The two most classic themes in Country music are heartache and heartbreak. Some naysayers or those that have never listened to Country music will ask what the difference is, but those on the inside know; the difference is all a matter of time. 'Heartbreak' happens in a moment – a series of events comes to a head and when the breaking point comes and a relationship unravels it's done; one person is left alone, heartbroken. Heartache is the lasting hurt left after the split; it is the potentially agonizing period after the heartbreak when the one left behind learns to live without his/her counterpart. It's almost never easy and, on The Mad Mile, Kirsten Jones illustrates how hard it can be as she works through her twelve-step programme of heartache.
Listeners aren't exactly given a time frame on how far out of the break-up Jones is as “You Ain't Comin' By” opens with tear-soaked lap steel and gently brushed drums, but it's pretty easy to note that the mess from the end of the relationship remains; Jones' character is still adjusting to the notion that there's no point in waiting, “he” will not be coming home – she wouldn't want him there anyway. There is some resignation in the singer's tone but there's no doubt in any listener's mind that it only appears there as a utility for sanity salvation; when Jones whispers, “Phone is ringin' off the hook and promises still fly/ It don't matter what you say 'cause you ain't comin' by,” listeners know that the singer herself doesn't want to be saying those words.
The going gets no easier, even when Gary Louris, Jim Cuddy and Oh Susanna drop in to lend a hand on “I Don't Wanna Like Like This,” “Hold Me Closer” and “Bittersweet Grand Canyon,” throughout this album, the singer stands, sits, weeps and embodies the feeling of being alone – not because she wants to be, but because she needs to be. As sad as it is, it's also an attractive stance; through each song stands a heart-wrenched Jones – a little weepy, but but always staring it down and trying to hide it away – able to stand tall against it all. She heals herself as the record progresses (don't song titles like “Save Your Love” and “Maybe I'm The One” say it all?) and, while the marks remain even in the closing throes of “Bittersweet Grand Canyon,” there is a light in the end that implies that Jones will indeed get out alive. It's then that listeners will realize the significance of the front and back covers of the record – the truth is that the entire run-time of the album has been an epic play. No one was ever really in danger and Kirsten Jones will be free to return when she chooses. All of these elements make for a classic Country record and, and The Mad Mile is a start strong enough to ensure Kirsten Jones will have listeners running to catch up with her when she puts out her next release.
Artist:
www.kirstenjones.com/
www.kirstenjonesmusic.com/
www.myspace.com/kirstenjonesmusic
Album:
The Mad Mile is out now and available as a Canadian import. Buy it here on Amazon .
