Jennifer Love Hewitt - Barenaked

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Free Music Notes for Barenaked

Free Music Review: Love to love you baby...
Hit: 5 Stars

Following two flop albums (namely 1995's 'Let's Go Bang' and 1996's eponymous release) I'm surprised the 'Barenaked' project ever got off the ground. It's a lucky thing it did, however, because the album is a gutsier, more honest, loving project than anything else Jennifer has produced in her career. It would not be out of line to call this record Love's opus, for it leaves the other "milestones" in her short but productive career.

The title track is the first single to be lifted from the album. Not quite as strong a track as her 1998 single 'How Do I Deal', but its incessantly catchy hook, earthy guitars, and introspective-come-uplifting lyrics make it perfect FM radio fodder and easily one of the best tracks in Love's steadily-increasing catalogue. The follow-up, 'Can I Go Now', is equally if not more pleasing, with a punchy chorus and a chance for Love to really show off her pipes. It effortlessly fuses a reggae base with a soft rock sound, creating one of the most interesting pop singles in a long time.

'Hey Everybody' delves into Shania Twain territory, with stupid lyrics about "chocolate in the bank account" and "cheese in her purse"; but similarly, it adopts a Shania-style sing-a-long which even the most straight-faced of us will not be able to resist. 'First Time' is so Dawson's Creek it hurts, but who hasn't ever bopped along to those female-vocals, guitar-and-drum songs during a Joey and Dawson love song?

The ballads here are aplenty, but all far above average. 'Stand In Your Way' is a glorious slice of pop, harking back to those eighties soul ballads - over a backing of electric piano and guitar, Jen's voice slips and slides over the captivating melody like a pro. As for 'You', this is a definite single contender with a melody slightly similar to the Bangle's hit "Eternal Flame". The verses feature a relatively laid-back vocal over filtered drum beats, with a raw intensity breaking through during the choruses. How were we supposed to know this girl could really sing?!

The rest of the record is bluesy rock, with Love offering up the Motown-influenced "Where You Gonna Run To". Imagine Dusty Springfield reinterpreted into the modern music scene, and you're not far off. Jen's self-confessed favourite "I Know You Will", complete with record scratches and a [nice] groove slithering under the melody as Love coos "don't tell me that you won't do me, `cos I know that you will", is also a rather notable inclusion. However none of these tracks stand up to the mindblower that is Jennifer's cover of "Me And Bobby McGee". Accompanied only by a bongo drum (I am deadly serious), the girl lets loose like you would not believe, interpreting the song as her very own. Janis Joplin may not be around to experience Love's cover, but I bet she'd be darned proud.

"Barenaked" marks a significant transition in Love's music career. For the first time, she sounds very much in control of the direction she's going. It's a shame that an influential music magazine has already criticised her "wee little voice" and poked fun at this record's more 'rock' feel. My question is, why don't these journalists do their research? Their criticism of Love's foray into the rock arena is unfounded, as her last single "How Do I Deal" certainly had a rock vibe ... it's a natural progression. Secondly, as for her voice, well she's never sounded stronger, and our "wee little" Love blows her contemporaries out of the water. As Billboard said, "Love Hewitt's maturity over the current crop of female singer / songwriters is obvious - she is in a world apart from the other girls".

I think that says it all.

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