REVIEW: Jonatha Brooke, 10c Wings (Refuge/MCA)
- Jon Steltenpohl
10c Wings is the second album by The Story's Jonatha Brooke since she stopped performing with her partner Jennifer Kimball. Brooke wrote all of the songs, and Kimball sang backup. But, even after a few albums, it still feels like something's missing. There was an innocent feel to the first album by The Story that Brooke has never been able to match, and the lack of Kimball's harmonies only seem to highlight that fact.
Sure, Brooke's writing is still there, and when she gets a song right, it really hits its mark. "Because I Told You" is one of those great songs. It's quiet, personal, and touching. Brooke's voice is whispered and insistent. Later in the song, she layers some warm harmonies at just the right spots. Acoustic guitar and a hand drum set a background with atmospheric touches by a guitar and synthesizer. "Annie" follows the same pattern. The song is a personal message to a messed up girl that really gets your emotional attention.
"Blood From a Stone" starts out with the same promise that "Because I Told You" and "Annie" have, but after the first verse, a cymbal and a few other sounds rumbles up that take away all of the intimacy. "Genius or a Fool" is buried in sad sounding horns and a weird chorus of male voices at the end. "Crumbs" starts out good, but ends in some sort of homage to The Beatles "Golden Slumbers".
What gives? There's not much in the basic lyrics and melodies of these songs that's any different than the quiet, tender songs on the album. Brooke just seems drawn to the flame of "radio ready" sounds that singe her charming, innocent style into a run-of-the-mill faux Sheryl Crow. Not that this is new. Brooke started the transformation on the second The Story album, The Angel in the House, and unfortunately, the style still doesn't work for her.
Still, 10c Wings gives us enough to like on this album. "Because I Told You" and "Annie" along with the title track and "Shame On Us" are all such good songs that they make up for the shortcomings of the rest of the album. Listening to a track like "10 cent Wings" is a beautiful experience. Brooke is singing about a flight on angel wings, and her song takes you right along. This is the musician who made that first album such a success, partner or not. Clearly, she recognized the strength of the song in making it the title cut. 10c Wings has some gems on it, but as an album, it isn't the masterpiece those gems would suggest.
