Search - Ina May Wool :: Moon Over 97th Street

Beautifully written

01/28/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These urban songs of romance and friendship have the most wonderful lyrics. I hope you don't mind if I quote some, so you can get an idea. Ina May Wool's songwriting is remarkably perceptive about the ways of the heart. Consider this:"Over down in Froze Town, where the ice is real thin
Right move in the wrong direction and the best ones fall in."
(Don't Wanna Wait)Her writing is notable for its economy and power; a word is worth a thousand pictures."Day-old coffee in a cup, and the heat comes clanging up."
(January Thaw)She has her own special way of looking at the world, which involves a generous helping of whimsey."I can be broad as Third Avenue ... I can be small as a molecule." (Elephant Learning to Dance)The title song for this album, a sleek cabaret number, includes a list of the qualities one might look for in a man; it always makes me smile.Ina May's themes can be dark, but her outlook is anything but. When she sings about lovers' quarrels (Leopard, January Thaw) it is the glorious making up afterward that interests her. A song about divorce (J'ai gagne) celebrates one woman's ability to transcend. The only truly ticked-off song here (The Devil You Don't) becomes a tour de force of wordplay and imagery. Don't get mad, get eloquent.
The words sound good together too, and the rhymes are tasty.
Combine these excellent lyrics with a variety of interesting melodies, with the artist's sweet, smoky voice, and her engaging performance--the result is something you just have to hear."

Not what I expected

11/30/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"A blind purchase based on a few sound clips and enthusiastic customer reviews (are there any other kind here?) is always risky, and this one was a mixed blessing. Ina May Wool is a talented songwriter, literate both musically and emotionally, and an expressive singer whose full potential surely hasn't been realized here except in a few songs.Ms. Wool is at her best when singing about the ups and downs of long-term relationships. "J'ai Gagné (I Won)", "January Thaw", and "Leopard" stand out, though only the first does so musically as well as lyrically. "Elephant Learning to Dance" and "Devil You Don't" are also fine relationship songs, though the latter is cutesy with its wordplay. The other material here is less successful, and the final instrumental track with its crackling-record sound seems out of place on a CD that is produced to perfection. "Janis" is just embarrassing. I cringed at the misuse of beatnik slang to evoke the late 60's, at the precious lyrics, at the strained connection between one of Joplin's lesser songs and her persona, and at what was for me a disconnect between the light silly tone of the song and its sad subject matter. Country Joe McDonald's "Janis" remains the song that moves me, though Ms. Wool is a better singer and lyricist in general.I disregarded what I read about this CD having been produced by a Broadway musician, but as someone who wouldn't be caught dead with the soundtrack from a Broadway show (not that there's anything wrong with that!), I was a bit put off by tracks that sounded show tune-ish. Don't be misled by the downloads or the notice that people who like Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch, Kathleen Edwards, Tift Merritt, the Be Good Tanyas, and Rosanne Cash bought this CD. I'm a fan of all those singers/songwriters, but Ina May Wool is certainly not alt-country. Perhaps alt-Broadway at times. I could imagine her benefitting from more exposure to those alt-country songwriters if she could stand it, though. Perhaps a sabbatical hanging out with them, or with a Guy Clark or Don Schlitz who's learned over the decades to craft songs perfectly and to use words sparingly. I think there are mediocre and good songs here that could have been masterpieces if they'd been treated as rough drafts and perfected over the years, bounced off lots of other songwriters and audiences before being recorded. Or perhaps they were, to great acclaim, and my tastes just aren't broad enough to encompass what others here seem to find a brilliant body of work.Overall, I agree with the one negative review below (not with its rather savage tone) that while there are great moments here, the quality of the songs is inconsistent, and that a purchase based solely on what can be downloaded here might lead to disappointment, unlike a purchase based on those who go to hear Ina May Wool sing all her material in person. She may well be a consistently great performer, but if so it isn't captured on this often-bland CD. She is obviously capable of being an exceptional lyricist as well as vocalist, and perhaps future efforts will be more consistent. If not, having written and performed the brilliant and exuberant "J'ai Gagné" is a greater accomplishment than most could hope for."

I'm Usually Not Into Folkie Stuff...

david lowe | new york city, usa | 01/31/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I just wrote a great review, but w/o reviewing the guidelines. Oh well, sorry, Ina. To begin anew, I'm a musician who's worked with many name artists, including Shawnie, but, listening-wise, I generally focus more on bass lines and production values than singer-songwriters' words. However, Moon Over 97th Street is so full of intense musical poetry, which speaks so literately, eloquently, and personally to me (as I imagine it also would to any thoughtful person), that i not only bought it, but am constantly recommending it and/or buying it for others. The words are obviously well thought-out, or else overnight fed-exed from Ms. Muse; they are different, I emphasize, from anything you're going to read on any other jewel-box insert: witty, funny, smart, often multi-meaningful, and schemed for rhyming in most delightful and unique ways; a joy just to sit and read. Since there are already a number of raves on this page, I want to say something a little different: I was so certain the tune 'Dark Star' was specifically about me, that I wept for two solid weeks. How's that for a visceral response? Needless to say, it wasn't at all about me. But it remains a favorite song. I don't think you will find better-written or more universally-reaching, musically-married lyrics on any record. Another favorite is 'Elephant Learning to Dance', and a real standout - after all, how many songs have been written about her? - is 'Janis'. The production and guitar-playing by partner Dan Weiss is clean, crisp, and gutsy. You MUST hear Ina May Wool, and be one of the first to get in on a global phenomena. She will sing like an angel for you, straight from her heart to yours."