Awkward Star
Blue Straggler (2003)

review by: Chris Orcutt
Date: 3/4/03

This record has really burned itself into my mind. Though it's totally unfair to have to classify different kinds of music, we all need a frame of reference, so here goes: the closest I can get without edging into jazz is that Blue Straggler is something of a cross between Laurie Anderson and an English band called Hooverphonic (who were sort of-sort of-like Portishead). The songs meander in and out of light rhythms while poet/singer Greta Nintzel free-associates over the top. I'm usually not a big fan of poetry put to music but so much of this stuff is tremendously interesting. "Nothing Spectacular" is about, well, nothing spectacular, just kind of brief, relaxed, impressions of moments in a day of Nintzel's life, but the sketches are drawn very sharply and full of jarring imagery: a relaxed look across the courtyard presents a guy in his underwear and a pink cowboy hat screaming across the parking lot at his friend.

The songs are very well paced, flowing in and out of the lyrics. I'd have to say my favorite is "Fire," which has a very relaxed feel (though it's kind of tenacious, if that's possible) and a lot of eerie effects washing in and out. This is the one that's stuck in my head, especially the somehow haunting refrain of ". . .seventeen years. . ." Like a lot of the songs, it's dreamy and half-awake (though things get ratcheted up a notch three songs later in "Buzz, Hello?") and with the headphones on it gives me a wonderfully disoriented feeling.

So – pretty cool stuff. Blue Straggler stretches boundaries while remaining completely engaging. I'll be listening to it for awhile.