Annie Barker
Country of origin:
U.S.
Type of music generally:
Beautiful & fierce ethereal alternative pop
Status:
Most recent release, Mountains and Tumult (2007)
See also:
Annie Barker's site
Comparisons:
Sarah McLachlan, Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders), Sia, Tori Amos, Cocteau Twins
Covers/own material:
Own
General comments:
Annie Barker's music is singer-songwriter folkpop hiding in dreampop clothing. Producer Robin Guthrie plays most of the instruments and constructs the glimmering/shimmering Cocteau Twins sound around Barker's compositions. She has a rich, brassy voice and enunciates her lyrics with precision, though she can't resist throwing in a few angelic swoops here and there. Her lyrics, however, are straightforward and prose-based observations. "Revolutionary Rock N Roll" is a jeremiad against Coldplay, and name-drops Gwyneth Paltow. It's a surprisingly—and refreshingly—mean sentiment in the midst of such ethereal music. (The song opens with the aforementioned swoops). "Elliott's Song" could be about the late Elliott Smith, and other subjects explore sexual/romantic politics. Mountains and Tumult sounds like Chrissie Hynde fronting the Cocteau Twins. Like Hynde, her words are frank and have a take-no-prisoners vibe. It doesn't always come together—her forthrightness doesn't quite mesh with the atmospheric wall of sound. But it is intriguing to hear ethereal music with, you know, cojones. Most dreampop is wispy and vague. Barker is a kitten with claws. (cgidney@nas.edu)
Recommended first album:
Mountains and Tumult is her debut
Recordings:
Mountains and Tumult (2007)
Mountains and Tumult
Release info:
2007—Beautiful Revolution Records
Availability:
See Annie Barker's site
Ecto priority:
Recommended for fans of dreampop, and literate lyric lovers
Group members:
Annie Barker—vocals, guitars
Guest artists:
Robin Guthrie (Cocteau Twins)—guitars, bass, drums
Jon Kip—clarinet (6)
Produced by:
Robin Guthrie
Comments:
See general comments above.
Thanks to Craig Gidney for work on this entry.
