Customer Reviews

Over & Over

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Summary: Bode has an excellent voice that is well-served by her latest, mostly original album of jazz tunes with elements of folk and pop. Worth a purchase.

Long version: "Over and Over"

Several music websites list Bode as a "similar artist" to Norah Jones, which isn't an outlandish comparison. One difference between Bode and Jones, however, is that Bode's album seems far shorter than its 58:26 runtime would indicate. "Over and Over" possesses a subtle and pervasive energy that some other similar artists lack. Maybe the trick is Bode's voice, which is smooth, clear, and surgically precise. Whatever it is, the album is mellow without being drowsy.

I was pleasantly surprised at the maturity of the songwriting on this outing, especially in the middle part of the album (all Bode/Maness tunes). Bode gave us one original on her last album, which wasn't really enough to get a sense of her songwriting ability. On "Over and Over", 11 of the 14 are originals, and 10 co-written by Bode. The original songs are the stars of the album this time around, and I wouldn't be surprised if "June", "Send Me Up a Sign", "Something More" and/or "With the Radio On" get some radio airtime on adult contemporary or smooth jazz stations. I'm a sucker for those vocal harmonies!

The mixing and production are also well done. In fact, I only have one minor gripe about the album: the cover songs. I'm not crazy about any of the original versions of the cover songs, although Bode tempted me to like "Graceland". For a minute. At any rate, the cover songs are few, and don't really disrupt the flow of the album. The original songs are strong enough to justify 5 stars.

It's cool to see an emerging star come from my hometown of St. Louis. Of course, they all go to New York or LA when they start to get famous, don't they... hmmm. Well, at least as long as she stops by the Lou on tour, I'm OK with it.

I am not a hard core Jazz fan, but I love this album. Erin has her own style with a fresh and refreshing sound. I would not compare her music to any contemporary artist, but to the much missed Laura Nyro.

The album contents have been accurately described by others, so I won't go there. The first song alone is worth the cost of the disk. If you like this style of music, you will not be disappointed. If you don't, you probably aren't reading this!

Like Cassandra Wilson, Erin Bode records for a jazz label but does not fit easily into any readily identifiable musical bag. Where Wilson is earthy and sultry, Bode is light and feathery. She has a definite jazz sensibility, in a Tierney Sutton kind of way, but her choice of material and instrumentation places her over on the singer/songwriter side of the musical spectrum. Think Indigo Girls, Norah Jones without pretension, Jim Croce's serious side, Brazilian chanteuse Astrud Gilberto.

The St. Louis-based songstress cowrote ten of the fourteen songs on this CD with pianist Adam Maness, and they are striking in their melodic originality and lyrical playfulness. ("There must be something more, something wonderful in store; a fantiferous sensation that will knock me on the floor.") I fell in love with her approach to other people's songs on her first album, Don't Take Your Time, but here the original material gets inside your skin and just makes you feel good, even when she's giving a lover the kiss-off in "Perfect World." The opening "Holiday" is a hit song waiting for a radio format to fit into.

Her rich reinvention of Paul Simon's "Graceland" built on Maness' left hand piano lines doubled by acoustic bass is irresistible, and her melancholy reading of "Holding Back the Years" (remember Simply Red?) accompanied only by acoustic guitar (Maness again) is compelling. I like the touch of cello here and there, and Seamus Blake deserves to be singled out for his fine tenor sax work on a number of tunes.

Originally published in Port Folio Weekly, 4/11/06

copyright 2006 Port Folio Weekly. Used by Permission.

Having had the opportunity to hear Ms. Bode live, I eagerly awaited her first release. Alas, though having some bright moments, overall it left an impression of sounding forced and a bit too "earnest". This release is a huge leap forward, and should be a "BUY NOW WITH ONE CLICK!" to anyone who's found Norah Jones or more "mainstream jazz" singers worth listening to- Bode's voice is clearly more technically capable than Jones, and is thankfully missing the by-the-numbers feel one finds in so much of Diana Krall's work. While I'm a big Cassandra Wilson fan, Bode's work is certainly more accessible, without being too saccharine (barring perhaps her lost love lament "St. Louis Song"). I can't give it 5 stars, because this is no "Graceland"-- though her wonderful interpretation of Simon's classic alone makes the disc worth buying. From the band to the production values- used to best effect, but not overdone- the work all comes together.

