Customer Reviews

In the Sun Lines

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
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I spent quite a while tracking this CD down. I'm a huge fan and wanted those illustrious extra tracks that Japanese releases so often have. The 4 extra tracks here ('Sunday Song', 'Bullhorn Moon' - both live, 'High Wire' - acoustic, and 'Another Sunday Saint') have appeared on other releases, I believe, but it is great to have them all on one CD. This package comes with a lyric insert, and the actual cover insert is made out of a nice textured paper (different from the US version). Tara Jane is one of the under-appreciated artists who, in some ways, you hope stays that way - if only so you can keep the beauty of the music all to yourself. There are parallels with Movietone, Joni Mitchell, the complex guitar of Slint, and the melancholy of Cat Power, but her music is completely her own. Do yourself a favor and pick up all her stuff.

Don't buy this if you are expecting to hear Tara screaming like on Rodan's Toothfairy Retribution Manifesto (an excellent song). The songs presented here are airy, at times dark, and generally soothing like a fall morning or a cool night. Many of the tracks are instrumentals. The string and piano arrangements are very pretty. Rachel Grimes from Rachel's helps out on a couple tracks, as well as many other great musicians who I am not familiar with. I would recommend this album to anyone interested in Movietone, Edith Frost, Mazzy Star, Shannon Wright or the Rachel's band. Tara's music is however distinct from any of these artists. Rodan was great for angst and tension release. IN the Sun Lines is good music for a more patient and contemplative approach to daily living. (P.S. miss o'neil is a good 'doodler' and I really couldn't define "wistful" if you asked me to.)

Tara Jane's music is perhaps not easy to catch with, but it's worth trying hard. Her guitar performance is faultless and original, guest musicians help make this album even stronger. The biggest surprise is warm, sunny "Sweet Bargaining", and the duet with Ida's Dan Littleton, "Your Rats Are" is enchanting.