Item: The Innocence Mission - Birds Of My Neighborhood
Rating: 3
Author: alia76

THE REVIEW

I searched for the voice of Karen Peris for years, ever since I heard her duet with Natalie Merchant in "Ophelia" (1998), I never knew, or perhaps never truly wanted to know, if she had a musical past.

Then, the internet and a trip to London allowed me to get closer to this family-led group (with Mr. Don Peris on guitar) and discover the talent of this maiden with a crystalline voice, indeed, Sue is about the other guitars, music, and lyrics.

Musically, there isn't much going on: a few acoustic guitars, a harmonica, bass and some percussion. Yet everything sounds very "finished" and especially evocative. When the structure of the songs is sparse, then the lyrics and melodic appeal matter. I must say that in this case, everything works. Tracks such as "The Lakes Of Canada", "Going Away" and "You Are The Light" are very catchy and can be strummed right away. The John Denver cover "Follow me" is very well done. Beware, nothing groundbreaking or new. However, very dignified and especially particularly moving.

A must-listen for lovers of female acoustic folk pop.

Loading comments slowly

Summary by Bot

The review focuses on Karen Peris' clear and crystalline voice and the simple yet evocative acoustic folk music of The Innocence Mission's album Birds Of My Neighborhood. Although musically minimalistic, the album features strong lyrics and melodies that resonate. Tracks like 'The Lakes Of Canada' and 'You Are The Light' are highlighted as catchy and accessible. The well-executed John Denver cover adds to the album's dignified and moving nature, making it a must-listen for female acoustic folk pop fans.

Tracklist Videos