Customer Reviews

Things I Gave Away

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Our best unknown singer, in the mega-commercial sense of the word, O'Brien is a name among bluegrass and folk circles. She has done fine work with her brother Tim and 1998's "Big Red Sun" was first-rate. This release is better, reminding us that a voice with perfect pitch, correct breathing, and an innate sense of swing rhythm, can make contemporary songs sound like standards of the type Sinatra and Simone could sing. And you don't have to write your own material to infuse your singing with powerful emotion. O'Brien is in terrific form here, and Nina Gerber's spare production and guitar stylings are the right support for her interpretive vocals. Acoustic bassist Cary Black is also wonderful here, especially on "Throw it Away." The only known song in the set is Lennon-McCartney's "You Won't See Me," done up with a satisfying salsa rhythm. Listen to the ache in O'Brien's voice as she delivers "Practice Walking Away," and the incredible meditation on dying "Train Time." I can't imagine this set of songs being sung and produced any better.

For those familiar with Mollie O'Brien's last two CDs, the bluegrass folk of "Tell it True" and the blusier, more pop oriented "Big Red Sun", this CD may come as somewhat of a suprise. In what I think is a courageous move, this CD offers up an eclectic dish of jazz and R&B stylings - a move that will delight some, and confuse others.

For me, the impressionistic jazz styling of "Throw it Away" with its wandering bass line, the funkiness of "When I'm Gone" and the R&B inspired "the Right Thing" only serve to point out O'Brien's ability to grow as an artist which, in a day and age where most are content to continue comfortably on the same path day after day, comes as a sweet suprise.

For me the courage to be different, the courage to break the rules, is what makes art so interesting. I for one hope that this is just the start of Mollie's interesting journey through life.

For those familiar with Mollie O'Brien's last two CDs, the bluegrass folk of "Tell it True" and the blusier, more pop oriented "Big Red Sun", this CD may come as somewhat of a suprise. In what I think is a courageous move, this CD offers up an eclectic dish of jazz and R&B stylings - a move that will delight some, and confuse others.

For me, the impressionistic jazz styling of "Throw it Away" with its wandering bass line, the funkiness of "When I'm Gone" and the R&B inspired "the Right Thing" only serve to point out O'Brien's ability to grow as an artist which, in a day and age where most are content to continue comfortably on the same path day after day, comes as a sweet suprise.

For me the courage to be different, the courage to break the rules, is what makes art so interesting. I for one hope that this is just the start of Mollie's interesting journey through life.