs were as she strummed along on her guitar, responding to every "we love you, jess" from the crowd with a "thanks, i love you too". i was more touched by her realness than her music in truth, but soon after i got the cd i fell in love with every single song and have downloaded new songs shes been writing for her new cd. she's an amazing musician who adds an honesty to music thats hard to come by anymore. all of the tracks on this cd stir up emotions that we've all dealt with, the listener is totally involved with the music. it's an amazing cd, buy it now!

This is a great album -- high energy, a commanding voice and an smart set of songs. I can't wait for Jessica's next album.