Search - Jennifer Warnes :: Shot Through the Heart

Operating on the fringes of popular music

dev1 | Baltimore | 07/12/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"With a recording career that has spanned four decades, JenniferWarnes is one of the best kept secrets in contemporary music. Alwaysthe critic's darling, she manages to break into the mainstream for bright but brief periods. Shoot Through The Heart has an overall late-seventies Southern California atmosphere. Her selection of folk and country-rock tunes is flawless. I dislike comparing the CD to the work of Linda Ronstadt, but the similarities are impossible to miss. Certainly, Warnes is no Ronstadt imitator, but like many projects coming out of Southern California during this period, Shot Through The Heart is imprinted with the musical traits of Andrew Gold and Kenny Edwards. Often operating on the fringes of popular music (with the likes of shadowy artists such as Leonard Cohen), Jennifer's voice is that of a purist: precise, detailed and forceful. The CD opens with the light rocker title cut. After a long search, I discovered that the pleasant vocal harmony is provided by a folkie named Penny Nichols. Although never upstaging Warnes, her voice is a handsome counterpart. Warnes moves with elegance through an admirable assortment of folk (I Know A Heartache When I See One, Sign On The Window) and contemporary standards (Hard Times Come Again No More). Placed between the up-tempo compositions are several qualified heartbreakers. Warnes' composition `You Remember Me' bleeds loneliness. The longing in her voice is touching in `I'm Restless.' Shot Through The Heart is uplifting, moody and contains more than enough moments going straight to the heart.Technical Note: My BMG CD from Germany has an overall sparkling sound quality (Jennifer Warnes' voice is precise), but contains minor flaws (tracks 4, 6 and 8). These abrupt tape "hiccups" are noticeable during critical headphone evaluation, but I doubt that they would be recognized in most listening situations."

Underated female vocalist

D. Moore | Ponca City, OK United States | 04/05/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Jennifer Warnes has had an unusual career. Tremendous success performing duets (Joe Cocker and Bill Medley), very little success as a solo artist. Her music can be a little "quirky", but what original artist isn't. If you like strong female vocalists (like early Ronstadt, Bonoff, Nicolette Larson, Sarah McLachlan, etc.) you will like Jennifer Warnes. I would start with this album or her new album "The Well" although her other albums "Famous Blue Raincoat" and "The Hunter" are also good. This is one of my favorite female singer albums. It's right up there with Carole King "Tapestry" ("Tapestry" is more soulful), Sarah McLachlan's "Surfacing", Karla Bonoff's first two albums or early Ronstadt albums. Buy this album, you won't regret it."

Jennifer Warnes Shoots through Your Heart

D. Moore | 01/12/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Totally singable is the best way to describe this CD...over twenty years old, it is still a 5 star winner one never tires of. The one song to get airplay from this album back in the early eighties, " I Kknow A Heartache When I See One" is good, in fact better than good, but actually pales when compared to most of the tracks.Jennifer's voice and style are folksy-easy listening without ever, ever, being boring, she has a spark that makes you want to just hit repeat on the disc player and let it run all day. She sings a great variety here, from Bob Dylan's "Sign on the Window" to Stephan Foster, and includes her own powerful writing as well. I have already worn out two albums of this recording before I found the disc here. It is absolutely a must have! You will not be disappointed!"