Customer Reviews

Linger

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There is nothing like listening to songs from an artist that is in love with the craft of making music. Jen Chapin's collection of tunes on Linger takes us on journeys of love, loss, apathy, hope, joy and trust. The melodies meander along different paths, but we can still feel centered as we listen to the layers and layers of gorgeous instrumentation that is nestled in and around her warm voice. Jen, apparently, hasn't been able to escape comparisons to Norah Jones, and while Norah is a talented musician herself, I don't think the two sound similar at all. Jen's music is dirtier and full-bodied...her lyrics challenge and her soul bares all. No two songs sound alike on Linger and it's evident that Chapin's influences extend across many genres and time periods. In this business of covers, sampling and copycat blondes, this chocolate-haired maven brings it home with a truly unique release. Linger is a must-have.

I picked up this CD two nights ago on a whim, having been a huge fan of her father's. I had expected perhaps just another son or daughter of a famous artist following vainly in their parent's footsteps. This record is anything but..

Simply put, I can't get enough of it. It's a stunning and hauntingly fresh blend of multiple derivative sources, yet remains sharply original and innovative.

Her voice captivates, enthralls, and grabs your attention, at once teasing and demanding, explaining and questioning, and she turns phrases in ways that convey multiple, complex meanings and adds playful new twists to common phrasings.

I hesitate to compare her to her father, as this record deserves to stand on its own right, free of such baggage. Suffice to say that fans of her father's will smile at the musical winks and nods to dad, but Jen Chapin is a singularly distinctive artist in her own right, often relying on simple sentences to communicate a point directy, or just letting the creative arrangements of her backing music lead us on an unexpected journey of discovery.

I welcome you to listen to this record with the same cynical ear that I had and see if she doesn't melt you.

"Linger" is an engaging and seductively brilliant first effort by a woman of obvious creative talent, backed by a voice that sends shivers up your spine.

Do yourself a favor and then see if you can take it out of your CD player.

In a world of in-your-face performers with questionable talent, Jen Chapin's sweet and tender soul, powerful voice, and introspective lyrics make this a standout, go-to album. Her deep NYC roots are evident in this CD, and even more so in her live show, if you are lucky enough to see her perform.

I highly recommend Jen Chapin's new CD Linger.

I'm a tough critic on much of the music being produced today. When I discover a new Artist, all the expectation is there when you listen to their CD for the first time. Usually the new stuff never lives up to my expectations, and I go back to my favorites such as Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, or Harry Chapin.

Every once in a while, not very often, someone new comes along with an interesting twist on looking at the world in a unique way, and able to express something very honest and real. Jen Chapin's music is the most invigorating and creative music I have heard from a new artist in a very long time. She opens herself up, expressing her views with a refreshing creativity. Jen Chapin has captured emotion and experience that says something, makes you feel and takes you places.

My favorite song changes every other week, but it's lines like "We let the outrage melt away, it seems that life is so much easier that way," from 'Passive People,' or the gut wrenching truth she sings about in the song 'Regular Life,' with lines like "...to be told that your story is not the only one? No, not the first nor the last, not the best, not the worst, you are cursed by a regular life." I love it, and god it feels good to know I'm not the only one feeling this way, and she captured it to perfection, through lyrics and an amazing group of musicians backing her up to make the most of it.

This CD and Jen Chapin have quickly become a favorite, and again, I highly recommend this. It's like nothing else out there. Jen has a unique sound all of her own, and I hang on every word. I can't wait for the next CD!

My "music guru" friend turned me on to the Jen Chapin CD a few weeks....and I am SO thankful that he did. I have been listening to it nonstop since. This is a beautiful record by an artist that has something to say. Lyrically, Jen covers everything from politics to matters of the heart with equal skill. The arrangements are wonderful...with everything from simple piano to lush string sections to beatboxes to beeps and blips. "Linger" sounds like a classic record that will no doubt stand the test of time...with songs this good and production this sublime it's a no brainer...Jen Chapin is an artist to be reckoned with. The best thing is, you can just sense the potential..I cant wait to hear what she will do next.

This is not the first Jen Chapin CD I have purchased. The first, a four track CD entitled simply "Jen Chapin", was purchased in 1997 solely because she was Harry Chapin's daughter. Well that was then and this is now.

Jen has grown and matured. From the bright, funny and upbeat "Little Hours" to the hauntingly beautiful "I Could Fall", this is an extraordinary CD.

Though I can hear her dad's influence, it is more than "the acorn does'nt fall far from the tree". This acorn has taken root and grown into a strong, passionate and musically exciting tree of her own.

Since the late 70's, most often you would find a Harry Chapin album playing in my house.

Now you're more likely to hear Linger!

'Tis the season for singer-songwriters with profound and lasting ties to
the jazz world, and Jen Chapin's "Linger" is an important part of the story.
This album features some of New York's best jazz instrumentalists: Pete
Rende on piano and Wurlitzer, Chris Cheek on saxes, Jamie Fox on guitars,
Stephan Crump on bass, Dan Rieser on drums. The tracks gleam with subtle,
seamless detail, bringing Chapin's attractive voice, probing melodies, and
reflective, sometimes acerbic lyrics into sharp focus. The infectious lilt
of "Manchild" and "Hurry Up Sky," the sparse funk of "Me Be Me" and
"Numbers," the stirring, dramatic ballad outro of "City," the
quasi-Caribbean country of "Passive People," the sheer hit potential of
"'Til I Get There" - all reveal a hungry and seasoned talent, richly
deserving of recognition.

My two favorite tunes on this CD are "Little Hours" and "Hurry Up Sky". I let the CD grow on me. It needs to be absorbed slowly. Her voice is beautifully subtle and has it's own distinct character. Although I am a fan of her father, there are no similarities. Jen is in a world of her own here. Lyrics are thoughfully written and the guitar on the CD is somewhat jazzy and brings some different textures to the pieces. Beautifully written music.
-Dave Carlin
david.j.carlin@verizon.net

I really really love this CD. Jen Chapin is a talented artist, to put it plainly. Her music is soulful, insightful, and inspires the heart. From her concerts in New York City and around the country (including here in the Bay area), I knew Jen was an "up-and-coming" artist with musical talent and important messages to share, but every time I listen to Linger it takes me to a whole new place....and I smile that she's "here," getting the national acclaim that she and her band has earned. I feel really lucky to own this CD. Thanks!

I live in NYC and have had the good fortune to see and hear Jen Chapin perform live for the last few years. I have always felt that she deserved a larger audience and her new album Linger provides that opportunity.

Linger is a culmination of her best work, presenting a fully developed and original artist. Her album covers a wide range of moods and subjects. Her songs are about love, friendship and observations of the world, revealing a complex sensibility to relationships, love and personal integrity.

Her voice is intriguing and covers a wide range from sexy and gritty to gentle and lyrical, perfectly meeting the mood of each song. Her haunting melodies resonate for days.

Jen writes her own music and has a wonderful band who have worked with her for years, developing a creative sensitivity to one another. This allows for a free flowing, mutually supportive performance, building rich layers of sound.

Jen Chapin combines musicianship, beauty and intellect. She is a woman of substance, comfortable and honest with herself and the audience, a wonderful performer who says what she thinks and sings what she feels. Her multi- textured voice keeps you interested and emotionally involved.

This is a great recording.
Check it out!

Definitely a Fan,
Rosa Naparstek