Po' Girl

by Po' Girl

Overview

One of 2003's most self-assured debuts, this album unites a pair of talented young Canadians, Allison Russell and Trish Klein, the latter a veteran of the alternative folk trio the Be Good Tanyas. Their richly textured music conveys a late-night, jazzy, improvisational feeling, thanks partly to Russell's wonderfully dreamy clarinet flourishes, the understated production, and soulful vocals that eschew perfect harmonies in favor of loose-knit, spontaneous-sounding interplay. Don't expect any whoops, hollers, or screeching guitars, though: Po' Girl is about as mellow as Cowboy Junkies' Trinity Session and Hot Tuna's debut, which is to say very mellow. On paper, moreover, their lyrics sound as depressed as they are laid-back: titles include "Bad Luck Day Baby," "Bleak St.," "Malaise Days," and "Cold Hungry Blues." But like much good blues, the music here manages to boost listeners' spirits even as it recalls hard times. ~ Jeff Burger

Product Details

Release Date:	08/26/2003
Label:	Hightone
UPC:	0012928816120
Rank:	139506

Tracks

1. Gone in Pawn (Shake Sugaree)
2. Bad Luck Day Baby
3. City Song
4. Bleak St.
5. Shameless
6. Malaise Days
7. Cold Hungry Blues
8. Backstairs Down
9. Abilene
10. Wheels Are Taking Me Away
11. What Sad Old Song?
12. Lullabye

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Po' Girl   Primary Artist
Trish Klein   Harmonica,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Banjo,Vocals
C.R. Avery   Beatbox,Harmonica
Allison Russell   Vocals,Clarinet,Penny Whistle,Whistle (Human)
Jesse Zubot   Fiddle

Technical Credits

Frazey Ford   Harmony
Trish Klein   Composer
Elizabeth Cotten   Composer
Darren Woodhead   Tray Photo
Laurel Terlesky   Design,Photography
Allison Russell   Composer
Po' Girl   Producer
Les Brown   Composer
Marc L'Esperance   Mixing,Harmony,Engineer,Producer,Mastering