Have
you ever had
a day when you
wonder, ‘what’s
it all about?’
‘Why are
we here?’
‘Where
are we all headed?’
One of those
days in quite
contemplation?
Well, this is
a soundtrack
to one of those
days.
A girl who
grew up in
a small mid-western
town with
a darker sound
not really
associated
with that
part of the
world, Jen
Gloeckner,
one of the
busiest artists
on the folk/jazz
network really
delivers with
this debut
album.
A haunting
start greets
you with the
first two
tracks Miles
Away
and Remember
When,
but they pale
into insignificance
as soon as
song three,
Hazy Sky
with full
band behind,
kicks in with
Tanita Tikaram/David
Gray (female
version) style
vocals. This
song grabs
you straight
away to a
point where
you can’t
help but softly
nod your head
to the infectious
riff that
runs throughout,
and by track
four, Seven
Maids,
you’re
completely
engaged within
Jen Gloeckner’s
world.
"Nothing
Personal",
track five,
is where the
album takes
another distinctive
turn, but
this time
you’re
led down a
path of trippy
wonder, backed
up by similar
style with
the next song,
"Only
1".
The sounds
of Ben Harper
style licks
are effectively
used in Spinning
Heads, track
seven on the
LP, and is,
by far, one
of the strongest
songs on what
is already,
by this point
in listening
to the record,
a rock solid
album. Smoky
jazz follows
with "Glimpse",
a nice enough
tune, but
sounding a
little out
of place with
what preceded
it, and subsequently,
what comes
after –
heavily weighted
with jazz
by a little
too much sax,
this is weakest
song on the
album.
Number 9 on
the record
is "Glue",
an apt name
when it comes
to the harmonies,
cello sound
and predictable
progression;
they stick
in your mind,
which also
can be said
about track
10, "Clear
the Sand",
a song that
is reminiscent
of a Gwen
Stefani/Missy
Elliot merge.
This
is the best
song on the
record, which
could have
massive popular
appeal around
the world.
In fact,
this song
and the next
three, "Prodigal
Son",
"Swarm"
and "Mountains"
really stick
out from the
rest of the
album as concept
songs: daring,
different
and clever.
We come back
to Jen Gloeckner’s
distinctive
sound with
"Otherside",
song 14 on
the album,
where sax
is used again,
but with just
the right
amount and
feel this
time.
" Wasting
Time"
is the last
song on the
CD and is
a positive
end to an
eclectic mix
of great songs,
which could
take this
artist into
very diverse
directions,
depending
on the diversity
of Jen Gloecner’s
personality.
It is
going to be
interesting
to see where
this very
talented artist
will end up.
Alt-folk?
Jazz? Come up
with a genre
fitting of Tracey
Chapman and
you might be
clode to Jen's
fine work on
this record.
Heavy use of
acoustic instruments
with minor key
vocal harmonies
bless the hook
track, "Prodigal
Son." This
warm release
has a little
bit of everything
for late-night
drives through
cool valleys
and steep mountains.
I was attracted
to the piece,
"Hazy Sky,"
early in the
record, even
though it help
a more consistent
tempo than some
of the more
psychedelic
pieces further
on. Jen's husky
vocals would
appeal immediately
to Tanita Tikaram
and Stevie Nicks
fans out there,
but she has
a voice all
her own.
Every
once in a while
I come across
a record that
defies easy
categorization.
This is one
of those. Jen
Gloeckner's
music takes
in folk, jazz
and pop and
turns them into
her own blend.
She has a special
voice, warm
and individual.
"Hazy
Sky" has
shades of Stevie
Nicks in the
singing and
melody.
"Nothing
Perosnal"
is dark and
enticing.
"Alice
follow the rabbit"
she sings to
a jazzy backdrop
and spins her
web of
enchantment.
"In the
garden of lust,
souls turn to
dust" she
warns.
"Spinning
Heads"
is folk pop
with a modern
twist. Gloeckner's
lovely vocal
make sit just
right.
The exotic twist
to "Clear
the sand"
makes it special.
"Mountains"
is sublime and
expansive. Gloeckner's
voice and guitar
woven
into a fabulous
soundscape.
So "Miles
Away" is
as perfect as
a debut gets.
No filler songs,
just great ones.
Go investigate.
