Karen Jonas – “Butter”

SXSW 2019 - OEB Score: 7; Popularity Index: 2

Pairs Well With… Dolly Parton, Nora Jones, Iris Dement

Karen Jonas’ voice on her new album “Butter,” sounds like, well, like … . . No, no, no. I won’t go there, although to be fully honest, I had initially planned, to paraphrase Johnny Carson, to take a good metaphor and beat it to death. But it turns out that every single review of this album has already gone there, done that. So, it suffices to say that Jonas’ voice is rich, sultry, and occasionally playful, without dipping into country, saccharine sweet. “Butter” is her third album and while still rooted in country music, she liberally borrows from other genres – Americana, barroom soul, and the blues – providing much needed variety. For example, “Mama’s First Rodeo” and the softer “My Sweet Arsonist” use gentle humor and lots of pedal steel channeling Dolly Parton. “Gospel of the Road” is organ-backed barroom soul, and the title track opens with a blast of horns but lands in a jazzy torch song groove. The lyrics reflect her wit and thoughtfulness, and fully embrace her life as a full-time mother of four who strives to find a balance between her music career and her family. The title track, about a hardworking (and cooking) mother who still drinks whisky captures her music and her life well. So does the video for the song which alternatives between party glam shots and kitchen cameos with her kids, cooking with, well … flour, sugar, and some other ingredient. (DZ)