Salt Lady Records mogul Jonathan Rundman and songstress Beki Hemingway have been performing together off and on for several years. Both have been asked many times when they would do an album together. Last year they recorded Present, an EP of original Christmas songs that was critically acclaimed, providing the springboard to a full project with both artists.
Then, Rundman relocated to Minnesota. Beki and husband/guitarist/co-producer Randy Kerkman moved to Nashville. Logistics suddenly presented a problem. The artists agreed to write songs and mail them to each other, to see if there was a workable album to be had. The result is Tennesota, an Americana-tinged album that may feature some of the best work by either artist.
Hemingway's vocals have always ranged somewhere between Karin Bergquist, Julie Miller, and Emmylou Harris, with an indefinable quality that distinguishes them those any other artist. Rundman is more in the Tom Petty/Paul Westerberg area. On Tennesota, their voices mesh perfectly and seamlessly, making it difficult to pick out which songs are written by which artist. Kerkman's guitar work as good as it ever has been, and former VOL-er Chris Bland chips in bass on several tracks.
"Hometown" is a shining example of how the two singers work together. Written by Hemingway, it provides a showcase for Rundman's lead vocals. "List of Things to Do" is an acoustic rocker a la 80's one hit wonders Timbuk 3. "Mary's Song" details the mother of Jesus responding to God's call.
"You Never Last Where You Land" would have fit on Rundman's own Public Library, yet it provides the ideal song to open this CD. "Consolation Prize" is a hilarious, but poignant piece on people who desperately want to feel loved:
So if you want to dance with me
I will close my eyes
'Cause you may be my consolation
But you're no prize
Tennesota is the album fan who have seen both artists have been wishing for. Given the quality of each's solo careers, one can only hope it is not the last collaboration between two very underrated performers.
4.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2004Reviewed by Greg AdamsMinneapolis, Minnesota, and Nashville, Tennessee, have long been hot beds of great music, and songwriters Beki Hemingway and Jonathan Rundman have combined the best of both legendary locations on their collaborative album, Tennesota. These stripped-town, acoustic tunes stroll easily down the narrow gravel road between country and folk. Regardless of which direction Hemingway or Rundman (often a…The Phantom Tollbooth 2004Reviewed by Olin JenkinsWhat a neat concept! Beki Hemingway, now residing in Nashville, Tennessee, has a full collaborative project with Minneapolis, Minnesota's Jonathan Rundman. The project's title makes all the sense in the world (or at least in the United States of America): Tennesota, a play on the artists' states and the Americana music encompassing this project. Take the name of this project to heart. If you're…Similar sounding releases
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