CD Reviews
March 3rd 2010
JENNY WHITELEY - Forgive or Forget
JENNY WHITELEY
Forgive or Forget
- Black Hen Music
Forgive or Forget is a fairly standard, cutesy, bluegrass/country album, comparable to Sarah Harmer. Jenny Whiteley, however, has some impressive credentials with two Juno Awards for Best Roots and Traditional Album of the Year, three Juno nominations and nearly a decade with country band Heartbreak Hill. Although Whiteley’s vocals can be smooth and soothing, most melodies are conservative and predictable, with thoroughly enunciated lyrics, like “To beat the blues / I’ve worn out my shoes” and “I fill my days / A million ways.” These are contrasted with unnecessary fatalistic phrases, like “Why don’t you get out while you can” and “It’s a ripple effect / We all get wet.” It’s worth a listen if you’re a bluegrass fan, but considering Forgive or Forget is often vague despite being highly recognized – I’m not sure why I’d care.
This review appeared in Volume 64, Number 21 of The Uniter, published March 4th 2010.
