Country rockers, a beatific Lullaby and new folk fest top N.B.'s fine year in music
"Jessica Rhaye's Short Stories was a welcome return after the artist spent six years away from the music scene"
Telegraph Journal READER NB
December 30, 2006
By Bob Mersereau
THE COVER
10. Jessica Rhaye: Short Stories
A comeback kid, although she never really went away. She just went to school, got a design career, and honed her songwriting. The results were strong, with a confident Jessica Rhaye presenting 11 songs, most of which she wrote or co-wrote, except for one. Always a fine singer, she now has tied into a mature set of words that bring out her emotion. She has a warm, ethereal sound that can be soothing when quiet, and soul-piercing when she lets loose. Rhaye has done some hard work over the past six years, patiently building up this body of work. The songs weren't rushed. They were created, refined, even discarded and brought back when the inspiration was right. Even though she broke out pretty big six years ago, with ECMA nominations and the like, there's such a leap here that everyone will agree it was well worth the wait.
"Jessica Rhaye's Short Stories was a welcome return after the artist spent six years away from the music scene"
Telegraph Journal READER NB
December 30, 2006
By Bob Mersereau
THE COVER
10. Jessica Rhaye: Short Stories
A comeback kid, although she never really went away. She just went to school, got a design career, and honed her songwriting. The results were strong, with a confident Jessica Rhaye presenting 11 songs, most of which she wrote or co-wrote, except for one. Always a fine singer, she now has tied into a mature set of words that bring out her emotion. She has a warm, ethereal sound that can be soothing when quiet, and soul-piercing when she lets loose. Rhaye has done some hard work over the past six years, patiently building up this body of work. The songs weren't rushed. They were created, refined, even discarded and brought back when the inspiration was right. Even though she broke out pretty big six years ago, with ECMA nominations and the like, there's such a leap here that everyone will agree it was well worth the wait.