ERIN AND HER CELLO
Petits Bisous
Erinandhercollo.com
* * * *
Attitude can be a curse or a blessing, but in the hands and
voice of New York City-based Erin Hall it's a very good thing indeed. Like
early Christine Lavin, Ms. Hall offers a collection of urbane, quirky, and
insouciant observations of life, the city, and the crazy patchwork quilt called
popular culture. But whereas Lavin was/is a folkie, Hall draws water from other
wells: early 60s girl groups, vintage French pop songs, jazz, calypso, blues, and
rock and roll. You never quite know what is coming next. Erin and Her Cello is
the name of Hall's band and she does indeed play a bit of cello, but you'll
also hear everything from boogie-woogie piano to glockenspiel.
"2 Good 2 B True" has a Twittery name, but its
musical core is that of girl groups, complete with oooh-aaahh backup singers. Hall
wields her saucy little-girl vocal tones like a club she's been hiding behind
her back. The clever and wry "The Doctor" also has a girl group feel,
but the instrumentation is 50s style rockabilly, complete with a wailing sax.
That's one of several songs that drapes satire with charm; another "Break
Dancin' Man," has the tongue-in-cheek sardonic approach of trend send-ups
such as Rick Dees' "Disco Duck." And we know that Hall isn't afraid
to wield a lampoon harpoon; check her "Google Stock."
The above songs only scratch the surface (of vinyl, if you
prefer) of this album's offbeat nature. Hall's musical inspirations include
Peggy Lee, Cole Porter, and Serge Gainsborough and each gets an airing. Want
some smoky, soulful, cool jazz? Try "Chaz." Prefer it with some
black-note keys, a whiff of danger, and some tongue-twisting vocals? Check out
"Damn." If that doesn't float you boat, how some Gainsborough-like
French pop–in French no less ("Bonbons Chocolat" and the
call-and-whistle title track)? How about some bouncy pop? Inappropriate
attraction has never been so giddy as "Rebound Magnet." Too sweet for
your taste? Try the rock shit-kicker "Walk of Fame."
It's been a while since I reviewed a new release that's this
much fun. Nor has dusting off the past sparkled with so much wit. Score one for
attitude.—Rob Weir
PS: The YouTube videos aren't the best quality, but I think they show you what I mean.
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