Lenore
Lenore
Elaine Records
1997
13 tracks
This is Rock and Roll, pure and simple. Those who enjoy Rock and Roll that reaches back to its roots won't be able to sit still when Lenore's new release is in the player and cranked up loud. This music is not bogged down with the lush ornamentation that has encumbered much of so-called "rock" music since the Seventies. Rather, it enjoys the simplicity that was the hallmark of Rock and Roll in the Fifties and early Sixties.
This is not to say there is not variety in this release. There is. Lenore's music does not stick to a particular Rock and Roll genre [say Rockabilly or Doo-Wop] but rather offers a potpourri of styles and tempos. What links these songs most is the simplicity of their presentation combined with the fact that all are eminently danceable.
While there are a couple of hard rockers and a couple of bluesy numbers here, it can be said that every song touches on a different Rock and Roll Style, from chugging Stones type songs to bright Calypso influenced pieces to Fifties style ballads. It's a well programmed and refreshing mix worthy of the high school hop or an adult's collection of favourites.
If I were to liken Lenore to any single artist, it might be Bob Seger up until about 1973 or so, when his music also reached back and reflected several of the older Rock and Roll genres without being sappy or nostalgic, instead bringing the music up to date. Depending on the song, echoes can be heard here of The Rolling Stones, Ohio Express, Lou Reed, Alannah Miles, The Wallflowers, Bo Diddley, and others spanning the decades. On most songs, Lenore's singing voice and style is unique, powerful and emotion ridden, perfect for Rock and Roll. Even on the slower songs, her voice never loses it's edge. On the harder, up-tempo rockers her voice takes on a raw power reminiscent of Wanda Jackson.
While Lenore keeps her lyrics simple, appropriate to her music, these lyrics are tight and well written. In some songs, they rise to the level of poetry and in some they rise toward the level of a Michael Stipe or Leonard Cohen. In fact, for the person who listens to lyrics, Lenore's skill at telling her stories can only enhance the experience of hearing these songs.
It's also a treat to hear a Canadian singer/songwriter who is not lock-stepped into a 1963 folk music mode. This bright, danceable Rock and Roll is like a breath of fresh air in a crowded room.
Those who wish to can check out Lenore at her web site.|
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Review Written: May 28, 1999
Page Last modified: February 14, 2004
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