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Manger Songs (2009)
All proceeds from this album go towards AIDS relief with Blood/Water Mission (www.bloodwatermission.com) |
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Albums |
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Manger Songs (2009)
All proceeds from this album go towards AIDS relief with Blood/Water Mission (www.bloodwatermission.com) |
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Album Info |
Review |
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Released: 2009 Label: Unsigned
Track List: 1. Joy to the World 2. Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel 3. Silent Night 4. Nothin' But the Blood
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From The Flying Cub Pup:
I tend to get a
little pensive whenever friends pass along the music they make. I have
this fear of hating it and then trying to break it to them easy. In my
mind, this situation generally ends with my being obliterated in either
word or some form of physical suffering by said friend. Jessica Ripka is
a friend, and she could melt me with her eyes because she's had laser
eye surgery, so I was equally thrilled and terrified to give a listen to
'Manger Songs', her first
official EP. Much to my excitement, her bare bones approach to classic
songs not only deftly puts her mark on them, but rejuvenates them as new
creations. 'Joy to World'
becomes an anthem brimming with energy and a 7/8 time signature, while
'Silent Night' sounds as if it
was lifted right off a CocoRosie album, with lilting pianos and an eerie
re-imagining of the famous melody. The other two tracks on the EP ('Oh
Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel' and 'Nothin'
but the Blood') are both loaded with enough hand clapping,
staccato chord progressions and charming vocals to make Regina Spektor
up and quit (or at least be insanely jealous). The EP's only set backs
are brief, and thankfully, do not take away from what this is, a joyful
burst of noise from one joyful individual. The first is that some of
these re-imaginings are so far removed from their originals that at
times it's hard to remember what song you're listening to. It's a
dangerous line to toe, but Jessica pulls it off. The second is that it's
only an EP. Jessica, if you're reading this (and I know you are),
release more albums. Now. |
