Proverbial

Since this is supposed to be my personal blog, and considering the post draught that’s been afflicting it lately, I think it’s only fair to start posting mini-reviews on books, records and movies I’ve purchased recently. So, let’s begin this with my three latest music purchases:

Jewel - Goodbye Alice in Wonderland: I used to be a big fan of Jewel back in the days when she was just a folk singer with a distinctive voice and a cool life story. My interest waned in direct relation to her compositions turn for the popular. But at R$ 17,53 (when the average price for a CD these days is R$ 30), I just couldn’t resist the opportunity to check her latest offering. Also, I recognized a few songs from her pre-Pieces of You days.

With very low expectations, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. Yes, she still sounds mediocre when going for more popular fare (such as the bland “Words Get in The Way”). But there are some good folk songs in there - even some old-time favorites like “Last Dance Rodeo” and “1000 Miles Away” -, and she shows she can really rock out some more powerful melodies, like “Drive to You”, which I’d never expect from her. No wonder iTunes tagged it as a rock record when I ripped it. Also, her lyrics have taken a more mature turn which I really like. All in all, definitely worth the purchase.

Maria Rita - Samba Meu: I’ve always nurtured some sympathy for Elis Regina’s daughter, especially for her voice and figure. But even though I think she had some great songs in her first two records - like “Cara Valente” and “A Festa” - her choice in arrangements tended to be too much on the muzak side for my taste.

This time, though, she completely revamped her looks (definitely for the worse, I might add) and her sound, found some new composers and producers, and made a record entirely of old-school sambas. As skeptical as I was with this change, I only had to listen to a couple of songs at the store to know this was a keeper. The musicians are tight, the songs are great - with some classics thrown in for good measure - and her amazing voice is perfectly suited for this repertoire.

For fans of samba and Brazilian music in general, this is a must buy, even though the price is a little steep right now.

Wendy McNeill - The Wonder Show: I’d never heard about Ms. McNeill prior to her opening for indie icon Joanna Newson, at a show here in Porto Alegre last week. In fact, it was my girlfriend who bought her record after the gig, but since she left the CD in my car I thought it was only fair to mention it here.

Her live act is kinda weird, for she plays alone with an acoustic guitar or accordion, but makes great use of loops recorded right there to build a much fuller sound than you would expect from her tiny picture. She has a beautiful and pitch-perfect voice, which she uses to sing some interesting alt-folk songs that remind me a lot of Ani DiFranco. The album’s strenght - as with the aforementioned singer - lies in the lyrics, though, which are in turns poignant and sarcastic, making for very entertaining music. At R$ 15 the CD, it was a steal.