A beautifully produced pop record from a bygone era that dips its toe into the country, the americana, the folk, the cosmic, the psychedelic, and with songs like “Red Lips” we’re even hearing a nod to the Twin Peaks theme song.
It’s the kind of record, and Cassandra Jenkins the kind of woman, that David Crosby would proudly mention as a recent discovery. Comparisons can be drawn to Aimee Mann, but these songs and this sound are all her own. Her voice holds the delicate innocence of a young girl, but her maturity is clear in the tone of her writing and thoughtfulness of the arrangements.
We initially heard it as a break up record, which Cassandra disputed, but nevertheless feel free to lean your broken heart into lines like, “it’s with her that your heart belongs, ever since I introduced her to you,” which comes from “Tennessee Waltz.” It’s one of our favorite songs on the album, more country than pop, and so good it tricked us into thinking it was a cover.
Her vocal melodies definitely catch the ear and are driven home by a myriad of riffs performed on guitar, pedal steel, and even horns that we find ourselves humming throughout the day. She has some of our favorite players assembled on this record, and Sam Owens should be given a mention for some excellent production work.
It’s a great record, and after quite a few flips on the turntable we can highly recommend spending the money on the vinyl. The biggest complement we can give Play Till You Win is that it makes us want to get back in the studio and get to work.
Enter to win Cassandra Jenkins’ Play Till You Win on vinyl by citing in the comments below what you’re hearing among the tracks. We’ll choose one winner with a North American mailing address a week from today, May 26, 2017.
Catch Cassandra Jenkins performing live out west this week.
