The follow-up to 2006's City Garden (5 stars, MOJO Magazine), Bound To Love is an Americana gem that evokes the dusty roots of Texas songwriters and melds them into Klein's blend of spot-on, speak-to-the-heart lyrics, perc... more »ussive guitar and soulful voice. The record was inspired by a move from New York City to Austin, TX in 2008.
I felt I leapt off a big cliff, moving to Austin, leaving the northeast where I'd lived my whole life, Jess said. And that leap gave me the confidence to make the life I want: one where making music and being part of a community are priorities to me. Austin is just brimming with musical inspiration, for anyone looking for it. I didn't have to try very hard to write.
Recorded at The Aerie in Austin, TX with producers Mark Addison and Scrappy Jud Newcomb during December 2008 and January 2009, the record shines as her most confident work to date. From jubilant anthems to delicate and beautiful moments, the running theme is moving to a new and better place - emotionally, geographically and more.« less
The follow-up to 2006's City Garden (5 stars, MOJO Magazine), Bound To Love is an Americana gem that evokes the dusty roots of Texas songwriters and melds them into Klein's blend of spot-on, speak-to-the-heart lyrics, percussive guitar and soulful voice. The record was inspired by a move from New York City to Austin, TX in 2008.
I felt I leapt off a big cliff, moving to Austin, leaving the northeast where I'd lived my whole life, Jess said. And that leap gave me the confidence to make the life I want: one where making music and being part of a community are priorities to me. Austin is just brimming with musical inspiration, for anyone looking for it. I didn't have to try very hard to write.
Recorded at The Aerie in Austin, TX with producers Mark Addison and Scrappy Jud Newcomb during December 2008 and January 2009, the record shines as her most confident work to date. From jubilant anthems to delicate and beautiful moments, the running theme is moving to a new and better place - emotionally, geographically and more.
CD Reviews
Bound to love
Martin Frye | Georgia | 11/02/2009
(1 out of 5 stars)
"The new musical direction suits Klein as you can hear the influence of Emmylou Harris and Patty Griffin in her voice and on her material.
She really should be writing better material at this point in her career. Much of 'bound' is repetitive."
Americana roots sound from former folk singer
arizona free-for-all | Phoenix | 01/21/2010
(1 out of 5 stars)
"Jess Klein sounds a little like Patty Griffin who I love, she has a sweet voice that is so pretty on ballads. These songs do not represent her best writing (city garden, strawberry lover) by a longshot. Her style was more R&B'ish type folk. Bound feels very simple or simplistic maybe is the better way to say it. I hate country music so maybe that is part of my reaction too. I loved City Garden, which I think was the last album she put out-it was so sophisticated and beautifully artistic!!! Her work has always had a high degree of smart and sophisticated to it and was a major part of her appeal. On the other hand she could do a killer lullaby album and I would definitely buy it if she did."
Timid and boring
Jangle Cat | Texas | 11/02/2009
(1 out of 5 stars)
"Reminds me of Jewel. Most of the songs be mid tempo arrangements buttered with a l'il bit of country. It drags and drags and drags on is my main complaint people. Never a great singer in truth and little has changed since Greil Marcus noted that she don't hit notes but rather "pulls the notes down to her", yep I have been following the folk scene intently for some years! My mates love what IMHO is more of her just oversinging songs and ruining 'em, but to my mind this ain't passion and it don't in no way excuse crap singing and lyrics a little school girl would write in her diary. Rubbish!
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Bound to love by jess klein
starryeyez | tampa | 02/04/2010
(1 out of 5 stars)
"Bits and pieces of this are nice, but taken as a whole it's not very good."
Normal songs about normal stuff and a new country sound
I love live music! | Philly | 12/17/2009
(2 out of 5 stars)
"There are several really good songs on this CD. The high point is the fun groove of Postcard, a great driving song and super catchy. The duet Fool feat. Slaid Cleaves is also nice. This isn't a great leap forward, but hey, there are several songs that move Jk in a new direction---def. not like her previous folk material. Jk sheds her gloomy, oftentimes silly lyrics---no orphans, dark rooms, swimming pools, bomb raids, talking clouds, steamed fruit, pissed off waitresses or ne'er do well cheating lovers here!!! These are normal songs about everyday life--what a wonderful change!!!
There are some flaws---Her voice is a bit wobbly and shrill in spots(the high notes in Rosalie sound terrible)-----something a good producer catches and fixes. She is much better on slow or mid tempo numbers---ballads for example---with controlled ranges in the upper end. She can belt it out, but not always to good effect--she is no Neko Case!
I would rate Bound to Love a lot higher because of the positive changes in style and mood, but Klein runs out of strong material and ends up with way too much filler. If she can find some cover songs that are better suited to her voice that could help. The Hiatt cover is not good.
Sample these tracks!!! Postcard, Fool, It will come to me, Before I go, and What for."
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1