American Roots UK

American Roots UK - 3.7.17

  I always look for the positives in the huge amount of music I listen to, despite positivity sometimes being something that can be a struggle to find very much of. From the very first listen this superb recording struck me as being something very, very special, a feeling that continues to grow, with Karen having that rare ability to create so much more with her tremendous songs and vocal nuances than most others can ever hope to achieve with all of Nashville's resources.
            Some of the songs on this, Karen's sophomore album 'Country Songs,' have a brooding, slightly disquieting atmosphere, or perhaps that should read as having a realistic sense of drama. This is partly due to the arrangement of instruments but predominately down to the control and immersion of Karen's vocals in her tremendous stories. At times she exhibits a soft, vulnerable sensitivity and at others a sparky, perhaps even fiery, strength of character that defies anyone to mess with her, whilst the centre ground leads the way for the 'country pop,' that inhabits the charts, to follow in her wake. This recording alone is proof beyond doubt that if you have the talent it is possible to  make edgy highly individual country music that appeals to lovers of the outer boundaries of country music whilst having the gorgeous melodicism that should and in all probability will appeal to followers of the mainstream.
            Stylistically, this album includes what has become known as 'classic country;' that is the style made famous in the 1950s and 60s, but whereas much of that was smooth and sanitized Karen has replaced that smoothness with a lovely edgy sound that includes only the necessary instrumentation and no orchestral string sections, all of which would have pushed her beautiful vocals deeper into the mix and probably eased the album down into the pack. There is also the sound of Bakersfield 'honky tonks' a similar style but one that started off without any smooth edges and continues that way to this day. This is where her beautiful 'sassy' voice comes to the fore and there is always a detectable note of alt. country, virtually indefinable but there none the less. When we get to the albums ballads, all I can really say is that there are no finer female balladeers than Karen, with her ability to switch between a powerful sassiness and a hugely appealing vulnerability providing the icing on the cake of her incredible vocal dexterity.
            These twelve beautifully written and performed songs are built upon the foundation of the sublime lead guitar playing and the varied textures found within, of Tim Bray. The most powerful and dominant instrument on the album, with the exception of Karen's vocals, but part of the man's incredible skill is his ability to know when to hold back and when to drive his sound on and make tonal changes. Whilst I think Karen could have made a great album without Tim's work, he is certainly another vital layer of icing on the cake, knowing instinctively when to stick and when to go for it on an album that includes some great playing from all concerned.
            There is plenty of twangy electric guitar, percussion, bass, steel guitar and fiddle, no big over blown production, just the beautiful vocals and a fairly sparse instrumentation, although perhaps 'uncluttered' would be a better description of a production that only includes whatever is necessary to get the best out of each song rather than anything that follows a contemporary pattern.  The atmosphere created is such that a big production couldn't even get close to matching what can be heard here as the contemporaneous all disappear into the oblivion of the country formula.
            Album opener and title track, Country songs is a perfect summation of what is to follow. Tim's twangy guitar along with the fiddle, bass, steel guitar and a little percussion get a contemporary country song off to an excellent 'honky tonk' start but when Karen's, beautiful, hugely evocative vocal comes in you just know this is going to be something special. It really is the ideal opener because its title alone lets you know what is going to follow, although this is no mere 'country album' but an album of 'real country music' with all of the variety of qualities that title entails. Karen's vocal contains power, dynamism, raunchiness, vulnerability and tenderness all in the space of just five beautiful minutes, in other words a perfect start. It is followed by Keep your hands to yourself, hard driving country at its best, with Tim Bray's dynamic guitar playing soon joined by Karen's sassy vocal on a break up song on which she is anything but a helpless victim. The bass and percussion drive things along with occasional steel guitar but the dominant instrument, apart from Karen's beautiful vocals, is Tim's tremendous guitar sound. Final mention has to be of one of the beautiful ballads, Wasting time, with percussion providing the intro along with Karen's vocal, soon joined by keyboards and guitar on a slow moody tale on which her voice ranges between a breathy gentle tone to a much more fiery sound as befits the depth of the conversation being portrayed. The lovely weeping steel guitar deepens the emotional atmosphere as the arrangement gradually becomes more dense eventually bringing the song to its conclusion.
            'Country' music albums really don't get much better than this stunning recording. Everything about it oozes quality of the highest order and Karen Jonas is a completely unique singer songwriter for whom super stardom surely beckons. She is a lady who as a vocalist is a match and then some for anyone out there, her songs are excellent and the arrangements and production really couldn't be improved upon. If there is even a miniscule fault in this or, for that matter, her debut album, I've yet to find it and I don't suppose anyone else has or will either! 'Country Songs' is a stunning album of great beauty and dynamism that tugs the emotions to just about every point of the compass!

