Jenny Owen Youngs - Batten The Hatches Review

Time was not so long ago when any young woman with a guitar was either a staunch feminist (and why not?) or some equally left-leaning politico with more issues than tissues (of tunes). Well-meaning, but uneasy listening. The male-dominated arena was kicked open in the early '90s by motorbike-booted PJ Harvey with her banshee caterwaul of creativity and scarred emotions and a way with a post-punky tune. This, surely was the time to storm the barricades....full text Listening to the reconfigured, re-released debut album (originally launched by Sauropod Records in 2005) by Jenny Owen Youngs is enough to make one believe in doppelgangers and evil twins. Surely Youngs has one. For every auspicious, stellar feat of pop songwriting on Batten the Hatches there’s a naïve, half-baked, or self-impressed sketch dressed up in glossy production. The result is a maddening back-and-forth listen, but one which can only bode well for a growing talent who gives every moment, even the least-inspired, plenty of guts and élan. Plus, this disc has already been two years in the can, during which time one would expect some hard touring and living would focus and consolidate the considerable skills on display on songs like “P.S.”, “Voice on Tape” and the attention-grabbing “Fuck Was I”....full text Actually, sweet isn’t a word I’d use to describe Jenny Owen Youngs … hysterical with her wry sense of humor & askewed-view of the world surrounding her. She’s another one with fantastic lyrics & vocally has a Bjork, Erin McKeown-y vibe. But it’s her lyrics & witty banter that got me hooked ! She even did an acoustic version of It’s Getting Hot in Herre with the bassist & other guitarist singing the responses … after 4 Magners, I nearly fell off my chair laughing !...full text