Indie Girl Imitates Billie Holiday Imitating a Hillbilly

I'm not sure what the young lady is trying to accomplish here...potentially compelling folk-blues material collapses under the weight of annoying , exaggerated Appalachian vocal affectations ("Give me that ol'-fashion mor-phyne...it's good enough for mae"). Guess I should have taken heed from her similarly afflicted turns on the Be Good Tanyas' Blue Horse ("Riiine and snow..."). As a counterpoint I contrast her with Gillian Welch, who manages to stay on the good side of the line separating authenticity from irony. It's a shame, thinking about what might have been if she would drop the pretensions and just...sing.

a ferocious talent spreads her wings

If you start with her debut album, "Catalpa", you'd think that Jolie Holland is simply too primitive and precious to join us out here in the land of running water and cell phones (this is NOT a criticism!) But no, she comes right out into our world with her first fully-produced recording. The weary tone of "Catalpa" gives way to a world-wise cynicism - again, not a bad thing. The simple guitar-percussion sound, with a powerful jazz inflection, dances the same path where Tom Waits staggers, if that makes any sense. She's a major talent and well worth watching, now and forever.

BRILLANT

I Walked into a record shop in new zealand Jolie Hollands CD was Playing, comments made, that voice is so different wow people standing around listern to most of her cd. they played faded coat of blue 4 times!!! and goodbye california they trashed also. out of the 12 people listerning 7 brought this cd there are a couple of crap tracks but over all Brillant. i hope we hear more in the future from this very special artist. and that voice !!!