Steady Pull

Jonatha Brooke

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 13, 2001)
• Original Release Date: February 13, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Bad Dog Records
• ASIN: B000056VL5
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #127,743 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Getting a fix on Jonatha Brooke's music has never been easy, and her 2001 effort further complicates the task. As a solo artist, Brooke has teased fans with genre-gobbling pastiche (10 Cent Wings) and austere acoustics (Live), as if she were still searching for her voice in the Story's aftermath. On Steady Pull she may not find it, but you can hear her zeroing in. Working with legendary producer Bob Clearmountain (Pretenders and Bryan Adams) Brooke emphasizes her strengths--mercurial but memorable melodies, complex but flowing rhythms--through a variety of settings: polished contemporary R&B, alternative guitar rock, orchestral pop, as well as some trademark acoustic folk. If the musical shifts occasionally verge on distraction, Brooke's compressed, confessional songwriting and sincere, tart delivery mostly remain in focus. --Roy Kasten

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Feel the Steady Pull of Jonatha Brooke...And I Like It, February 8, 2001

By	Jeff Williams "Jeff" (Schwenksville, PA) - See all my reviews

My autographed copy of Jonatha's new album arrived a week earlier than it will in the stores...since I bought it from her website. Which is a good thing, because I've listened to it so much these first few days I'll need to get a new copy when its officially released.

Steady Pull marks the beginning of a change in Jonatha's musical styles. Fans who discovered Jonatha's work when she recorded as The Story will hardly recognize her now. Rather than the delicate and lush sounds that defined The Story or the folk-rock inspired sounds of her first solo albums, Jonatha has released what could be considered her first rock album. There are a couple of slow waltz-inspired ballads, but for the most part, the songs are R&B and jazz infused rock tracks. Don't dare accuse her of changing styles for marketing sakes, because her songs are much more complicated and deeper...this is Jonatha's pure talent simply breaking out of the mold.

"Linger" is close to old Jonatha, which is probably why its the first track, but after that its quite a different record. The title track has a rythym track never heard on Jonatha songs...and I like it. "Out of Your Mind" is great, as are the "Dress" songs. The production is great, and shows that Jonatha really put effort and thought into her new songs. Few other artist realize the potential of the voice as an instrument, and while she doesn't have the octave range some singers have, Jonatha's voice is never the same from song to song, and is rarely the same from line to line. She's always been an original and she'll always be a favorite of mine.

While not her masterpiece, Steady Pull is a turning point for Jonatha Brooke as she matures and branches out, experimenting with her songwriting skills and pushing her style range. Maybe I haven't given it the 2-3 years that I've given her previous five-star albums, and maybe I'm not used to her change of pace. I will be patient, and enjoy the budding genius on her tour supporting this album, because as she masters this amazing songwriting range that she displays, her experience will push her talent further and I have a feeling her future albums will be her best yet.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Zesty new music from Story-teller Jonatha, February 13, 2001

By	William Merrill "eclecticist" (San Antonio, TX United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The first new studio album from Jonatha Brooke in nearly four years is close to being everything I could have hoped for, with solid songwriting, engaging production and arrangements, and the usual lovely vocals from Jonatha. There are several of the kind of introspective, acoustic singer-songwriter tunes I've enjoyed from her in the past, but the album also has a surprising amount of diversity. There are flavors of soul and funk (particularly on the title track), plus a brash shot of Stones-ish rock `n' roll on "Out of Your Mind." The real stunner is an ultra-catchy, elaborately constructed minor-key number called "Room In My Heart." If there were any justice in the music world, "Room" would get heaps of airplay - but there isn't, and it won't. As for those introspective songs, longtime fans will surely dig cuts like "Your House" and "Lullaby." Bob Clearmountain did a sturdy job as producer, and the CD boasts guest appearances from Neil Finn, Mitchell Froom, Marcus Miller and others of note. Docked a star for the uneven sound quality - the disc too often sounds muddled, and occasionally too tinny.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BREATHTAKINGLY BRILLIANT!, April 11, 2001

By A Customer

Jonatha Brooke has to be one of the most under-rated artists around today but it seems likely that with the release of this album all that could change. From the catchy folk pop of 'Linger' to the funked up 'How Deep is Your Love' -(no,not the Bee Gee's song!!) every single track on 'Steady Pull' is a winner. Ex-Crowded House front man Neil Finn also makes an appearance on the darkly seductive 'Red dress' but even there it's Jonatha who steals the show. I've read the other reviews with interest and any criticism seems to be based on the fact that this album doesn't sound the same as Jonatha's past releases: but surely this is a good thing!! existing fans should be delighted that she is branching out and growing as an artist while other genuine music lovers should BUY THIS AT ONCE 'cos any day now Ms Brooke is going to go global and it'll sure feel good knowing you heard her first!