The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • Track Of The Day
  • Track Of The Month
  • Books + Movies
  • About
16
new
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SPARKS – THE GIRL IS CRYING IN HER LATTE
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MOON BLUE – THE MOONLIGHT DISCO
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: KASSI VALAZZA – KASSI VALAZZA KNOWS NOTHING
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MAUD THE MOTH + TRAJEDESALIVA
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PERE UBU – TROUBLE ON BIG BEAT STREET
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: AJJ – DISPOSABLE EVERYTHING
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE DIRTY NIL – FREE REIN TO PASSIONS
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JOE PERRY – SWEETZERLAND MANIFESTO MKII
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: FISHBONE – FISHBONE
SPILL NEW MUSIC: MOBIUS RADIO – “THE MORE YOU KNOW”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: TARA MACLEAN SHARES HEARTBREAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL NEW VIDEO FOR “THAT’S ME”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: JANE’S PARTY – “SHIPS ON AN OCEAN”
SPILL FEATURE: OVERCOMING ADVERSITY, EMERGING VICTORIOUS – A CONVERSATION WITH ROBBIE LITCHFIELD OF SAVING VICE
SPILL FEATURE: LATELY I’VE BEEN FEELING GOOD AND THAT MAKES ME FEEL SO BAD – A CONVERSATION WITH SEAN BONNETTE OF AJJ
SPILL FEATURE: CONNECTING ALL OUR LIVES – A CONVERSATION WITH GEOFF DOWNES OF YES
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: DIVINE SWEATER – “WAKING UP ALONE / JULIA”
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • Track Of The Day
  • Track Of The Month
  • Books + Movies
  • About
  • Spill Menu
    • Reviews
      • Album Reviews
      • Features
      • Live Reviews
      • Festivals
    • Portraits
    • Headlines
      • News
      • Contests
      • Events
      • Entertainment Headlines
      • Concert Listings
      • Toronto Concert Venues
    • New Music
      • Premieres
      • Track Of The Day
    • Track Of The Month
    • Books + Movies
    • About
Album Reviews
268
previous article
Spill Artist Portrait by Daniel Adams: Yukon Blonde
next article
SPILL FESTIVAL REVIEW: RIOT FEST 2014

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JENNIFER CASTLE – PINK CITY

Jennifer Castle
Pink City
Idée Fixe
RATING

Queen of her Castle!

This Canadian folk singer-songwriter based in Toronto returns with her second full-length studio release, Pink City. This 10-track gentle beauty represents a pomp of folk that Castle understands greatly and plays well. At 32 minutes in length, one would hope the quality of this album would be of a high calibre and after a careful listen to this cohesive release, Castle’s vocal flutterings do not disappoint as Pink City represents a significant, positive step forward in her professional growth as a musical auteur. With Owen Pallett (of Arcade Fire fanfare) and Mike Smith providing the elegant string orchestrations throughout the album, they unshackle the release and move it from an earnest acoustic folk style into more diverse territory.

Listeners cannot help but make comparisons to Joni Mitchell, as Castle channels Mitchell’s seductive, courting vocals on tracks like, well, all of them? Her meditative and fragile verses blend into the gorgeous instrumentals of flutes, violin, guitar and percussion. The album opens easily enough with “Truth is the Freshest Fruit” as we are served some delicious violin vibratos as Jennifer’s guitar playing bounces along. We dovetail into “Working For The Man” as the violin once again engages the listener with its dulcet tones as the piano lingers. Castle’s vocal range continues to impress with wobbling casualness in “Nature” to the vocal howling in “Broken Vase.” “Sparta” invites an intriguing mention as it delves into the country genre but then brings in a flute? The fact the flute works is a great accomplishment on this track. “How or Why” is another interesting track, as we hear some sound effects mirroring Castle’s sung lyrics. “Sailing Away” cannot be overlooked with its resplendent instrumentals, and “Like A Gun” has a radiant bluesy appeal. Castle’s adept guitar playing throughout the album makes for a nice woven tapestry that ties the album together.

This finely crafted, gorgeous sophomore album is a pleasant surprise as it brings forth the history of folk music and entrenches its roots in the present with Castle’s own modern troubadour, Canadian twist. This is an album that could inexplicably land in your lap through word of mouth, and bewitch you forever while becoming a precious belonging. Could her music encapsulate the aesthetics of a generation, new or old? Only time will tell. Hopefully these songs will become indelibly stamped on the minds of music lovers everywhere and more people will listen to this introspective muse as she continues to break new ground and Pink City‘s appreciation grows for ages to come.

– Chris X (aka: the “Dis·si·dent Mankey”)

STAY UP-TO-DATE
WITH OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER!

* Mandatory Field

Check your inbox or spam folder now (just in case!) to confirm your subscription.

