Reviews for Under the Ash Tree (excerpts)
"Jenny Goodspeed is just folk enough to sound authentic and just pop enough to keep the attention of the ever-shuffling iPod crowd. With a voice as soft as velvet (and almost as rich)...soft vocals, lulling guitars, and harrowing cellos are laid out gently, like jewels, each getting a chance to glimmer." -The Fairfield County Weekly

"Under the Ash Tree is a collection of folk-pop tunes with personal lyrics that deal with love and heartbreak. Goodspeed sings in a voice vaguely reminiscent of Joni Mitchell (she covers the Mitchell tune "The Arrangement" on the album), but the comparisons end there as her striking melodies and honest, insightful lyrics are every bit her own. The disc opens with the sweeping melody of the title track but then goes to a number of different styles, high-lighted by the country influenced "The Good Daughter," the lovely, wistful "With June Comes the Memory" and the rollicking "S-Curve Roads" with Duke Levine's subtle mandolin work in the background.
We are fortunate to live in an area that is rich with talented singer-songwriters and we can now add Goodspeed to this esteemed group." - Sheryl Hunter, The Recorder (Greenfield, MA)


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"This is a sparkling folk-pop album guaranteed to brighten your day and sure, there's a few sad ballads but nothing so maudlin it'll drag you down. With a style reminiscent of Catie Curtis but with an airier soprano, her wry comments about relationships seem personal but universal enough that you'll find yourself nodding your head and thinking, "How did she slip into my life?" Her creative melodies often go where you don't expect but without sounding incongruous. Standout cuts include "Compass," with its rolling finger picked guitar over a bed of cello and "The Good Daughter," about casting off expectations. The latter features a cool banjo played by Duke Levine (Mary Chapin Carpenter, Jonatha Brooke) who also offers electric guitar and mandolin. At the end is "S-Curve Roads," an upbeat piece about going home."
- Jamie Anderson - Minor 7th

"Once I looked at the credits on the CD liner, I was no longer surprised at the aural excellence surrounding
Jenny Goodspeed's perfectly shaped, passionate vocals. Signature Records -- Always quality. There's Jim Henry
and Duke Levine on guitars. Beth Amsel on backup vocal, Seth Glier on keyboards. There's a solidity to
Goodspeed's lyrical poetry and more than a little bit of Joni Mitchell in her voice
as she sings: "And the tide rolls in /
Whether or not I see you again / And the salt green gray / Comes right to my doorstep then / follows the moon
back to the sea / With or without me.
" What a pleasure. What a great find."
- Richard Cuccaro - Acoustic Live!

"Ye gawdz, I'm just LOVING this album! It's just SO perfect for my show, and totally appropriate for these slightly-crisp almost-fall evenings! This is a truly special album."
- Johnny Black, Music Director High Plains Public Radio

"This is her first CD, but hopefully not her last. It's amazing how easily this music will become a part of you. This CD needs to be in your collection."
- Tom Stuart, reviewer for Pow'r Pickin'

"Stand-out tracks include the aforementioned "The Good Daughter" with its strong beat and gorgeous harmony, the melodic "Mainesong" and the cheery, upbeat "S-Curve Roads." Under the Ash Tree is a lovely debut, and good things are sure to follow."
- Laurie Thayer - Rambles.net

"This is the most pleasant musical surprise I've had in 2008. Just when you think you know where she's going, musically or lyrically, she makes a hard turn in another direction. Her voice is a wonderful combination of strength and fragility, and the production is superb."
- Bob Muller - The Joni Mitchell Covers Project

"My first impression was that her voice reminded me of early Dar Williams. She has that deep alto voice that has a teensy but of a trill to it...The Good Daughter is very catchy and has a great banjo part. I can easily imagine this one on the radio...I know Jenny was out of the biz for a while, but I'm glad she's back."
- Amy Lotsberg - Collected Sounds

"Under the Ash Tree is a lovely album with a strong, steady groove and a definite sense of place running through its lyric tale. Jenny Goodspeed's voice has a soothing, mellow feel, able to sound mature and strong without sacrificing vulnerability. That coupled with her thoughtful, literate writing makes the CD worth many repeated listens. And I have to say I give great Kudos to anyone who can take something like Joni Mitchell's "The Arrangement" and do it up in a way that is so different from Mitchell's version and yet appropriate. Goodspeed really makes that song her own. I loved it."
- Bob Ryan - recording artist

What listeners are saying about Under the Ash Tree...
"This is a superb piece of work - beautiful melodies, excellent instrumentation and a lovely, lovely sound. And I think it will stand the test of time sounding as good ten and twenty years hence as it does now."

"My favorite part of the album is the word right after she sings 'He's the one who left me, he's the one who left me.' In the next line, she throws in one more word, just one word, which deepens the meaning and hits the solar plexus every time. In another spot, she (simultaneously) furthers the story, keeps the meter, makes the rhyme, and uses the word "complacency". She makes it seem so easy, it's almost spooky. How many other songwriters could do that? (I mean, not counting Loudon Wainwright III, Richard Thompson, and Joni Mitchell)."

"Jenny's gorgeous voice punctuates her perceptive lyrics. The layered harmonies that are created intertwine with excellent session guitar. S-Curve Roads has become a personal favorite, with the catchy chorus cajoling the listener, daring you to try and NOT sing along with this lovely tune. Upbeat guitar, mandolin and harmonies make this song a great closer to an excellent CD. The song I have known the longest, Under the Ash Tree, remains one of my all time favorites. This anthem to being alone is one of the best break-up songs ever. Beautifully arranged harmonies, again a theme on this CD, anchor these excellent lyrics. Do you sense a theme here? Well, yes! This CD is a wonderful listen, from the first strains of Under the Ash Tree to the last breath of S-Curve Roads. I dare you to not sing along!"

"She does a wonderful interpretation of The Arrangement, practically reinventing an already-excellent song and truly making it her own. But don't buy it JUST for the Joni cover. Jenny's originals are superb. And the production is first rate. And I do want to mention that the Joni cover isn't my favorite track on the CD. That would be Broken. I've got it in steady rotation in my 6-CD changer and I like it more with each listen."

"On the first pass, I thought there were 3-4 tracks that should garner airplay. On the second listen have revised that opinion to encompass the whole recording. I want to hear Under the Ash Tree and Compass and The Arrangement (nicely edgy!) and Mainesong and Ease Into this Love, and Jonah on my local radio outlet soon!"

"Her new CD is just wonderful. Folks don't kick me out for saying this but Jenny is my new Joni these days. I listen to her more than anyone else."

"I really enjoy this blend of both soothing and rockin' songs! Like a female Johnny Cash, Jenny's sultry, sexy stories with an attitude pull you right in. The harmonies are beautiful. "

"Reworked my 6-CD changer yesterday and Under the Ash Tree stayed. Make of that what you will, I think it's a fantastic record. I did pull it temporarily to let a co-worker hear it. I had some difficulty getting it back, but I promised her I would give her the CDBaby link. I'm not kidding when I say that it's one of my favorite releases of 2008."


©2009 Jenny Goodspeed All Rights Reserved | Photography by Erik Hoffner