Sarah Jahn's indie CD caught my attention last year, as well as that of the GMA, who awarded her their Spotlight artist award (a distinction she shares with Jars of Clay and new band Reality Check). That disc showcased her rich voice and introspective, darkly catchy songwriting, but it did little to prepare me for her Warner Alliance debut. So smooth is Sparkle, so different from the pack musically, so lyrically perceptive, it won't just make my year's best list-it may just top it. In a year that's seen Caedmon's Call's label debut and new albums from Jars and Iona, that's a bold statement.
On first listen, you may not see what's the big deal. Sure, Jahn's got a silky, flexible voice, and the tracks are a fresh and sophisticated blend of folk, mod rock, and soul. But further listens draw you into the intensity of the lyrics and the mighty grooves cut by drummer Joe Porter (Plumb), bassist Miguel DeJesus (Smalltown Poets), and guitarist Matt Brownleewe. Atop this floats Jahn's deep, distinctive voice-cool and distant as she moans, "I know nothing/I am aching silent" on "Brand New Name"-and at other times passionate-but always just right. Warner Alliance wisely tapped producer Glenn Rosenstein and engineer Susan Rogers (Prince and U2), to direct the project, and someone must've forgotten to tell them what Christian music sounds like. The result is an album that would stack up well against anything the mainstream has to offer. It's one you wouldn't be embarrassed to play for your friends who don't like Christian music. (And there seem to be a lot of those albums this year-which is a good sign.)
Jahn reworked five cuts from her indie disc; best are the lightly funky "Name," "Crucible," and the smoldering "I Found The Time." The other older cuts, "Paradox" and "Face," fail to match the intensity of the originals, though first-rate playing salvages the former. Of the newer songs, standouts include "Chronic," which paints a mechanistic, stark picture of her mother's battle with chronic fatigue syndrome. It's followed by the soothing "Lullaby," with its mesmerizing track and vocal. On "Drinking Water," a toe-tapping romp, Jahn settles into inner peace as the world spins out of control:
I am drinking water from my glass And I am waiting patiently Spinning every worry from my mind And giving up my insecurity
Jahn's lyrics, like those of labelmates Caedmon's Call, break from the Christian pop formula, examining life's hurts and uncertainties unflinchingly. Unlike her secular counterparts (Ms. Morissette, are you listening?), she avoids wallowing in them. I hope this gets the attention from Warner Bros. and from radio to blast off-it is an astounding album.
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 1997Reviewed by Chris ParksYou can't judge a book by its cover, or so the saying goes. The general principle may be applied to recorded music and, thankfully, applies literally to Sarah Jahn's debut release on Warner Alliance records, Sparkle. With the faux packaging cover, the artsy pictures of the artist on each page, and the multiple typefaces and scattered layouts common in almost any magazine ad, the packaging seems…Similar sounding releases
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