Item Reviewed

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JENNIFER CASTLE – PINK CITY

Author

Chris X

Here's what we think...
Spill Rating
Fan Rating
Rate Here
New Criteria
10
10
8.0
Total Spill Rating
10
Total Fan Rating
You have rated this
Album Reviews
album reviewsjennifer castlepink city
album reviews, jennifer castle, pink city
About the Author
Chris X
Insert pretentious stuff about me here. I was born at a very young age. I am pretty, funny... without the comma. Easily distracte
RELATED ARTICLES
album reviewsjennifer castle
 
9.0
Sparks
10

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SPARKS – THE GIRL IS CRYING IN HER LATTE

by Aaron Badgley on May 26, 2023
Sparks The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte Island Records The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte is Sparks 25th studio album, and their first since 2020’s very successful A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip. They have gained a new audience, thanks in part to the [...]
 
8.0
Moon Blue

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MOON BLUE – THE MOONLIGHT DISCO

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on May 26, 2023
Moon Blue The Moonlight Disco 777 Music There are two ways by which an artist can make the title of his record fit perfectly with the music within. One is to compose the music and then find a fitting title, the other is the have the title in [...]
 
8.0
Kassi Valazza

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: KASSI VALAZZA – KASSI VALAZZA KNOWS NOTHING

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on May 26, 2023
Kassi Valazza Kassi Valazza Knows Nothing Fluff & Gravy Records Portland, Oregon artist Kassi Valazza defies the title of her latest album – Kassi Valazza Knows Nothing. She actually knows quite a bit it seems, and one of the things [...]
 
8.0
maud the moth + trajedesaliva
8.8

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MAUD THE MOTH + TRAJEDESALIVA

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on May 26, 2023
maud the moth + trajedesaliva Bordando el Manto Terrestre Time Released Sound Now, we’re talking about some serious dark stuff here. Yet, it is the kind of dark stuff that actually enlightens and makes the true darkness go away. Bordando [...]
 
9.0
Pere Ubu

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PERE UBU – TROUBLE ON BIG BEAT STREET

by Aaron Badgley on May 26, 2023
Pere Ubu Trouble On Big Beat Street Cherry Red Records One could be forgiven for being confused as to what the actual year is when Sparks, Pere Ubu, Yes, and Jethro Tull are releasing new music. And it is a most excellent confusion. David Thomas [...]

Latest Album Reviews
View All
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SPARKS – THE GIRL IS CRYING IN HER LATTE
9.0
10
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MOON BLUE – THE MOONLIGHT DISCO
8.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: KASSI VALAZZA – KASSI VALAZZA KNOWS NOTHING
8.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MAUD THE MOTH + TRAJEDESALIVA
8.0
8.8
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PERE UBU – TROUBLE ON BIG BEAT STREET
9.0

STAY UP-TO-DATE
WITH OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER!

* Mandatory Field

Check your inbox or spam folder now (just in case!) to confirm your subscription.

Tweets by @spillmagazine

SPILL MAGAZINE MENU
  • Home | The Spill Magazine
  • Premieres
  • Track Of The Month
  • Album Reviews
  • Books + Movies
  • Features
  • Live Reviews
  • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • News
  • Events
  • Entertainment Headlines
  • Concert Listings
  • Toronto Concert Venues
  • About Us
  • Contests
  • New Music
  • Contributors
  • TOTD
  • Privacy Policy
  • The Scene Unseen
  • Newsletter

Copyright © 2023 | The Spill Magazine
All Rights Reserved.

TRENDING RIGHT NOW
   
 
SPILL NEWS: RINGO STARR AND HIS ALL STARR BAND ADD DATES TO SPRING 2023 TOUR
7833
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: METALLICA – 72 SEASONS
3639
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JETHRO TULL – RÖKFLÖTE
1476
 
SPILL FEATURE: LOVE THAT WE WERE LIVING – A CONVERSATION WITH JUSTIN HAYWARD OF THE MOODY BLUES
1320
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DELERIUM – SIGNS
1200
 
SPILL NEW MUSIC: EMMA ARMSTRONG – “MAYBE PROBABLY NEVER”
1058
 
SPILL FEATURE: RECOLLECTION IN TRANQUILITY – A CONVERSATION WITH JOHN FOXX
831
 
SPILL FEATURE: THE GIRL IS CRYING IN HER LATTE – A CONVERSATION WITH RUSSELL MAEL & RON MAEL OF SPARKS
808
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE KINKS – THE JOURNEY – PART 1
682
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE WHO – THE WHO WITH ORCHESTRA: LIVE AT WEMBLEY
680
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE DAMNED – DARKADELIC
606
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: CROWN LANDS – FEARLESS
498
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DEPECHE MODE – MEMENTO MORI
487
ENTERTAINMENT HEADLINES