Penny Black Music UK

Benjamin Howarth for Penny Black Music UK

2.25.17

 

Ah, January. The most hated month, especially for music fans, who won’t see the release schedule hot up until at least the middle of February. Too often, it’s a month wasted listening to the ‘hot tips’ irrational critics will pretend to have no recollection of by the time the festival season rolls around. 

A better time would be had by rounding up the music missed from the year before. Such as ‘Country Songs’, the second album from Karen Jonas, which has been on sale since October, and yet – as far as I can tell – did not trouble any of the ‘album of the year’ polls. It takes only a cursory listen to this record to realise that the critics have made a major oversight. ‘Country Songs’ represents the declaration of a serious talent. 

Although it is Karen Jonas’ name on the cover, this is a genuine collaboration between the singer-songwriter on acoustic guitar and lead-guitarist Tim Bray, whose electrifying guitar solos add gravitas to a collection of enthralling songs. Having met only a short while before Bray helped Jonas record her first record, they have since consistently performed as a duo. They make an ideal match – Bray’s vintage Gretsch sound would make even an ordinary song sound a bit special, but he deserves to work with a special songwriter, and that’s what Jonas is. 

No better is this illustrated than on the album’s centrepiece, ‘Wasting Time’, where Jonas makes a successful pitch at a country standard for the ages and then Bray ensures it’ll get the attention it deserves with the album’s finest guitar solo. Elsewhere, Bray concentrates on an authentic twang that roots Jonas’ songs firmly into the great American songbook. 

The notes that accompany this album emphasise its essential modesty – a local band writing songs in a living room and recording them live in the studio. But, in actual fact, they have nothing to be modest about. And, while they may ‘only’ be backed by local musicians, everyone involved appears to be ensuring this release stands as the key witness statement in Fredericksburg, Virginia’s application for promotion to the top division of music towns.  

Everything they try works. When the song needs a big chorus, Jonas finds one. If it needs a killer solo, Bray steps up. Most importantly, when the songs need a good punchline, Jonas finds a great one. ‘Wandering Heart’ finds Jonas warning her on-the-road husband that she has a “wandering heart while you’ve got wandering feet”. 

'Country Songs' is a slightly tongue-in-cheek ballad with a first rate joke about Dwight Yoakam’s jeans that I won’t spoil by repeating here. 

It’s worth emphasising that this is a record entirely unapologetic about aiming squarely for a classic country sound (if you’re really after an indie band with a bit of pedal-steel, this won’t be for you). But, having pitched her tent firmly in a traditional field, Jonas then pulls out all the stops to make the music defiantly her own. 

The record ends with Jonas finishing a take and saying, "I kinda liked it." You will too.

Americana-UK

Karen Jonas’s intensely personal songwriting first grabbed international attention with the release of her critically acclaimed 2014 debut album Oklahoma Lottery. Three years of non-stop touring with her guitarist Tim Bray have produced a smoldering live act that’s left audiences breathless across America, culminating in their much-anticipated sophomore release. Country Songs is a refreshing mix of classic sounds with new, head-turning country swagger.

Can you tell us about yourself? Where you’re from and what you’ve been up to over the past few years?

Greetings from Fredericksburg Va! I’m a rockstar by night (well, a country singer/songwriter at least), and mother of three by day. I’m an all-systems-go full-time busy lady, but I can also take a nap like a champion when I get the chance.

It’s been a busy few years for me – I’ve proudly birthed two albums and a baby, all while playing 200+ shows each year. Three years ago I partnered up with musical and organizational genius Tim Bray, and we’ve been non-stop recording and touring and just generally having a time ever since.

How would you describe your music?

We play alt-country/americana music, maybe with a dash of folk and a little bit of rock’n’roll. You can call it whatever you’d like though, I’m not a stickler for labels.

Can you tell us a little bit about your influences?

I’m a songwriter at heart, and my greatest influences come from the likes of Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Paul Simon, and Bob Dylan (I call him Robby Z). They aren’t just songwriters, they’re great expansive thinkers. I picked up some twang more recently, by way of classics like Hank Williams and Johnny Cash. Oh and Dwight Yoakam. And his jeans. And that dance he does.

