Abby Jenne and the Enablers: Reviews

Long time Vermont folk artist Abby Jenne has discovered her inner classic rock. While many of the tracks retain some of the 'folkiness' of her solo work (see especially "Miller", the ridiculously infectious "Brave New Woman" and "Tiny Wars"), the album makes good use of the band to give the CD a more powerful sound to match a uniquely powerful voice. The varied genres on the CD can be attributed to an artist seeking the song and sound to match her voice and stage personality. There are comparisons to made here with the late Jeff Buckley, another folkie struggling with his own inner arena-rock demons (by way of example, consider "Peasant Tense" or "Johnson, Vermont"). This is not a folk album nor is this a folk artist. Acoustic guitars and all, this is an album meant to be listened to as loud as possible. Lyrically, few artists are able to so incisively and creatively deal with the 'inner being'. Rather than reducing soul-searching and life's trials to mere naval gazing, Abby Jenne adds just the right dashes of humour and vitriol to her subjects. One quibble though with the humour: some of her songs, while quite funny, can occasionally wander into the realm of novelty song. ("Redneck Love" and the tongue-in-cheek "Barre, VT come to mind) Nevertheless, this is an excellent album from a local Vermont legend. While failing to capture the excitement of her live shows, it will serve as a good introduction to an important and rapidly rising perfomer who is seeking to turn inside out the cliche of the acoustic singer/songwriter.

In a state knee deep with excellent singer songwriters, Abby Jenne and her band stand out as purveyors of truly original, highly listenable, thoughtful material, and stellar musicianship. No one can turn a lyric like Abby, and her voice is as sweet as honey. If you have the chance to see Abby live, buy the album and get to know her songs before the show, you wont regret it. If you can't see Abby live, then buy the album and wish that you could! This album is worh every penny at double the price.

Local Vermont live legend Abby Jenne does very well with a backing band, and the AJB debut CD is proof of her ability to move well between the stage and the studio. While live music is often all about the power and emotion of the moment, a recording needs to be complex and interesting enough to survive repeated playing. Random Road delivers -- with powerful, complicated lyrics full of moving images, moments of humor, sadness and wonder. With lines like "You're so easy to talk to, passed out on the floor" songs like Rocks in My Head manage to convey an excess of images with an economy of words. The music is full and interesting without losing its pop sensibility, and many fans of Abby's solo work will be pleasantly surprised by the way the band builds and supports her familiar songs, such as Brave New Woman, or Miller. However, new songs, like The Peasant, Tense and Johnson, VT are also real delights -- there aren't many filler songs on this CD. The ABJ has built a reputation for strong live performances. With this CD, they've proven they can also make a strong, and eminently listenable studio recording.

Abby Jenne and her band play socially conscience, mischievous, acoustic folk-rock. Her best tracks, like “Brave New Woman,” are quirky country-lite charmers. Jenne’s voice has a twang that reminds me of the Essex Green’s Sasha Bell or Alanis Morissette in her softer moments. There’s a bad-ass charm in lines like “So Miller, my darlin’/ Please hear me a callin’ /And get your ass back to the States/ ‘Cos although Canada’s cool/ I fucking hate school/ And I don’t neither much like to wait,” from “Miller.” Though the record is all over the place [genre-wise], it is generally likeable. Her cover of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” is an unexpected treat.... The best parts of the album cause a spontaneous grin and a good deal of toe-tapping. A nice debut from East Barre’s Star Pudding Productions.

Abby Jenne

Written by Kenny B
May 31, 2008 at 11:00 PM

I admit I have had a bias for years for this next artist, maybe 12 years, to be inexact. This lady has the voice of a songbird and the face of an angel. She can soothe you into a lullaby state and then jolt you awake with a belt from her gut that tells you, "this girl knows how to sing!!"

When I first met her, she was playing a garden party in Starksborough. After her song was over, there wasn't a dry eye. She pulled me into the lyrics; I felt as though I lost my best friend. On another night, she will energize the crowd with sing-along lyrics everyone knows.

The lady's name is Abby Jenne. Anyone who has seen her lately will agree that, when the night is all over, you've had the chance to watch a "star" in the making. And now she has a band, the enablers, that really understands her music and what she's trying to make the crowd feel. I must say that, after listening to her for all these years, she has people behind her who complement her style, energy and love for the music. You will be able to tell quickly that her love of the music is her main attraction. And she gets that fact across to her audience!

When singing her own lyrics, she has an innocence that you may mistake for a weakness in her character. But she soon dismisses that notion by breaking into a full-fledged redneck version of any song you've heard. And then Abby will turn you around by singing in Aretha Franklin's style, with as much soul as any great Motown artist. But it doesn't end there. At the end of the night, Abby's version of Janis Joplin comes shining through with all the power those songs were meant to have.

She doesn't hold back. She will be a rising star to watch in coming years. I know everyone who takes time to listen to Abby Jenne will agree. So do yourself a big favor and check out Abby at "www.abbyjenne.com" and on "http://www.myspace.com/abbyjenne," to catch her next show and her next album. You'll be real glad you did. And real sorry, if you don't.

Peace & Hairgrease,
Kenny B