Customer Reviews

Oh Susanna

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

 

 

To be honest, I had no idea whether Oh Susanna was a band, a person, or a one-off music collective. I bought this record because it was in the bargain bin and because it was produced by Colin Cripps, whose live work with Kathleen Edwards had blown away. Oh Susanna turns out to be one of those solo artists masquerading as a band (eg. PJ Harvey).

The artist in question, Suzie Ungerleider, wrote most of the songs and sings and plays guitar on the record. While I don't find this record hugely memorable or different, say in the way Neko Case is, it is also a solid record with no real weaknesses. The songs are pretty punchy, and Ungerleider's singing has enough gusto to it (her vibrato is especially attractive to the ear) to help mask the fact that the songs just aren't that impressive, though they're also far from bad.

My reaction to this record may be due to the fact that I'm not a big fan of country music in general, usually finding country a little same-sounding. It takes a great deal to transcend the genre's limitations (eg. Case, Emmylou Harris) and Ungerleider doesn't quite do so. I guess I just look for more emotional weight in my listening tastes. However, Oh Susanna remains a pleasant record, and if you're into this kind of purist country sound, you'll probably like this record a lot more than I do.

I bought this CD in Italy (sorry Amazon, but you step in when the music I'm looking for doesn't reach my shores). To understand the quality of this music, suffice it to say that the latest Patty Griffin album is not distributed in my country. While I'm not saying that Oh Susanna, also known off-stage as Suzie Ungerleider, is better than Patty (in my opinion, she isn't), nonetheless she isn't getting the attention she deserves, especially from the US market.
But then, what does she have to offer? This album is a full-band effort, with hints of country, folk and acoustic rock thrown in it. Or, put in another way, imagine a more versatile Kathleen Edwards with less grit and more power in her voice. Now, if you get the comparison, you know pretty well what to expect from this album (but on a better level).
And the album offers a wide variety of skills indeed: the radio-friendly rock tune from the 60's, with a nice "saloon piano" accompaniment ("Right By Your Side", which is about driving the interstate to get to the loved one), the slow piano-based song about a heroin-addicted friend who didn't fulfil his dreams in his new adopted country ("Billy"), the gorgeous cover of Dylan ("I'll keep it with mine"), the post-9/11 song, which distinguishes between the grief at the victims ("when I saw those towers tumble you know I got down on my knees and prayed") and the political responsibilities ("Hey Mr. Politician, you say that it is time to fight this holy war, but I don't need no television to see one is raging out my back door)". By the way, this song has a nice melody, in stark (and, I'd say, baffling) contrast to its grievous theme.
To complete the list, the slow ballads "Mama" and "The One", the straight-from-the-70s rock of "Little White Lies" and the "countrified" "Carrie Lee" also deserve a mention. In fact, this is one of those rare albums you can listen to from start to finish.
However, my favourite song remains "Down by the Quarry", which is, let me say that, Appalachian folk on steroids. While the dragging of vowels into a dirge-like singing complies with the tradition, the lush instrumentation, the bawdy lyrics ("my white breast is your rightful quarry") and the use of piano are a welcome departure from it, resulting in the song's appeal. The only drawback: the backing vocals by Kathleen Edwards (yes, Kathleen Edwards) are overwhelmed by the instruments.
In all, it's a four-star album. It's good, but it still lacks something to enter the Pantheon. Anyway, it's worth its price; so, be one of the first Americans to discover this great Canadian singer/songwriter.

This is one of the rare cases where I think the prior reviews of this record really nail it. This is a good but not great collection of songs. Most of them lack that something special that transcends the rather ordinary soulful country sound and production. I too bought the album because of the producer who has done outstanding work with Kathleen Edwards and married her as well. The Ontario musicians are all first rate as any fan of the area's music can attest but again most of the songs are a little flat.

There are some outstanding tracks however beginning with the Dylan cover and including "Little White Lies", "Down By The Quarry" and "Billy". Ms Ungerleider deserves to be heard and I look forward to exploring more of her music.

Another bit of evidence that all the old floaty ethereal goth crap labels are turning to chick-singer alt-country bands these days.

First there was Tarnation on 4AD, now there's Oh Susanna on Nettwerk. The singer's reminiscent of Dolly and Emmylou, but she writes songs about things like how it's no surprise ppl in the ghetto didn't feel personally wounded about the WTC falling (in "Cain is Rising," based on quotes in an article a year after 9/11 to the effect of "I really don't care that all those white people died"), or how she wants to cut off her dead junkie boyfriend's arms so the buzzards can eat them and then bury the rest of him at sea ("Billy", the final song on the album with a beautiful beautiful chorus, though morbid). A bit like Handsome Family Lite meets Neko Case perhaps?

I look forward to future releases by Oh Susanna!

This artist toured in Australia and I missed her, then I saw the album in a charity shop and risked a buck out of curiosity.
Gloriously, it has the aching honesty and eloquent grit of the Band, in a less "blokesy" package. It ranges from rootsy rock (a little) to country-paced ballads (a lot), winding down to a reflective end. There's acoustic and electric guitar, piano, fiddle, pedal-steel... all played and produced with warmth and subtlety (definitely no banjo on the knee). The voice is kind of Sheryl Crow with folkie sensitivity. I think the singer's only in her 20s, and you can tell, but she has the artistry and depth of someone older. It's hard to pinpoint her style(s), and categorise her music in general, but I like all the places she's coming from. If you like Ryan Adams's Heartbreaker CD and reckon something similar from a female might be alright - or, imagine a woman making Neil Young's Harvest on a smaller budget - don't hestitate to get this. More, please.

I'm not a country music fan in the true sense of the word such as Garth Brooks or Randy Travis. This music has more of a country rock blend and far less twang. I certainly don't mind country influences.

Nevertheless, I find her vocals to be strong and attractive. She can definitely sing and not having heard any of her other recordings, I believe she has great potential. Although I agree with one reviewer who said the songs are somewhat forgettable, I find the whole package; songs, voice, and music to hold my interest and I continue to play this CD from time to time. I think there's something more to it that I can't quite put my finger on.

I stumbled on this purely by accident, and am so glad I did. I had never heard anything about this girl. I was so impressed that I wanted to hear more ...and there is more. She is a fine song writer and a original and captivating singer. Search out her other stuff. You'll find that it is worth it.

Really surprised to stumble upon this one...from a review in a magazine, no less! It's an interesting combination of music that she puts together - a bit rhythm and blues meets country meets pure rock and roll. Reminds me at times of the Stones. Saw her live in Edinburgh and she rocked! Buy it, buy it, buy it!