Naomi Jane Kinda Sorta Country
As you listen to Naomi Jane’s new album Kinda Sorta Country, you’ll lean in. Her style is unique, dramatic and a little bit dark and it’s compellingly original. This isn’t your standard American affair, it’s modern and it’s embellished but don’t write it off for its pop aspects, let it pull you in. Featuring pedal steel guitar and an indefinable vocal quality, the album explores a breakup and the feeling that led us there with a notable emotional depth.
The album opens with “Passenger Princess,” which features prominent pedal steel and “move over and let me drive I don’t always want to be your passenger princess and the theme of discontent is launched. In “Farren Rd,” the thread of cynicism about love and relationships continues with a feeling that we’re not the special one: “so many girls have been here, but still you promise me that I’m the only one you’ll ever need.”
“Car Exhaust” has a dissonant and dark feel and a relatable experience: “skinny dipping, late night sipping, leaving our jeans out to dry.”
“Clementines” holds out a moment of sweetness, and the image of the little things we do for each other that show we care: “it all comes so naturally, you don’t look up for no thank you, you just serve it with a smile, loving you’s like breathing air, I don’t try to, it’s just there.” “Measure Forever” distinguishes that feeling of the first 90 days of being with someone, the euphoria, the endearing thoughtful gestures.
“Pumpkin Eater” has rich strings and the bitterness of what happens as a relationship runs its course: “I thought the phrase liar liar pants on fire was dumb until I met you.”
Overall the album explores relationships taking an honest approach. The titillation and sweetness of the beginnings are noted, and the darker emotions of the betrayals and the unwinding are explored as well. Naomi has a unique vocal delivery that’s not “songbird” and feels indirect, off beat and off center, and the overall result feels genuine. Think Alanis Morissette with a bit more restraint and introspection, plus fiddles and pedal steel.
In a couple of the higher energy songs, it would have been interesting to hear them with more space in the music, quiet spaces. Naomi Jane would be interesting to listen to on acoustic guitar and vocals and not much more.
More information is available here on her website: https://naomivoigt.com
Kinda Sorta Country was produced by Adam Zelkind, co-produced and mastered by Naomi Jane Voigt, recorded and mixed by Adam Zelkind and Robert Kleiner.
Musicians on the album are Naomi Jane on vocals and piano; Adam Zelkind on electric and acoustic guitar, bass, drums, percussion, mandolin, organ, cello and dobro; Greg Leisz on pedal steel guitar; Greg Holden on additional vocals; Theodore Haber on banjo and viola; Jimmy Mattingly on fiddle and mandolin; Joey Hyde on guitar; Niall Taro Ferguson on bass, cello and strings; Mizuki Takagi on viola; Michele Utley Voigt on gang vocals; and Josh Obourn on bass.