Album, Single and EP Reviews


 

 

  Eat by Jen Kearney & the Lost Onion


Eat cover art

Artist: Jen Kearney & the Lost Onion
Title: Eat
Catalogue Number: No catalogue number
Review Format: CD
Release Year: 2006



Jen sounds spookily like a female version of Stevie Wonder, which is both pleasing and strangely disturbing in equal measure.  Even the harmonica on the excellent opening track "Pick Yourself Up" could have been lifted straight from Stevie's early 60's classics such as "Fingertips".


Actually, this is a difficult one to classify.  At times the Latin rhythms of the band combine with Jen's voice to create a sort of samba and salsa soul sound that almost transports you to Rio's Carnival or the New Orleans Mardi Gras, as with "Warm Bath Eyes". While with "Patience Child", continuing the Stevie Wonder comparison, you'd swear you were listening to a lost track from "Innervisions" or "Talking Book".  Although generally at their best with the up tempo numbers, ironically the highlight is the more subdued and gospel inspired "Can I Get an Amen?".


There are some fantastic songs here; however at an average of 5½ minutes per track there is a tendency to stretch them out just a bit too much for a studio album.  What is not in doubt however is that this is a talented group of musicians who take their music seriously - although not so seriously that is stops being fun and starts being prog-rock!!  Definitely recommended for those who like to search for their music of the beaten track.


www.jenkearney.com
Reviewer:
Review Date: June 21 2007