Muleskinner

Issue date: 2/1/07 Section: Features

Cool, Confident - Anais Mitchell's new album 'The Brightness" allows the singer / songwriter to show off her talents with an eclectic mixture of genres.

Signed to Ani DiFranco's record label, Righteous Babe Records, in 2005, singer/songwriter Anais Mitchell is releasing her first album on the label and the third of her career.

Mitchell's new album, "The Brightness," is an eclectic 11-song album based in contemporary folk tradition, yet goes beyond its boundaries.

Drawing on various influences comprising of blues, jazz, folk, country, bluegrass, etc., Mitchell utilizes these styles to make the songs overwhelmingly hers.

Mitchell's main instrument on the record is the acoustic guitar, which she plays quite well. With arpeggiated melodies and haunting progressions, Mitchell's music can at times be captivating.

What seems to be Mitchell's strongest asset is her unmistakable voice.

Using intonation and vocal trills, Mitchell is able to make her otherwise simple singing (not always a bad thing) something quite original.

The album starts off strong with tracks "Your Fonder Heart" and the smoky jazz ballad "Of a Friday Night."

Other tracks like bluegrass-influenced "Hobo's Lullaby" and the quiet yet powerful "Song of the Magi" are other highlights of the album, as well.

Despite what seemed to be too many references to "darkness," Mitchell's lyrics have the ability to be quite poignant at times.
This does become a problem with some songs on the album, where it feels like the focus of the song was put entirely on the words and lacked a bit of complexity in the music, which is simply a matter of taste.

And this could be one of the criticisms of the album, is that at times the music does become a bit lost.

Maybe it is the unanimous ballad feeling that the album contains, but this one is meant to be listened to at certain times.

Chances are, you won't hear an Anais Mitchell album at a house party (or at a typical guy's house).

But that doesn't mean it's a bad thing.In fact, it makes it easy to appreciate the music for what it is; delicate, attractive and surprisingly original.

"The Brightness" by Anais Mitchell is in stores Feb. 13. For more information, go to www.anaismitchell.com.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools