Jess Klein
Draw Them Near
Rykodisc
There are few things in music with as much beauty and elegance than a really well done female fronted alternative country album. Jess Klein, with her album, Draw Them Near, has created a sublimely luscious record that easily compares with Maria McKee’s first solo album. Klein has the total package working. She is blessed with musical talent, a strong, expressive voice, and the ability to write memorable, instantly likeable songs that are not merely fluff. Her best songs the record are the slightly up-tempo numbers, like “Love is Where You Find It” and “Goodbye, Goodbye” – the energy on these songs is absolutely infectious. Some of that energy gets lost on some of the slower tracks that just don’t grab the listener as quickly. Klein doesn’t seem to have quite the same confidence on those tracks, but this isn’t a knock on those songs. The slower songs are silver; the up-tempo numbers are golden.
Rykodisc, Shetland Park, 27 Congress St., Salem, MA 01970; http://www.rykodisc.com; http://www.jessklein.com
