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Jaia Suri


Country of origin:

U.S.A.

Type of music generally:

Contemporary folk/folkrock

Status:

Most recent release, Fire in the Archives, 2003

See also:

Jaia Suri's website

Comparisons:

Ani Difranco, Joni Mitchell, Natalie Merchant, Susan McKeown, Michele Shocked

Covers/own material:

Own

General comments:

A description is actually pretty easy: ani difranco crossed with joni mitchell playing mostly banjo. Sounds pretty promising to me. (neal)

While her style is definitely Ani Difranco-like, her voice reminds me more of Natalie Merchant or Susan McKeown at various times. (Neile)

Recommended first album:

Truck-Stop Gypsy

Recordings:


Luna-tic

Release info:

2001-self-produced

Availability:

See website for availability

Ecto priority:

Recommended for folkrock fans

Group members:

Jaia Suri--vocals, harmony, guitar

Guest artists:

Paul Sprawl--bass, percussion, harmonica, dah du dus, mandolin, kalimba

Produced by:

Jaia Suri and Paul Sprawl

Comments:

This is stripped-down folkrock but still creative, rather like ani difranco's early work at times, though here her vocals remind me more of Susan McKeown. A very promising beginning. (Neile)

Truck-Stop Gypsy

Release info:

2002--self-released

Availability:

See website for availability

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended for folkrock fans

Group members:

Jaia Suri--voice, banjo, guitar

Guest artists:

Jeff Gilkinson--cello
Paul Sprawl--bass, drums, percussion, mando
MJ: triangle

Produced by:

Jaia Suri and Paul Sprawl

Comments:

Jaia Suri writes intriguing lyrics and plays a mean banjo. Her songs are very good and her voice is gentle but not without edge. The spoken word "Maybe Then" is my favourite song here. It's a very solid record on the whole. (stjarnell@yahoo.com)

Fire in the Archives

Release info:

2003--self-released

Availability:

See website for availability

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended for fans folkrock fans

Group members:

Jaia Suri--vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, banjo, tambourine

Produced by:

Jaia Suri

Comments:

Even more than the previous ones this album really made me think of Jaia Suri as a kind of love child of Joni Mitchell, ani difranco, and Michele Shocked with a voice that is a mix of Joni Mitchell and Susan McKeown. The first song, "So Sober" in particular made me think of Joni in both the tune and the intriguing lyrics. That said, I find this album over all a little less compelling than Truck-Stop Gypsy--I think because this is a sadder, more mournful, almost lonely album. (Neile)


Thanks to Anna Maria Stjärnell for her work on this entry

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DISCLAIMER: Comments and reviews in the Ectophiles' Guide are excerpted from the ecto mailing list or volunteered by members of the list. They are the opinions of music enthusiasts, not professional music critics.

Entry last updated 2004-06-13 21:23:22.
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