Jesca HoopCountry of origin:U.S. Type of music generally:Evocative/eclectic experimental alternative pop Status:Most recent release Memories Are Now (2017) See also:Jesca Hoop's site Comparisons:Rebecca Moore, Regina Spektor Covers/own material:Own General comments:Another lady getting some attention is Jesca Hoop, originally from San Francisco. She's one of the more fascinating artists I've seen recently... Odd blend of genres that will completely mesmerize you if you see her do it live. Perhaps the West Coast equivalent to Regina Spektor as far as sheer vocal expressiveness. (thecritics@earthlink.net) Comments about live performance:She played a small club here to a small audience, just her and her guitar, but that certainly didn't daunt her—her performance was lively and really engaging. By all rights, the place should have been packed. Highly recommended! (7/10, Neile) Recommended first album:Any—they're all brilliant Recordings:
SketchWorkSongsRelease info:2003—self-released CDR Availability:Limited edition, originally available at shows or by mailorder; no longer available Ecto priority:Highly recommended Group members:Jesca Hoop—vocals, guitar Guest artists:No credits listed Comments:Tracks: Silverscreen DemosRelease info:2004—self-released CDR Availability:Limited edition,originally available at shows or by mailorder; no longer available Ecto priority:Highly recommended Group members:Jesca Hoop—vocals, guitar (2) Guest artists:Quinn—drums n percussion (1, 2, 4) Produced by:Jesca Hoop (all tracks); Damian Anthony (1, 2, 6) Comments:Tracks: KismetRelease info:2007—Sony BMG—82876 74700 2 Availability:Wide Ecto priority:Highly recommended Group members:Jesca Hoop—vocals, guitar Guest artists:Matt Chamberlain—drums (1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10) Produced by:Jesca Hoop, Damian Anthony, and Tony Berg Comments:One of the most inventive albums I've heard in a long time. It hard to believe she has such assurance on a debut album (well, I did hear some of the demos that have been available since 2004, and in other words, I've been listening to part of it and waiting for the rest of this album for three years and it still didn't disappoint). This is so unique and wonderful, I can't believe that a major label was interested in her. I hope this doesn't backfire, because Jesca Hoop and this music deserve as much attention as a major label should be able to get for her. I think she's too good to be widely popular, but I'd love to be proven wrong. She's a major, individual talent, and her music is both creative and catchy. Highly, highly recommended. One of my favourite albums of 2007. (Neile) Hunting My DressRelease info:2009—Last Laugh Records (U.K.); 2010—Vanguard (U.S.) Availability:Currently U.K. only Ecto priority:Highly recommended Group members:Jesca Hoop—vocals, guitar Guest artists:Blake Mills—guitar (2, 4, 5 6, 7, 8, 9); bass (3); drums (3); percussion (4) Produced by:Jesca Hoop and Tony Berg Comments:Thoroughly delightful, this album is every bit as quirky as Kismet, but I think I like it even more. It grew & grew & grew on me to become one of my favourite discs of the year—maybe of the 2000s. It's so uniquely Jesca Hoop's, constantly surprising and inventive but melodic and so, so catchy and listenable. A marvellous album that deserves more attention. I highly, highly recommend giving it a few listens until it sticks to you like it has stuck to me. I think it's amazing. Snowglobe EPRelease info:2011—Stage Three Music Availability:Wide Ecto priority:Recommended Group members:Jesca Hoop—vocals, guitar, piano, percussion Guest artists:Jon Thorn—bass (1) Produced by:Jesca Hoop; co-produced with Paul Mortlock (1, 2), Tim Thomas & Mano McGlaughlin (3); Dave Jay (5) Comments:Also, I am infatuated with her EP, Snowglobe. "City BIrd" is a splendid song. (christina_skov@hotmail.com) The Complete Kismet AcousticRelease info:2012—Stage Three Music—last L011CD Availability:See Jesca Hoop's site Ecto priority:Highly recommended for Jesca Hoop fans Group members:Jesca Hoop Guest artists:Blake Mills—guitar (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11) Produced by:Jesca Hoop (all); & Tony Berg (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 11) Comments:Fascinating to hear these alternative acoustic takes on the Kismet tracks. Sometimes I think they're the only way the tracks should exist, other times I miss the more elaborate sounds of the original. The tone is so much gentler but have no less energy and are just as vivid as the originals—just with their own flavour. (Neile) The House That Jack BuiltRelease info:2012—Bella Union Availability:Wide Ecto priority:Highly recommended Group members:Jesca Hoop Guest artists:Blake Mills Produced by:Shawn Everett, Black Mills, and Tony Berg Comments:I have also recently become quite in-love with the new Jesca Hoop—The House That Jack Built. The more I listen to it, the more I love it. If you haven't given her new album a listen, do it! (Jessica Spurling) UndressedRelease info:2014—Stage Three Music—LastL017CD Availability:See Jesca Hoop's site Ecto priority:Highly recommended for Jesca Hoop fans Group members:Jesca Hoop—vocals, guitar Guest artists:Guy Garvey—vocals (1) Comments:These re-recordings from Hunting My Dress feel even more fully reimagined than the The Complete Kismet Acoustic re-recordings. With these new arrangements the songs feel like rather than being undressed they're wearing quite different outfits. Intriguing and well-worth the listen, in company with Hunting My Dress. They're not a replacement, but a parallel journey. (Neile) Memories Are NowRelease info:2017—Sub Pop—SP1175 Availability:Wide Ecto priority:Highly recommended Group members:Jesca Hoop—guitars, vocals Guest artists:Blake Mills—bass, drums, guitars, backing vocals Produced by:Blake Mills Comments:Really loving this album. I never quite got into The House That Jack Built, but I found this album immediately catchy, with all the lovable quirkiness of Jesca's earlier albums. Months after its release I'm still listening to it often and finding new subtleties to savor. (JoAnn Whetsell) |
DISCLAIMER: Comments and reviews in the Ectophiles' Guide are excerpted from the ecto mailing list or volunteered by members of the list. They are the opinions of music enthusiasts, not professional music critics.
Entry last updated 2018-02-25 13:39:47. Please request permission if you wish to reproduce any of the comments in the Ectophiles' Guide in any context. |
The Ectophiles' Guide to Good Music is copyright © 1996-2004 by the editors. Individual comments are copyright © by their authors. Web site design and programming copyright © 1998-2004 usrbin design + programming. All rights reserved. |