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Across the Great Divide: Oh Susanna's Stark Visions of Amer

Peter Walenta | Long Island, New York USA | 06/20/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"My first exposure to Suzie Ungerleider, who goes by the stage name of Oh Susanna was not through Lillith Fair, but rather when she opened for Canadian alternative country rockers, Blue Rodeo in November 1999. Touring at that time to promote her first full length album, "Johnstown", Suzie delivered a strong set of traditional-sounding country songs with a twang in her voice that made even more poignant, the desolate tales she painted of hobos and outlaws on the run. In 1997, Oh Susanna released this 7 song EP (total running time 19:21 minutes) on her own Stella label. This EP was later re-issued by Nettwerk in 2004. These are quite bleak tunes peopled by drifters on murderous sprees, thieves trying to hide out from the law, and convicts finally facing the gallows. Even the one song of seeming domestic tranquility ("All Eyes on Baby") leaves the listener uncertain as to whether the child is being lovingly taught or viciously abused by its' caregivers.



Echoes of acoustic-country Rolling Stones are noticeable in her blusey vocal delivery, but with the sparse instrumentation and the outlaw theme of these songs, Oh Susanna comes off sounding closer to Bruce Springsteen's watershed alt.country masterpiece, Nebraska. An impressive debut EP from a singer who is clearly steeped in American outlaw lore and traditional country roots music."

Folk with a personal twist

Fran | 09/18/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A new name to me.. by coincident. From the very start, first tune, right at home.

So I had to find her second album 'Sleepy little sailor' too. Which I did and it's very good. Suzie sings with a great feeling and a twist of her own. Strong voice. Leaves you touched. Highly recommended. If you can find it..



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