Jennifer Castle: Castlemusic

Jennifer Castle
Castlemusic
No Quarter
2012-03-06

Jennifer Castle’s debut album Castlemusic (After two EP’s under the band name Castlemusic. Do we add or subtract indie cred points for confusing your potential audience?) is full of quiet, pretty folk songs. Some of them are quite good. “Powers”, for example, combines a slightly ominous-sounding guitar with flute and sparse percussion while Castle sings in a breathy, hazy voice about “new colors” and other psychedelic ramblings. “Remembering” is an intense, first-person account of a woman trying very, very hard to go about her day without thinking about a dead loved one, or possibly a shattered relationship. The simple piano accompaniment goes nicely with Castle’s sweet, little-girl voiced delivery. These tracks are the exceptions, though. The rest of the album is nicely arranged and easy enough to listen to, but the songs aren’t particularly memorable. Castle is a good vocalist and a skilled guitar player, but her songwriting abilities seem to be a work in progress.

RATING 5 / 10
FROM THE POPMATTERS ARCHIVES