The success of the Lilith Fair concert series has seemingly brought forth a movement by which every young woman that can carry a guitar and a tune releases a CD. This has definitely produced mixed results -- some of these "new" artists have come out of obscurity to make a lasting impression and others do not have the talent and skills to maintain their sudden spate of success.
Happily, There is Beauty by Rachel Kurtz stands as an undiscovered gem. Ten songs here cover some familiar territory, but written and vocalized in such a way that I could easily see her standing on the Lilith Fair second stage, if given the opportunity. Like many independents, I only wish that more people would hear this album.
"Jade" kicks off the album, the story of a love between two young people. It is written in the style of Natalie Merchant, while Kurtz's vocals and guitar work are more like that of Jewel. "Hunger Strike" and "When I Was a Child" approach Alanis Morissette's quieter moments, and the latter recalls a time without responsibilities, where every day is new and full of promise:
...we were amazed at the creek and all the stories it told,
of where it had been and where it would go,
you could hold the wonder of the world in the palm of your hand,
when you're down on your knees and watching the ants barefoot and breathless,
and we ran through the rain with a spirit of freedom no one could take away...
"Olivia" portrays the hopes the writer has for a sleeping child, and features Erik Hummel, whose background vocals resemble David Byrne of Talking Heads. "The Keening" is done a cappella and is a scene of grief. "The Poet," co-written by Honest Folk frontman Nate Houge, is a 70's style folk number with the vocals resembling Eileen Rose.
"Curled Up in Kisses" could be a Sarah McLachlan tune, while "As Yet Untitled" features Leigh Nash-like vocals backed by Indigo Girls style guitar. The title track illustrates a woman on the verge of giving up:
She was living in her own personal famine,
she was scarcely, a skeleton, a skeleton of a woman,
her smile, her spark falls from her eyes...
The album closes with "I Will Sing," a bittersweet memory of a former partner in love and in music.
Like other Minnesota indies Blaine Howard, and Nate Houge, Rachel Kurtz has produced an amazing work that probably will not be heard outside of the coffeehouse crowd. It will take some effort to find this CD, but I highly recommend you try to do so.
4.5 tocks
