FFWD Weekly
Copyright © 1997. All Rights Reserved.


LISA LOEB
Firecracker
Geffen

· Lisa Loeb was an unsigned artist until Ethan Hawke presented "Stay (I Missed You)" to Ben Stiller for the Reality Bites soundtrack.

· Lisa insists the best thing to do is to just listen to the album and stare at the artwork; ignore bios, they only try to make an artist sound interesting.

Lisa Loeb has been the target of harsh criticism for being an over-analytical wuss on her breakthrough single, "Stay (I Miss You)." This time around on Firecracker - her second album mostly recorded in the apartment of co-producer/engineer Juan Patino - she's kissed that image into the wind.

Firecracker illustrates the assertive side of a woman who's not about to dwell herself into a hole. Many aspects of Loeb's gripping album are nailed with the first single and opening track, "I Do": "I'm starting to ignore you, I've doubted you so long / I'm tired of overthinking, I know you don't belong."

Her lyrical honesty is bewitching; an acoustic guitar paired with intimate storytelling is a no-lose combination for Loeb. She breathes life into every word and makes the album believably autobiographical. Although a constant shift from love song to love/hate song is a stark juxtaposition, the emphasis is the songwriter's insight after the brink of self-discovery. There are things she's figured out and things she has finally realized she can do without; this album is a springboard into better things.

One of the most attractive aspects of the album are the bright harmonic vocals (Loeb's and Patino's, with guest Shawn Colvin on back-up in "Falling in Love"). Fiery tracks like "Split Second" encapsulate the attitude of contemplation being ditched for action. During anguished songs, dulcet harmonies carry the track along despite the impact of wounded emotions. Tender subject matters are three-minute glimpses of her life; it's no surprise she recommends us to toss out her biography, the album is more exciting.

Needless to say, Lisa Loeb would still be a popular artist if she underwent corrective eye surgery and tossed both the trademark glasses and the "Nana Mouskouri of the '90s" image in the trash. She shows the songwriting maturity of a person who has found her direction in music and life, realized her expertise and is finding out how well she is able to apply it.

4/5

Aubrey McInnis


Back To Main Contents
Back To This Issue Table of Contents