When writing a review of a CD, I usually listen to it several times, allowing the music and the message plenty of opportunity to get across. I couldn't bring myself to listen to this CD more than twice. Lisa Kane's voice has a similar but not quite as raw sound as more famous rock singers Melissa Etheridge and Alanis Morissette. If you like their music, however, you will undoubtedly enjoy this CD. It falls into the category of folk-rock -- it's electric and assertive, but without an aggressive, hard edge.

Kane's CD Old Strings & All is compiled of all original tunes, and it's there that her real talent shines through. Kane is definitely a poet, and too often, the music strains to turn poetry into song. For instance, "In Return" is a wonderful poem, and yet set to music, it loses all its beauty, its fluidity. Kane's voice comes across like a mixture of some vague attempt at jazz, a touch of raw whining, followed by weak howling. When I read the poem, I hear it whispered in a soft, wistful voice, growing in assurance. When I hear her sing the poem, I'm lead to believe that there's either underlying sarcasm in her message, or unresolved anger, in which case, I've missed the message of her poem.

The subject matter of most of the tunes revolves around relationships, accompanied by all of the characteristic second-guessing, agonizing, self-doubt and soul-searching one would expect. "Sage" is one of the exceptions, addressing the more spiritual quest for world peace. Some of the phrases are a little stilted, for instance, "the racists still bring forth fear." I'm also not sure what point she's trying to make about the Natives still fighting for land after 2,000 years. "Wings" is another more spiritual tune, probably the most upbeat of the poems, and the least offensive vocally. In this one, she truly does "soar the higher ground."

For the most part, the instrumental back-ups are good. There are a number of places where the music seems to go flat along with Kane's voice, which leads me to believe this off-key technique was an artistic choice, not a lack of musical talent. But otherwise, the instrumentals provide a driving consistency that work to weave the music and words into a message someone out there is sure to appreciate.

[ by Alanna Berger ]
Rambles: 30 December 2001