The opening Tracy Chapman remake “Fast Car” sets the stage rather well for a gripping/polarizing CD like this. I happen to love dark and slow moving melancholy music that doesn’t try to hard to win you over. That’s how I would describe the title track. It was an emotionally gripping intro piece that stuck in my head and had me eager for what was ahead.
All in all the whole EP is brilliantly delivered with a richly woven textures with songs that go far deeper than the next artist. Music will remind you of Tracy Chapman, Mary Black, Joan Osborne and Paula Cole. To be honest I can’t say enough about Speer and her overall appeal (visual and vocal) and sound. “Daggers & Suede” captures a very real and pure sound that grabs the listener right from the get go. Speer has a sound that favors many Alternative female artists in the late 90’s yet with a modern day feel.
I’ve never heard an artist so skillfully combine so many genera’s into one unique sound. If there was one word or phrase I would use to describe Jillian Speer it would be “true to self”. I give her high marks for being herself and just letting the chips fall where they may. This CD will simply make your day more interesting as some of the lyrical content is hard to understand. No doubt the true meaning of some of this material is buried deep between the lines, but there’s an undeniable passion beneath it all. Speer is a capable songwriter but it’s obvious to me her primary goal as an artist is to make the world much more interesting one song at a time.
If that’s sounds corny so be it.