Jen
Gloeckner demonstrates
her singer/songwriting
abilities from
the very first
track on her
amazing 'Miles
Away' CD. Gloeckner
has an amazing
vocal range,
making her vocal
home at the
high and low
ends. And can
still get out
those sultry
sexy sounds.
Each song gets
better and better,
after the second
track you know
what you are
in stored for.
‘Hazy
Sky’ is
the most beautiful
song I think
I have ever
heard. The musicianship
just captures
your mind and
soul, your heart
just soaks each
note up.
This cd project
is very well
produced and
engineered.
This is definitely
radio and has
'high on the
chart' abilities.
If I was to
pick a favorite
and a future
#1 chart hit,
it would be
'Spinning Heads',
in my opinion
this tune has
what it takes
to make its
way up the charts
rather it be
pop, easy listening
or as an crossover,
get out and
get your own
copy at http://www.jengloeckner.com
......Do it
Today! The musicianship
is totally awesome,
the talent is
spectacular.
There is something
on this cd for
all music lovers.
Jen keeps us
in the listening
mode for the
entire cd. Each
and every instrument
is tremendously
fantastic. Each
and every track
has its own
diverse style
and technique.
That is the
greatest accomplishment
an artist can
give their cd
projects.
- Mary Rudy
for Southbound
Beat Magazine
A
few years ago
I spent an afternoon
in Dubuque.
Are at the local
A&W, rode
the antique
elevator up
the side of
the hill, walked
through the
town square
and down a few
residential
streets, but
nothing indicated
there was anything
exotic behind
any of those
doors. It is
fitting then
that the cover
of her album
Miles Away as
well as the
insert photos
feature Jen
Gloeckner far
from Iowa, amidst
sand dunes and
in a dry, cracked
lakebed. "I
am miles away
from a logical
place,"
the Dubuque
native confesses
in the title
track, one of
the most straightforward
numbers on a
record replete
with ethereal
moments.
The lyrics aren't
included in
the liner notes,
which is frustrating
until you realize
that the words
aren't the main
point. Phrases
are sometimes
repeated so
often as to
lose all meaning.
It isn't what
she is saying,
but how she
says it. Her
voice is just
another instrument
alongside her
sophisticated
guitar and piano
work (with occasional
guests contributing
cello, drums,
flute or saxophone).
Which isn't
to say that
there aren't
moments of revelation,
they just don't
require a close
reading. "Alice
followed the
rabbit/Nothing
Personal, just
habit,"
from "Nothing
Personal",
is repeated
over the sensual
flow of the
music enough
times that you
can't help but
catch it, and
then stop and
think WOW.
The only negative
criticism of
this record
is that at just
over fifty-five
minutes it goes
on too long.
It is
easy to lose
oneself in her
lullaby voice
and heartbeat
rhythms, and
before you know
it several whole
songs have slipped
by without distinguishing
themselves.
One thing that
prevents the
entire second
half of the
record from
flowing by unoticed
is the gorgeous
trio of songs
beginning with
number ten,
the tribal "Clear
the Sand."
The flute
trills, layered
vocals (all
by Gloeckner)
and congas conjure
something primal
and dance on
the beach under
a full moon.
The next track,
"Prodigal
Son", pairs
the congas with
a cello that
dances wickedly
back and forth
as she offers
the cynical
advice, "If
you find you
keep slipping
on your tongue/
You can tie
it round your
neck like a
prodigal son."
"Swarm"
is as haunting
as anything
PJ Harvey ever
recorded. After
murmuring"This
raven is waiting
to be with you
for eternity,"
she asks in
the last line
before the fade-out,
"I'm so
close can't
you feel me
breathe?"
Shivers.
As much as Gloeckner
sounds like
no one else,
she can at times
resemble every-one
else. Easy
touchstones
are the gentle
folk-pop of
Sarah McLachlan
or the cerebral
piano poetics
of Tori Amos.
You'll
swear you have
heard the track
"Hazy Sky"
before, only
to realize that
it's her similarity
to Stevie Nicks
that makes it
sound like a
lost Fleetwood
Mac song.
As is the trend
with American
folkies, she
is currently
garnering more
attention overseas
than here in
the States.
The U.K.
magazine Mojo
reviewed Miles
Away in this
month's issue,
giving it an
impressive three
stars and calling
it a "debut
leap of sonic
imagination."
