Archive for the tag "oregon"

Edith Frost, Central Falls, Sarah Dougher
The credits on Edith Frost’s albums read like a Who’s Who of indie rock: contributors include the Sea & Cake’s Archer Prewitt, Gastr del Sol’s Jim O’Rourke and Rick Rizzo of Eleventh Dream Day, among others. Steve Albini even produced* her latest CD, Wonder Wonder. Yet despite such enviable affiliations and a spot on the roster of hip Chicago label Drag City, Frost’s music lacks any cooler-than-thou pretense. She calls on her Texas roots to lend a loping cadence and occasional twang to minor-key melodies, her voice alternating between a subtly country swagger and a ghostly, childlike whisper awash in delicate harmonies. Even if she rolls into town with no renowned labelmates in tow, Frost — armed with an acoustic guitar and a wounded heart — is plenty captivating all by her lonesome.

I didn’t like Edith Frost’s debut ep from a few years ago then loved her debut lp Calling Over Time. The bits I heard of her next record, Telescopic and now comes this, Wonder Wonder and she’s back on track: I love it! I guess I should buy every other record she releases. Frost paints pictures in the singer-songwriter vein and does so w/ a lovely voice (not unlike a Liz Phair w/ a slightly country feel) guitars strummed into minor chord heaven, and a twinkle of piano here and there. "Cars and Parties" and "Hear My Heart" are both whispery and lovely while the title track shuffles along at an oom-pah beat. When she gets a bit louder and more dramatic (ie: like on "The Fear") I like it less and I still think Calling Over Time is her masterpiece but Wonder Wonder has many high points too and just adds another feather in Edith’s already loaded cap.

One listen to Edith Frost’s latest album, Telescopic (Drag City), makes it obvious why the label turned a demo she sent them in 1994 into an EP almost immediately.  Despite her affiliation with one of the hippest indie labels, Frost lacks pretension.  Like labelmate Will Oldham, Frost draws on traditions of country and folk, incorporating them into her own quirky style to great effect.  Frost’s recorded vocals are more akin to a smoother Liz Phair than to Billie Holiday, with whom she has been compared.  Perhaps it’s due to the electric (and often ethereal) approach on her albums, thanks in part to recording help from Chicago contemporaries Jim O’Rourke and David Grubbs of Gastr del Sol and Tsunami’s Amy Domingues.  The live version is more sparse.  Frost conveys beauty and genuine longing in heartfelt — but never clichéd — tunes with surprising ease.  Lucky for us, she’s finally touring out West.