Emily Kurn
Country of origin:
U.S.
Type of music generally:
Country-flavoured contemporary folk
Status:
Most recent release, I'm just Like You (2008)
See also:
Emily Kurn's site
Comparisons:
Iris DeMent, Nanci Griffith, Lucinda Williams, Dar Williams, Kris Delmhorst
Covers/own material:
Mostly own; occasional cover
General comments:
Emily Kurn does earnest but above the usual quality countryish folk. The instrumentation is simple and well-chosen for her style. Kurn's vocals have that country quaver, which give distinction and a sense of authenticity to her style and her songs. (sophiagurley@hotmail.com)
Recommended first album:
things change is the first we've heard
Recordings:
- Emily Kurn (c. 1998)
- Into The Fall (2001)
- The Doorman (2002)
- Whitebird (2003)
- things change (2007)
- I'm just Like You (2008)
things change
Release info:
2007—self-released
Availability:
See Emily Kurn's site
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended for fans of countryish folk/Americana
Group members:
Emily Kurn—vocals, acoustic guitar, hand claps
Guest artists:
Duke Levine—electric guitar, mandolin, steel guitar
Richard Gates—bass
Lorne Entress-drums
Michael Bellar—keyboards, piano
Stven Santoro—harmony vlocas
Mark Thayer—hand claps
Booboo Thayer—dog bark
Jeremy Kurn—spoons
Produced by:
Mark Thayer and Emily Kurn
Comments:
This is an album that immediately reaches out to grab you. Whether or not you're caught by it will depend on how much you like countryish folk/Americana. If you do, you'll be doomed to keep listening. She has one of those voices that feels immediate and feels emotionally authentic. "Brown Boots Red Coat" is the starter track and is my favourite--it's heartbreaking. The followup track, about the persona of the song's grandmother, is also especially strong and affecting--about the similarities seen in photos taken at the same age the singer is now. There are a couple of songs that blur a bit for me, and I could really do without "The Schmuck". The album picks back up again with the last two songs: "Not My Key" and "Things Change". Fans of country-folk and American will enjoy this and I highly recommend this album to all those listeners out there. (sophiagurley@hotmail.com)
Thanks to Sophia Gurley for work on this entry.
