JONI LAURENCE
Trashbag Birdie (Browntown)
Reviewed by Holly Day

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Joni Laurence writes smart, snappy folk songs that make you laugh and think all at once. While the songs are definitely lyric-driven, they're put together well-enough that the lyrics don't get overbearing or too talky. Her stories are simple-sounding tales about pets and love, but so intelligently crafted they definitely sound like they're about something more. When she sings about how she loves watching how her dog plays in the yard while she sits on the porch and drinks a beer, it's such a well-developed picture that you instantly feel the comfort of her surroundings as she reflects on her life. Musically, these are well-crafted, jazzy-sounding neo-folk tunes, heavy on the acoustic guitar with a minimal percussion and a couple extra guitars, drawing on the territory Ani Difranco laid out without sounding derivative or forced.

© 2004 - Holly Day