Customer Reviews

Veering From the Wave

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As a "retired" singer/songwriter/actress from a musical family, who memorized and made up high soprano harmonies to every Joni Mitchell tune in the 1970's, and first heard The Story at Ikea's in Elizabeth, N.J. in the early 1990's. I wasn't immediately reached by Jennifer's debut CD.

I held onto it for a few years and listened to it again recently, only to become completely taken by it. It is interesting to me that I can agree with both those reviewers who found Jennifer's voice and songwriting remarkable and those who felt it was nothing new or greatly different than The Story.

I believe that Jennifer was far more the woman behind Jonatha Brooke in The Story than has been recognized. (Jonatha acknowledged her on her first solo CD with thanks to Jennifer for "your voice and care, and for bringing The Story such a long way," but the story behind The Story is far more complex, I believe.)

And I believe that Jennifer may not even have recognized this herself until after the two performers split. On the CD cover, Jennifer acknowledges Leslie Holmes "for bringing back my voice and helping me to feel like I could sing anything." It seems that Jennifer may not have realized her own talent.

Mind you, I love Jonatha's stuff, also. But while Jonatha is also terribly talented, she's more hardened, too. Both are rare talents but Jennifer's talent is perhaps more complex and fragile.

It is also interesting that at least one of The Story crew stuck with Jennifer -- namely Ben Whitman -- while at least one other went with Jonatha -- namely Alain Mallet).

Jennifer acknowledges Ben Whitman's "enduring optimism, unswerving concentration and burning musical ideas [that] made these songs fly." Jonatha acknowledges Alain "for pulling me through the abyss, for love, for music."

Jonatha's early lyrics pointed to forbidden relationships with women and desperately harmful ones with men (not to mention those with her rather disturbed parents), but she apparently ended up becoming an adopted member of the French family of Alain who was one of her producer/arrangers, while Jennifer seems to have retained her professional relationship with others of the original team.

Both seem to have maintained their relationship with Ben Wisch, engineer, of Blue Jay Studio, Carlisle, MA. (whom Jennifer acknowledges for his "shimmering mixes, an open heart, and the big view." (Ben mixed Jonatha's first solo CD "Plumb.")

The Story appears to have relied on mutual dependency in a peculiar, symbiotic attraction, which ended up in ashes like the Phoenix bird.

When I saw the two at Ikea, they were amazing but very unfriendly to their audience, as though snobbishness was the mark of talent, and one fellow who was trying to ask them something (and got a cold shoulder) walked off remarking on their rudeness.

Years later in concert, Jonatha, solo, told the audience that the word "stone" in her song, "Blood from a Stone," was her mother's maiden name. At Jonatha's announcement of "Angel in the House," -- a clearly autobiographical story about her parents -- Jonatha's father, who was sitting like a statute next to Jonatha's mother directly in front of me in the audience, for the first time seemed affected and moved.

Whatever the complexities of the relationship between Jonatha and Jennifer, which obviously created fallout for both of them, Jennifer seems to have recovered and found her wings. It's been a few years since the album came out and no more have followed. I hope she does more. Her voice alone is inspiring to me (a fellow high soprano with fragile undertones). Thank you, Jennifer.

I have never written a review of anything before but feel compelled to write this as a way of giving back to Ms. Kimball for the many hours of great music she has given me. This CD has been on my constant rotation for almost 15 months. I've been fortunate to see her in a small-venue concert as well. Gorgeous voice, beautiful and carefully choosen words, the perfect amount of instrumentation. I'm buying many copies to send to my friends for XMass.Try "Veering From The Wave" or "Kissing In The Car." If you appreciate clear, relevant music and you like Mary Chapin Carpenter,Beth Orton,Shawn Colvin,Chris Smithers,or Kim Richey you won't be disappointed.

Jennifer Kimball was always a sublime complement to Jonatha Brooke back in their days as The Story. Her voice is as versatile, but more delicate than Brooke's, and she harmonizes like almost no other. VEERING FROM THE WAVE unfortunately doesn't distinguish her artistically enough from Brooke who has forged ahead with gusto in her solo career. Kimball's songwriting seems to be modeled on Brooke's (who wrote all of The Story's music) and there is a sameness to the lovely sounds in each song on this album. The best song on it, in my opinion, is Kimball's excellent cover of Crowded House's FALL AT YOUR FEET. For die hard fans of The Story, this is still a must have. Kimball is a real talent, and she may very well have better work up here sleeve. This one is solid, but not extraordinary.

