Jess Klein has a few things going for her that might help her emerge from the glut of young, female singer-songwriters flooding an already saturated market. For one, her little-girl voice has an engaging edge to it, much l... more »ike Julie Miller or Stevie Nicks; for another, her record sports a real band sound that rocks harder than your typical folkie fare. On the down side, she may sound a bit too much like the aforementioned singers to carve out her own recognizable place. Then there are her tunes, dealing with the usual fare of love and loss, minus the powerful melding of lyrics and melody that have made Nicks a superstar and Miller a rising one. Unfortunately, songs such as "I Tried," "I'll Be Alright," and "Love Is Where You Find It" reveal nothing deeper than the clichés of their titles. Only "Ireland" escapes the vagueness that plagues the others, a vagueness that neither Klein's vocal talents nor her muscular band can focus. --Michael Ross« less
Jess Klein has a few things going for her that might help her emerge from the glut of young, female singer-songwriters flooding an already saturated market. For one, her little-girl voice has an engaging edge to it, much like Julie Miller or Stevie Nicks; for another, her record sports a real band sound that rocks harder than your typical folkie fare. On the down side, she may sound a bit too much like the aforementioned singers to carve out her own recognizable place. Then there are her tunes, dealing with the usual fare of love and loss, minus the powerful melding of lyrics and melody that have made Nicks a superstar and Miller a rising one. Unfortunately, songs such as "I Tried," "I'll Be Alright," and "Love Is Where You Find It" reveal nothing deeper than the clichés of their titles. Only "Ireland" escapes the vagueness that plagues the others, a vagueness that neither Klein's vocal talents nor her muscular band can focus. --Michael Ross
"The airwaves seem to be full of female singer songwriters. You name the music from toddler pop to gangsa rap and women are finally getting the chance to show the world what they can do. And mostly what they can do is put out the same tired self absorbed junk that their male counterparts have been feeding us for decades now. And then there is Jess. Sweet voice, but with an edge that cuts into you. Lyrics that reveal, hide, allow the voice to play in the music. And thankfully some songs that are just fun, raw little tunes that are not meant to change the world or let us all know that she is a deep thinker who wants to save the world. Jess Klein doesn't take us or herself too seriously and I love her and her songs for that. Some music just makes you smile and smiling is good enough for me."
Buy this cd!
jessica-bklyn | 09/26/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"this is a change from the uplifting sound on "wishes well disguised." (mostly just jess and her guitar). this darker album has many of the same beautifully written songs now accompanied by a handful of talented musicians who complement jess beautifully. i can't wait to hear her next album which will be a culmination of her writing and singing styles on both cd's added with whatever experiences she has until then. Her lyrics are amazingly visual- jess klein is a rare talent that you should keep your eye on."
Wonderfully eclectic; NOT the typical female-songwriter
Gen Falel | Hawaii | 06/19/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Imagine a female songwriter with a beautiful voice who sings songs that are NOT insipid and tedious, whose music has a touch of the traditional, and who is sincere enough that you'd want to sing her songs to someone you love, or listen to them frequently when alone. Work that comes without pretense of simplicity or depth, and thus achieves both. This describes Jess Klein's _Draw Them Near_, with some ommissions; her work has not yet acquired the cookie-cutter hollywood gloss--which means it's more raw, and certainly more genuine for the lack. For this price, the CD's a better bargain than any you've bought in the last few years. I do urge giving it a try."
The way "pop" music is supposed to sound
I can't believe it | Birmingham, AL | 10/03/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"When you think 'pop' in 2000, you usually picture pink and purple shiny things in syncopation. How often we forget what real 'pop' sounds like--well crafted, hard-to-forget albums like Jess Klein's 'Draw Them Near'. Klein has a voice that hovers somewhere between Natalie Merchant and Stevie Nicks, but these songs play like something different, a more aggressive folk-pop that stays with you. The lyrics are introspective and emotional, and make for an interesting contrast against the vigorous, well-produced guitars and rhythm section. If you've been sitting around wondering when that next singer-songwriter talent was going to show up, wonder no longer."
Where has this girl been!
jessica-bklyn | 09/15/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Jess Klein is a wonder! I haven't been able to stop listening to "Draw Them Near" because every time I hear it some different aspect intrigues me. At first I was simply enchanted by the honesty, directness, and power of her lyrics. In songs like "I Tried" she sums up all the frustration of trying to "bail out" a lover whose own behavior makes him miserably unhappy. Then, my atention was caught by the raw power of some of the rock tracks -- "Open me", "Good-bye, Good-Bye", and "I Sure Would". Most recently, I've been drawn in (drawn near, I guess) by the clarity and beauty of her voice on tracks like "I'll be Allright", "Song for an Angel" and "Draw Them Near". She's a seriously talented woman!"