Phoebe Snow

Unlike her fellow Jersey rebel, Bruce Springsteen, Phoebe Snow connected directly with
her audience the first time out. Her debut recording received almost no advertising and
publicity, yet it climbed, slowly but inexorably, into the Top Ten. And unlike Patti Smith,
the other Jersey-bred new star of the last Jersey-dominated year, Snow made her mark
without having to perform for a cult audience. In fact, she hardly performed at a... More >

Although the rumors of a major new artist that began after the success of "Poetry Man"--still her sappiest song, although the lyrics here aren't what they call creative writing--originated with fuzzy-minded mongers, I'm pleased to report that her trademark melismatic quaver hasn't degenerated into a gimmick, and I acknowledge that this is a good record of its type. I just have my doubts about how good a jazz-folk mood-music record can be. Money isn't all that's "worthless/When your music's mirthless"--sometimes the music is as well. (Grade: B)