I had listened to the first 12 cuts of this, Erin Bode's sophomore c.d., and was ready to write my 4 star review. I had it pretty well fleshed out in my mind. I was going to entitle it "Well-above average jazz-pop," and say that the only reason that I'm giving this 4 stars is that I'm not a huge fan of jazz-pop, but as far as jazz-pop goes, this is as good as it gets. I was going to compare it very favorably to the more popular Jamie Cullum's "Catching Tales" of late 2005, and say that the two things that make this c.d. stand out are the beautiful, clear tone of Ms. Bode's voice, and the fact that the structure of her songs (almost all of which are originals) allows her instrumentalists (notably Seamus Blake on tenor sax) to stretch out while retaining pop quality.

All of that is true, BTW, but this experience shows why it's always good to finish a c.d. or a book before reviewing.

The second-to-last cut is Ms. Bode's one "Great American Songbook" cover, the very oft-covered "Alone Together." This is one of the best covers of that great old song that I've heard, with an insinuating, off-the-beat chord structure wrapped around Ms. Bode's lovely voice.

And then we get to the last song, "Home Again." Oh, my, God. This is one of those "pull your car over to the side of the road and listen to this, over and over, because any album with a song like this on it is a great album" kind of songs. The last time I had that kind of experience was with Allison Krauss' "A Living Prayer." What a song!! (Of course, it may simply be that I'm a sucker for gorgeous voice-cello duets, and with Dave Egger's cello, this certainly is that!)

To the say the least, this album is highly recommended for that song alone. But the rest of it ain't too shabby, either. RC

7/5/06: Several months later, I have to say: this c.d. is even better than what I first reviewed. There are a few albums: Jackie Allen's "Love Is Blue"; Shirley Horn's "Here's to Life"; and Dee Dee Bridgewater's "Jai Deux Amours", to name but three--where the first time you listen to it you like it; the second time, you really like it; the third time, you love it; the fourth time, you love it even more. This album falls in that category. As the title cut says, you can listen to this "Over and over" and never tire of it. It is truly one of the best of 2006, though that wasn't apparent to me on first or second listen.

Erin Bodes song 'Holiday' is incredible, it sounds recorded for the radio, a plus in my opinion, as well as the second track 'Over and Over.' I love it when she controls her vibrato carefully, less so on the more casual, jazz club sounding tracks. The CD gels thanks to the arrangements of 'The Erin Bode Group.' I would love to hear them cover Billy Joel. She has a young, hopeful perspective making 'Long, Long Time,' another great song. I think her sound can be compared to early Nanci Griffith or current Meg Allison, crossing genres in a modern way.

Erin has a smooth, beautiful voice that cuts through me. So good! I saw her in concert and she was charming.

Comparing Erin with Eva Cassidy and Nora Jones is not completely fair since all three have their own distinctive styles. I love Ein's voice and lyrics on this cd and it seems to grow on me each time I listen to it. Her voice is more like a babbling brook--very relaxing and a great morning or winding down at night tone. Thanks Erin for something new in the female vocal area. Please come to Atlanta to perform!

Leigh Moss

Erin Bode is often compared to Norah Jones, but this comparison is flawed. Norah Jones' songwriting is superior to that of Erin Bode's sophomoric meanderings. This record could be so much better. Bode's appearance on Fox News piqued my interest due to her band's ability to create a smooth, atmospheric jazz background to her sultry crooning. This record finds her voice thin and unconvincing. It would be better served by an electric piano or organ; the guitar won't cut it. Jones' lyrics are delivered in a straightforward manner with excellent, mellow backing tunes. Erin Bode should take note. So should the producers of this album.

Erin has a beautiful voice -- that cannot be disputed. My complaint with this album is the choice of material. With the exception of the first song and the cover of Simon's "Graceland," these songs blur into one set of same-sounding, bland tunes. And there really isn't a chance for us to hear if Erin can swing because the material is set perpetually below the speed limit. And while Mr. Maness' song "Holiday" seems inspired, the rest seem composed for rainy days or coffee shops. Come on -- pull your Bobby Hutcherson or Andrew Hill albums out and start gathering ideas for harmonically sophisticated, interesting music for Erin to sing! Hearken back to King Pleasure and put words to a hard bop tune -- maybe write lyrics to Jackie McLean's "Who Killed Cock Robin." You guys are talented -- grab Steve Elf, Mulgrew Miller, and Steve Wilson, and do something interesting!