This is a strong
first effort
that marks her
as one to watch,
and hopefully
might gain her
some deserved
attention back
home.
Miles
Away (Hazy
Sky Publishing
Spinning Head
Records (USA),
2004) is the
debut album
for alt/folk,
alt/jazz, alt/country
singer, Jen
Gloeckner. With
words and music
as well as production
by Jen, this
self-released
album is certainly
a one-woman
effort. She
contributes
a proficient
acoustic guitar,
keyboards, vocals
and harmonies
to the array
of melodies.
Jen's
voice has a
striking similarity
to that of Stevie
Nicks and therefore
this album is
likely to appeal
to her fans
as well.
Jen approaches
her music gently,
with slow-moving
tunes, in a
husky, twangy
vocalization.
Her laid-back
approach conveys
a moodiness
to her songs.
The title track,
"Miles
Away"
opens with wonderful
guitar riffs
and has a gentle,
lighthearted
feel. "Remember
When"
continues with
soft strumming
of the guitar,
and her almost
nasal vocals.
She changes
to a more upbeat
melody in "Hazy
Sky",
yet she still
captures the
relaxed and
lazy mood with
her impeccable
guitar. The
haunting "Seven
Maids"
follows
with Jen's wonderful
storytelling
style. Drums
by Olen Franklin
and cello by
Kameron Cole
certainly add
to the hypnotic
approach to
this tune.
"Nothing
Personal"
has a wonderful
mix of percussion
and down-home
vocal expression.
Another stand-out
tune is the
upbeat "Clear
the Sand".
Some
amazing flute
solos by Jen
Wiater and
congas by
Olen Franklin
contribute
to the rhythmic
and gripping
music.
Having been
likened to
numerous female
artists including
Tori Amos,
Joni Mitchell
and Stevie
Nicks, Jen
comes into
her own on
this traditionally
rooted album.
This
Iowa born
singer/songwriter
has certainly
created an
album that
has expression,
a variety
of moods,
and an intimate
feel. Talented
Jen Gloeckner
is certainly
an artist
to keep watching
out for in
the future.
I
like this Jen
Gloeckner CD.
I do. As far
as female singer-songwriters
go, this American
artist has some
real talent,
and she’s
gradually gaining
recognition.
‘Miles
Away’
opens her debut
softly, with
a slowly picked
acoustic guitar
and a pretty
vocal accompaniment.
It just starts
off feeling
right. Even
when that slow
picking switches
to the gentle
strum of ‘Remember
When’,
it doesn’t
lose me for
a second, so
that’s
an encouraging
start.
Then it keeps
getting better,
surprising you
each time. ‘Hazy
Sky’ has
this perfect
lazy, swaying
strum that just
enraptures your
mind. Every
bar is like
a small wave
lapping at the
beach with the
tide coming
in. Over and
over it loops,
yet you never
want to let
it go. Eventually
you have to.
That’s
followed by
‘Seven
Maids’,
and I hate to
be so damned
chronological,
but Miles Away
just starts
off like a journey
with each song
being a stop
along the way,
so it’s
difficult to
disassociate
from that routine.
Anyway, if there
would be a hit
single it would
be this. As
hypnotic as
previously,
still gentle,
it also hides
a darker undercurrent
too, showing
that there is
some extra substance
to this music.
You see, in
relation to
your average
struggling musician,
this is one
of the most
polished albums
I’ve ever
heard. The standard
is high enough
to dominate
radio and compete
with chart acts.
Strings, wind
instruments,
perfect mixing,
and strong musicianship
are all on display.
Admittedly,
it would make
the Norah Jones
generation pee
their pants,
but that doesn’t
mean there’s
nothing here
for the alternative
age either.
The only point
where the album
does start to
lose me is when
the folk styles
gradually make
way for a more
Ani DiFranco-styled
take on jazz
in the midsection.
I never was
an Ani fan and
I probably never
will be, so
the sax solo
on ‘Glimpse’,
for example,
is really going
against my better
nature. I can
survive it and
move on, though,
because the
fact is that
there are 15
tracks on offer,
all with their
own diverse
styles and techniques.
That’s
one of the greatest
accomplishments
of Miles Away,
so there should
be a little
of something
for everyone.
