www.jennialpert.com
Nine years after issuing in the new millennium we are still waiting for the next great music trend. Trouble is the music biz is imploding because, well, because of a lot of things. Without getting lost down that rabbit-hole, the whole mess can, on the artist side, be summed up fairly easily- there are very few voices out there worth discussing, maybe because instant distribution stops anyone from developing into anything worthwhile, and maybe because society has devalued music so drastically, with digital theft and all the talent show nonsense, so while more people are singing, fewer seem to do it well.
Singer/songwriter has never really gone out of style, regardless of whatever else is going on, and Jenni Alpert falls pretty naturally into this category. She plays piano, but thankfully avoids the cliches that might spring to mind. She and producer Brad Smith (of Blind Melon) are smart enough to fill out the sound instead of stopping with the sketches others settle for. "Underneath The Surface" has a wonderfully clean sound, allowing it to be very intimate and personal.
Jenni Alpert's voice is a beautiful blend of early Jann Arden, Sarah McLachlan, and even some Karen Carpenter. Now, no one will ever have as sweet a voice as Karen Carpenter, but Alpert brings great tenderness, and a willingness to wear her heart on her sleeve, which she does very endearingly. Her songwriting can be heartbreaking, but she has a sense of self-deprication and even comedy that brings early Aimee Mann to mind.
This is an outstanding album that will have you hoping immediately for more.
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