IT'S A GAME ist seit 2001 die erste Veröffentlichung der US Singer/Songwritering
EDITH FROST. Unter Mithilfe von vielen talentierten Musikern wie Josh
Abrams (Prefuse 73), Lindsay Anderson (L'Altra), Azita, Dave "Max"
Crawford (The Mekons), John Hasbrouck, Emmett Kelly und Jason Toth (The
Zincs, Manishevitz), sowie langjährigen Bandmusikern Tyan Hembrey
und Mark Greenberg ist das insgesamt vierte Album entstanden. EDITH FROST
wird gerne als Chanteuse mit Country Roots bezeichnent und das stellt
sie auch auf dem neuen Longplayer eindrucksvoll unter Beweis - die 13
Songs haben viele Roots - Country, Folk, Blues, Soul und Jazz. Rian Murphy
produzierte das bisher beste Album einer der talentiertesten Singer/Songwriterin
Amerikas.
(amazon)
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After a too-long absence, Edith Frost returns with It's a Game, her first
album in four years. Though the trippy Telescopic and the full-fledged
pop of Wonder Wonder suggested that she might continue to decorate her
songs with elaborate productions, this album is actually her sparest-sounding
work since her debut. That doesn't mean it's without variety, however;
Frost's singing and writing have both broadened and deepened with time,
and more than ever, she's able to take the best from different styles
of music and songwriting and make them her own. "A Mirage" is
a deceptively innocent-sounding song styled after traditional country
ballads with a melody sweet enough to be played on a music box, while
the charming "If It Weren't for the Words" is as witty and tightly
structured as a classic pop song. Likewise, "My Lover Won't Call"
has the aching elegance of torchy vocal jazz. On the other hand, "Just
a Friend" and "Stars Fading" work (and work well) in a
more contemporary-sounding singer/songwriter vein. Throughout It's a Game,
Frost captures the ups and (mostly) downs of relationships. She excels
at capturing the specifics and fine shadings of heartache: the worry and
dread surrounding an inevitable breakup on "Emergency"; the
weariness of trying to hang onto someone with one foot out the door on
"What's the Use"; and eventual, bittersweet acceptance on "Lovin'
You Goodbye." Even the album's happier songs are seeded with sadness.
On "It's a Game" itself, trying to have a good time is the best
that can be hoped for. Crucially, though, Frost not only boils painful
situations down to their essences, she makes them sound beautiful instead
of dreary. As always, Frost's music has the ring of truth, so much so
that you hope for her sake that it's not too autobiographical. Let's also
hope it doesn't take another four years for her to deliver another collection
of her thoughtful, finely crafted songs.
(by Heather Phares, All
Music Guide)
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