What are you currently promoting?

Our sophomore album, Country Songs! The title track is a song about learning to appreciate Country music after getting your heart broken. But as an album title, it’s also a challenge to a changing definition of Country music. We have some really bad pop Country here in America (maybe you do too), which makes me hesitant to tell people that we play Country music. But, to me, these ten songs are real Country Songs.

Have you got a particular song you’ve done that you’re particularly proud of, one that might define you?

Every song I write feels like it might define a little moment in my history. Lately I’ve been thinking of the title track of my 2014 album, Oklahoma Lottery.  It’s a song about the Dust Bowl, the great American environmental disaster that coincided with the Great Depression, but it’s also about uncertainty and leaving a broken home you once knew and loved. I wrote it about a divorce, but today it feels right for our current state of political upheaval.

What are you currently listening to?

Christmas music! There’s something so comfortable about Christmas music, and its fun to share the enthusiasm with my kids.

And your favourite album of all time, the one you couldn’t do without?

Can I have two? Joni Mitchell’s “Miles of Aisles” and Paul Simon’s “Graceland” both changed my life and formed my concept of songwriting. When I was 16 my dad played Miles of Aisles for me. I had a major “a ha” moment and realized that I wanted to become a professional singer/songwriter. So I did.

What are your hopes for your future career?

I try to focus on things that I can control – so I hope to keep writing, recording, and releasing inspired albums. I’ll keep building my networks and connecting with people – and I’ll leave the rest to luck and fate and the fickle Gods of the music industry.

If money were no object what would be your dream project?

A thoroughly planned, well recorded, professionally promoted record with a hefty budget of time and money would be pretty dreamy!

What’s the best thing about being a musician?

I get to express myself for a living – that’s hard to beat. Good food and drink, nice people, and dressing up is fun too. Getting to work with awesome, funny, super-talented musicians (like my most best friend and guitarist Tim Bray) makes it even better.

And the worst?

Sometimes we play for bars where people aren’t really focused on the music. Sometimes people don’t like what we do. But, I learned long ago that not everyone will like me or my music. And there’s something really satisfying about putting it out there, keeping my head up, and not giving a damm.

Finally, have you anything you’d like to say to the readers of Americana UK?

Hello! And thank you for giving my take on Country music a listen. We hope to see you all soon.

Belles and Gals Review

By Nick Cantwell

A couple of weeks ago we featured Karen Jonas on the site for the first time with the fantastic ‘Wasting Time’ and having listened to her album ‘Country Songs’ on the back of it, I just knew I had to write a review.

This is Karen’s second release, after her debut album ‘Oklahoma Lottery’ in 2014. After some research, it appears her debut album caused quite a stir upon release and after writing this review the first thing I’ll be doing is to have a listen. But for now I’ll focus on ‘Country Songs’.

The album opens up with the title track where she thanks another ‘for teaching me to love country songs, for making me so sad I want to sing along’. As an opening track it is just perfect and despite the five minute length, this upbeat number almost seems to end too soon.  The song has an endearing tongue-in-cheek sense of humour as well, which will certainly put a smile on your face.

The album is 10 songs long and there is just highlight after highlight. ‘Ophelia’ sees the singer telling the title character to take a deep breath and not let her man make her crazy. I love the way she sings this, really showing great character in the vocals as she is ‘demanding’ of Ophelia in her performance.

‘The Garden’ is a beautiful, almost haunting number which looks back at a relationship twenty years before. This song has everything – great lyrics, amazing vocals and a rocking guitar solo . The song is the third on the album, but my initial thought was that it would make a perfect closing track. That was before I heard the actual closing track  ‘Yankee Doodle Went Home’ however. This is a wonderful tale of the bad luck that befalls Yankee Doodle, although it seems there is a much deeper meaning behind the song than just the tales of bad fortune.

For me, there are two particular tracks that stand out. ‘Wasting Time’ is the first of these. This is a stunning song which should be on every best of 2016 playlist, although having only really listened to it recently, it will certainly make my best of 2017 list too. The song has a breathless nature, where Karen Jonas sings about holding on to a love, when she knows she is indeed wasting time.  Click play on the YouTube clip below and if you don’t fall in love with this song I’d be very surprised…

The other highlight for me is ‘The Fair Shake’. I’m yet to listen to ‘Country Songs’ without hitting the repeat button at least once at the end of this song. For me this song has everything. Throughout the album, Jonas does an amazing job of raising the emotion using passionate, ardent vocals, and she does this brilliantly here. The song has a ‘life isn’t fair, but accept it’ message and there is not a moment of the song that I don’t love. The ending is just perfect too.

