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Jane Francis:
Skeletons for Tea
I went to a karaoke lounge last week and was struck by the talent in the room. These people would get up there and grab the mic with an amazing amount of emotion. I even saw one guy step down and have to wipe away the tears, because he had given it his all. Everyone was cheering and dancing, and the only real casualties were when someone would drop some words; but for the most part, everyone stayed it tune and made the songs their own. After having witnessed this scene and then later spinning Jane Francis Skeletons For Tea, I have to admit that her album portrays more of what I expected of a karaoke lounge on a Wednesday night. Musically this album isnt bad and exhibits mostly what one would expect of an album from a singer-songwriter. Her mutli-instrumentalist husband backs her up nicely, but the poor guy can only do so much to help her out. Both the lyrics and the vocals take some getting used to, and in many instances, even that is more of a compliment than the songs deserve. Jane Francis doesnt have a bad voice. In fact, there are many moments, not entire songs but rather moments within, in which she shows her listener that she can really belt it out when she wants to. However, for 85% of the album she just cant seem to get a handle on her voice and make it do what she wants it to do. I often enjoy unique female singers, and so I find myself wanting to like her, but I just cant do it. The album starts out with an acoustic guitar in Order to the Universe, and then Jane enters with a voice that hints at Alanis Morissette except with far less depth and soul. She sounds playful and even a little funky, but her range just isnt what she thinks it is. She tries to hit high notes that are out of reach and even dips into lows that arent even in the right key. Even though this is a scary way to start out an album, the next track Girth is even worse. She starts the song right off with a poorly-hit high note and then wavers in and out of sounding like a promising singer. It is torture to hear pieces of what she could be but isnt. Later in Dream of Love, her lyrical artistry is displayed with the song opening: I am your wet dream/ Your favorite ice cream. For the most part, I have a hard time finding good things to say about this album, and I want so badly to like Janes vocal approach; but its hard to follow her on the winding path she travels. However, one song stands out on the album as the most fitting for her voice. Sound of a Memory is a country-tinged tune that keeps her voice on a level plane instead of allowing it to fly all over the place. She sounds much better when she isnt trying too hard to be different, and this seems like a much better focus for Jane.
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