THE MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS

Three great albums you’ve probably never heard

All three albums under this topic are by female artists. I didn’t plan it this way, but there is probably something at work here. I’m guessing that it has to do with emotions. Guys seem more concerned about getting a riff out there than expressing some deeply felt emotion. These gals view the world as a bigger place and want their feelings known. Set to these tunes and rhymes, I’m all ears when it comes to these albums.

JANN BROWNE - MISSED ME BY A MILE

This was Browne’s fourth, and most recent solo album. Recorded in 2001 she decided to shake loose of expectations and go her own way with this one. She had made other solo albums that were pleasant and her stint with Asleep At The Wheel took her to places she might never have been invited. But something was in the air when it came time for this one. Perhaps inspired by what Rosanne Cash, Lucinda Williams other female artists were producing she took the reins and didn’t stray from the path so much as forge her own.

If a single song is worth whatever someone is charging for the entire disc then the title track here is one of them. The perception and skill to which she spins the yarn of a former lover and what exactly separates them borders on jaw dropping. This is a five minute life lesson that you can have for the price a disc instead of expensive counseling. The gritty delivery also lets you know that the message is one that she’s been contemplating.

Putting this disc out on her own with no major label backing doomed this one as far as substantial sales. But, if you measure success by satisfaction with the finished product then this one is headed for the hall of fame.

LOEY NELSON - VENUS KISSED THE MOON

In a perfect world (the one where Scarlett Johansson greets me at the door with a cocktail as I arrive home from work) this 1989 album would have done for Nelson what Sheryl Crow’s and Norah Jones’ debuts did for them. Instead of having her floors reinforced to hold all of her Grammy’s Nelson gets to watch the market value of this out print disc hover in the one cent range on Amazon. Ain’t life grand. Crow and Jones continue to make interesting music and may even have another classic in them. Nelson has never made another recording that I’m aware of.

She was just a bit early for the alt-country, hard folk scene that rages today. And way too early for no frills, genre hopping debuts for female singer songwriters. I would venture a guess that if this album were to come out today it would find an audience. The strange thing to me is how much was behind this recording for it to fail so spectacularly. It was on Warner Brothers Records, not exactly new to the business. Produced by David Kershenbaum and featuring such session luminaries as Russ Kunkel, Leland Sklar, and Dan Dugmore. These hired guns had been around the block a time or two. What’s not to like? I’m guessing that it all boils down to airplay. If they don’t hear it, they don’t buy it. It appears that no programmer thought enough of this recording to let the public hear it.

Her originals showed lots of promise and her cover choices were inspired. There is only one straight cover on the disc, the others are parts of other songs that she weaves in and out of the mix. It’s a novel concept that works really well. For those who collect cover versions you can’t do much better than her aching rendition of “To Sir With Love.” From what I’ve been able to gather over the years the album demos were financed by a fan from her home area of Milwaukee. Just speculating here, but the song could have been a thank you to him. If not, it’s a nice story and an essential cover of the song.

In a world where a cup of coffee can set you back five bucks, you couldn’t do much better than this one cent disc. Plus it gets better each time it pours out of your speakers.

WIGGINS SISTERS - MINNESOTA

They could have titled this one “No Two Alike” and no one would have argued. On their second disc they explore every style of music that you can imagine and come up with something totally original. Working with producer Lloyd Maines this 2000 album is about as close to perfection as you will hear. The sisters in question here Mizzy and Casey have a that special connection that only musical siblings seem to possess.

They penned most of the songs and throw themselves headfirst into the two covers. The songs cover divorce, garage sales, open mic night in a New Jersey bar, class reunions, religious relatives, the decline of the Western civilization and some lost keys. This one has it all. What it has more than anything though is heart. This duo knows just what they are trying to achieve in each song. While lost keys dominate one song, the loss of innocence as seen through a class reunion in the title track will leave you surveying your own landscape by the last chorus. They don’t simply sing the songs, they inhabit them.

They keep promising to release a follow up disc but as of this writing it hasn’t happened. This is one of those discs that leaves you wanting more when it ends. Lots more. I’m still waiting but passing the time with this one is about as good as it gets.