Search - Joan Osborne :: Pretty Little Stranger

Pretty Little Stranger
Joan Osborne
Pretty Little Stranger
Genres: Country, Alternative Rock, Folk, Pop, Rock
 
  •  Track Listings (12) - Disc #1

Though Joan Osborne has referred to this as "my version of a country record," the music is likely to find more favor in coffee shops and on NPR than with honky-tonks and the Grand Ole Opry. It conjures comparisons with Ros...  more »

     
1

Larger Image

CD Details

All Artists: Joan Osborne
Title: Pretty Little Stranger
Members Wishing: 3
Total Copies: 0
Label: Vanguard Records
Original Release Date: 1/1/2006
Re-Release Date: 11/14/2006
Genres: Country, Alternative Rock, Folk, Pop, Rock
Styles: Americana, Contemporary Folk, Adult Contemporary, Singer-Songwriters, Adult Alternative
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 015707981026

Synopsis

Amazon.com
Though Joan Osborne has referred to this as "my version of a country record," the music is likely to find more favor in coffee shops and on NPR than with honky-tonks and the Grand Ole Opry. It conjures comparisons with Rosanne Cash's artistry after her country hitmaking days, as if Osborne came to Nashville to make the sort of music that Cash left Nashville to make. While it may not achieve the commercial success that Osborne enjoyed with her popular breakthrough, "One of Us," it's the most consistently compelling album of her career. Produced by Steve Buckingham (Dolly Parton), with harmony support from Alison Krauss, Vince Gill, and Rodney Crowell, Osborne mixes six strong originals with six choice covers, rarely overpowering the material through displays of vocal technique, as she occasionally has in the past. Much of the material deals with the aftermath of relationships (including one with a woman on "After Jane"), with results ranging from a mixture of resilience and vulnerability on the title track through the insistent groove of "Who Divided" and the eternal optimism of "Till I Get It Right." There's also a folkish rendition of the Grateful Dead's "Brokedown Palace" that Osborne makes her own, and some live-wire slide guitar from Sonny Landreth on "Dead Roses." The closest she comes to classic country is a bittersweet reading of Kris Kristofferson's "Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends," while the closing balladry of "When the Blue Hour Comes" (with co-writer Rodney Crowell on harmonies) is pure heartbreak. --Don McLeese

Similarly Requested CDs

 

CD Reviews

Tepid set from stellar artist
Mike S. Smutny | Brooklyn Park, MN United States | 11/21/2006
(2 out of 5 stars)

"I hate to give this a negative review because by many standards this is a decent recording. The songs are adequate, the arrangements are solid if uninspired, the song choice is at least thoughtful, and Joan can sing out of the phone book and still sound good. But...this is so far below what she's capable of and what she excels at that it is a serious disapointment to fans of the swampy back woods blues of "Relish", still one of my favorite CD's. There's nothing here to rival "St. Teresa", "Ladder", "Spider Web", "Right Hand Man", or even "One of Us" which I never need to hear ever again."
Where'd Joan go?
MtnRider | 11/15/2006
(3 out of 5 stars)

"I really miss the intensity of Joan's voice on previous albums. This is more thoughtful, pensive. Less heartbroken or fired up. I always catch myself thinking about her earlier music, "how does so much soul & heart come out of such a tiny little woman?" The gritty voice, the emotion, the imperfections.



Well, not to knock this CD, it's good stuff, just not what I love about Joan's music."
Like A Tiger
Lee Armstrong | Winterville, NC United States | 11/24/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)

"Joan Osborne's "Pretty Little Stranger" has some shining moments. The self-penned title tune has an excellent beat, a throbbing bass line, and Joan's powerful vocals connecting with the band, "There is a Spanish boy who also rides the A train. I want to tag him like a tiger so I can track him as he moves around the city so I can guard him like an angel." This is a stellar track, on a par with Joan's best work. The beautiful melody of Patty Griffin's "What You Are" is polished by Joan's lovely vocals, "Do you wish you were the silence of the moon? Nobody knows but maybe you will be soon." Joan's "After Jane" is a delight with the vocals passionate and the music cranked, "Will I rise up again? Will I ever know a friend like my Jane!" There are other beautiful moments like Beth Nielsen Chapman's gorgeous tune of "Time Won't Tell," given a country twang with pedal steel guitar and Vince Gill on harmony. Rodney Crowell's "When the Blue Hour Comes" is a lovely ballad. On a few tracks like "Brokedown Palace" & "Shake the Devil" the band seems sleepy, unable to keep up with Joan's vocal fireworks. Most of the CD is excellent and deserves to be embraced by Joan's fans, old & new. Enjoy!"