Christina Courtin - Christina Courtin [Album]

Nonesuch

July 27, 2009, 09:44 PM

Views: 332   Comments: 0

Buy Christina Courtin - Christina Courtin [Album] From Amazon.com

Christina Courtin would have fitted in perfectly in the New York Jazz scene of the thirties and forties, but fate brought her to another era. With her high, nervous voice and sensitive, emotional singing she could have easily shared the stage with Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, but it just wasn't meant to be. Christina Courtin probably would have done the early matinee show anyway because despite her wish for a lively record full of energy, she hasn't exactly gone completely gun-ho on her debut album.

Supported by session favourite Jim Keltner, former Bat and current producer Jon Brion and Heartbreaker Benmont Tench among others, Courtin shows on her debut that she has made an excellent choice to pick up lead singing instead of playing second violin at the Juilliard School. On songs like 'Green Jay', 'February' and 'Bundah' for instance she sounds a bit nervous and insecure, but it's all for the better, as it gives her an earthy and emotional edge.

The first real highlight though is the lively, up-tempo 'Foreign Country', the self-penned could-have-been-jazz-classic, which was chosen as the first single. Courtin and her band really hit it off with the combination of jazzy melody, storytelling and country guitar. The fact that Christina Courtin is going completely crazy here gives this song the final push to make it into something you want to listen to over and over again.

She revisits her emotional outburst a couple of songs later too, on the sinister, low voiced 'Kate Bush goes electric' song 'Laconia' and the beautiful piano ballad 'Mulberries'. However, the problem with this self titled debut album is that these three compositions are the only ones not getting close to the subtlety of lullabies. Though Christina Courtin explained herself that the records she loves the most are the ones full of life and energy, that is definitely not the case with this self titled debut album.

Christina Courtin seemed to have been overenthusiastic for the idea of recording with famous fellow musicians and decided just to give everything a go. By representing soft-pop, jazz, country-pop, rock and even a bit of classical music she shows she’s more than just another singer / songwriter trying to make it in New York. In the end it’s all a bit too much and a bit too soft to really impress big time. With songs like ‘Foreign Country’, ‘Laconia’ and ‘Mulberries’ though Christina Courtin also shows she’s definitely one of a kind and someone to look forward to in the future.

#1 | Subscribe | Send to Friend | Print | Discipline | Report