When someone says that it was Howard Jones (of eighties pop fame) who set them on the road to self-realisation, you have to be a tad sceptical. But this 3-track taster for her 2004 album is absolutely wonderful, if a little derivative. Marks is a sassy songwriter judging by the somewhat sexually-charged fare on offer here. 'It Turned Me On' and 'Window' are catchy, raunchy, and hit just the right button. The latter owes a little to Madonna and 'Hollywood'. But that's no bad thing, it was one of the better tracks on her album.

If Jennifer Marks delivers an album of the quality trailed by this promo, we are in for a real treat. Third track 'Live' shows a leaning toward commercial alt-rock that wouldn't sound out of place on a Shania Twain album. Great instrumentation, too. It comes as no surprise that twiddling the knobs is Mike Shipley (Twain, Faith Hill).

Starting out with a couple of label let-downs, Marks is now signed to new indie Bardic Records and I would hazard a guess that major success beckons.

Website

Feature

It Turned Me On
© 2003 Jennifer Marks/Bardic Records. All rights reserved.

****

Review by David Randall

***** Out of this world | **** Pretty damn fine |
*** OK, approach with caution unless you are a fan |
** Instant bargain bin fodder | * Ugly. Just ugly