‘Country Songs’ is an album to savour. It will grab you the first time you listen to it, but it gets better and better with every subsequent listen – in fact, somebody at the record company should have put an ‘addiction warning’ on the record. The album was recorded live in the studio and this gives the recording a certain rawness, while the combination of fiddle, steel and organ and Tim Bray’s brilliant lead guitar work add a real sheen to each song. Karen Jonas might not be a name on everybody’s lips right now, but after an album as good as this, it is surely just a matter of time.

No Depression - Review

Karen Jonas Captures something Timeless with Country Songs

2016 has seen a host of stellar albums from female singer-songwriters including Elise Davis, Bonnie Bishop, Kelsey Waldon, and Margo Price, to name a few. And if you enjoy any, or all, of those artists, make certain you give  Karen Jonas  a listen.

Released on October 14th, Country Songs, the follow-up to her critically acclaimed debut, Oklahoma Lottery, begins with the title track, a twangy and humorous thank you of sorts that’s followed by nine more tunes - all written or co-written by Jonas - including the rollicking kiss-off “Keep Your Hands to Yourself” on which she boldly asserts, “Hey, just because I wanted you doesn’t mean you can make a fool out of me,”and the jaunty “Ophelia” where she offers sage advice to another who isn’t in the healthiest of relationships. Jonas balances those mid-tempo two-steppers with somber heartache, taking a seductively moody turn on the stunning “Garden” and adding a smoldering noir feel with her nuanced, breathy vocals (recalling Norah Jones) on “Why Don’t You Stay” where uncertainty and anger simmer. Melancholy merges with hope on the intensely intimate “Wasting Time” where she laments using too much of her time to forget another (whom she clearly still loves), while the shuffle of his wandering feet leaves her lonely, leading her “Wandering Heart” into temptation.

Country Songs is rounded out by “Whiskey and Dandelions” a perfect-in-every-way tale of a woman who prefers the simple things; the astute, thought-provoking, and urgent “The Fair Shake”, “And all the things you think are yours aren’t really yours to take/Be gracious when you can and when you can’t let them walk away” and a timely variation on a standard in the bluesy “Yankee Doodle Went Home.”

Country Songs wraps fiddle, steel, organ and guitar around inspired storytelling that is all at once insightful, honest, tenacious and vulnerable. Completely avoiding any sophomore slump, Jonas’ Country Songs captures something timeless and special in an album you'll be listening to well after year's end. 

Originally appeared in The Daily Country

Elmore Magazine - Album Review

Elmore Magazine - Album Review

10.28.2016

While most folk tend to think of Nashville as the hometown of country music, historically a large portion of the genre’s roots were first planted in Virginia, with the Carter Family, and it is now coming full circle with the next darling of country music. Fredericksburg, Virginia-based Karen Jonas turned heads with her 2014 debut album Oklahoma Lottery and her sophomore effort Country Songs is just as charming.

Produced by Jeff Covert at Wally Cleavers Recording Studio and recorded entirely live, Country Songs is an enchantingly nostalgic kick in the pants. Exploring themes of heartbreak, loneliness and embracing one’s independence, Jonas’s sultry vocals emphasize her lyrics with a poignant, poetic urgency just as a storyteller entrances her audience until the last sentence is uttered.

The title track is a love letter to classic country songs that Jonas wrote after  an interview she gave where she was asked if she was raised listening to country music (she wasn’t.) The genre obviously comes natural to her as Jonas can not only belt out a moonshine-fueled tune with confident passion, but delivers somber ballads with grace, soul and lovely heartache. Long-time collaborator, guitarist Tim Bray punctuates each track with dynamic electric guitar riffs with a swagger that hits you right in the gut.

A champion of women who love no-good men, Jonas is country music’s answer to Gloria Gaynor. Jonas promises that you will survive on power songs like “Keep Your Hands To Yourself,”  in which she tells the guy who did her wrong, “Don’t you worry about me/well, I’ll be fine/But you should keep your hands to yourself next time.” Good men are as scarce as deviled eggs after a church picnic and Jonas dispenses frank advice with wit, humor and bravery.

—Jane Roser