A Story fan and a Jonatha Brooke fan, I had no idea what to make of this album for the first several listens. The sounds were so complex, and I could make no sense of the melodies. The songs seemed to follow no understandable pattern whatsoever. Of course, I'm glad I stuck with it. When the pieces of the puzzle came together for me, it seemed like I'd known every song forever and every note was as natural as breathing. The initial complexity of the music means that it continues to be gripping many, many listens later, as some new subtlety finds its way to my ears. This album is an emotive, original, and cohesive work of art. Kimball's unique and unusual approach to songwriting cannot be likened to anything I've ever heard. Some parts of the album are so beautiful, I find myself holding my breath so as not to miss a second (the refrain of "the stars are a canopy over me" on "Kissing in the Car", for one example). I will be anxiously anticipating her future work.

The Story remains one of my favorite bands. Jonatha Brooke went her direction, and so did Jennifer. The sound of The Story came through for me more with this CD than did any of Jonatha Brooke's. (Not to say anything pejorative about Jonatha Brooke's CDs, they're merit-worthy for their own reasons -- I have all of them!)

Jennifer Kimball's melodic voice and terrific lyrics make this a wonderful listen. This CD made me truly wistful that there are only two available CDs from The Story.

Jennifer Kimball proves once and for all that Jonatha Brooke was not the only songwriting genius in the duo The Story. Jennifer's debut album evokes the best of what they did as a duo, yet she seems to have found a new freedom and a strong confident voice with this solo debut. Songs like "Meet Me In The Twilight", "Take One Step" and "Kissing In The Car" glow with delightful rythyms and outstanding vocals. The ballads "Gagna's Song", "Ordinary Soldier", "World Without End" and "(This is) My New Vow" paint beautiful word pictures that draw the listener in to her world. The melodies are haunting and beyond exquisite. Jennifer's voice is best highlighted in a celebration of harmony on "The Revelations". This album is a must for any fan of quality singer-songwriters.

This album is reminiscent of The Story albums. The songs are passionate and beautiful, the melodies haunting. Not to mention the wonderful harmonies by Lucy Kaplansky. It is such a refreshing change from today's pop stars. Jennifer Kimball has done a fantastic job on this first solo album. I have so missed her presence since Jonatha started her solo career. It's great to see/hear Jennifer out on her own now too! My favorites are "World without End" and "Veering from the Wave". I can't wait for future releases!

In these times of the Backstreet Boys and Britany Spears it is difficult, if not impossible to find a singer/songwriter who just pours out emotion in the great tradition of Joni Mitchell, John Lennon, and Fish. But Jennifer Kimball has done just that with her fabulous debut CD...It has all the emotion of a classic Joni Mitchell album (try "My New Vow") and the lyrical inventiveness of Fish (try "Kissing in the Car") while still using an easy-to-understand lyrical style like Lennon (try "Meet Me in the Twilight") This is all great, but her voice!!! It's her voice that makes it all work...she has the tools to make her musical ideas (which are inventive) come alive. If you buy one album this year for emotion, inventiveness, and musicality, buy Jennifer Kimball's Veering From the Wave.

So, This album, to me, is clearly Album of The Year! Jennifer Kimball's voice is a breath of fresh air. Her harmonies are your favorite thing about The Story, only here, you get it all. She'll zing you right in the heart with "My New Vow" and the title track. My favorite is "Kissing in The Car." Her vocal patterns and live energy won't let you stop singing it in your head. Also, she is also a wonderful performer. I saw her play in her home town not long ago and all I can say is don't miss it. She's warm, funny and talented. Buy a ticket. Cast your vote.

OK, so Jennifer Kimball was the other half of The Story. OK, she sang with Jonatha Brooke, who wrote all the songs. The point is, both are marvelous singer/songwriters in their own right. Yes, the influences are obvious, but I cannot imagine that Kimball's talent did not affect Brooke, and conversely. I just wish I lived closer to Boston....