Review Summary: An “outsider” looking in
There are many things I don’t understand in this world. Why do my headphones always break at the most inopportune times? Why are geese so bothersome when ducks are so chill? Why is it so hard for me to choose what to eat for lunch? I know I have some leftovers from the other night, but maybe I’ll make something fresh. But then there’d just be more leftovers for tomorrow. Day after day, challenging questions such as these rattle incessantly in my head, each begging for explanation and form. But nay, I must continue on begrudgingly, leaving these questions to be unanswered another day. Will these questions ever be unfurled? Will reprieve ever be within my grasp? Not until I breathe my last breath, escaping this mortal coil as my family lowers me down in the grave: to rest eternally.
At least, that’s what I thought until I heard B.J. Snowden’s 1996 debut album Life In The USA And Canada. Within the confines of this 32-minute masterwork, Snowden perfectly articulates the fragility of life (Ode To Lesley), the state of the United States Navy (Us Navy Song), the importance of perseverance and resilience (Living Is Easy), the automobile industry and consumerism in general in a biting critique (98), the psychological strain of being in a loveless marriage due to an inability to see the flaws of your significant other (From the Chapel To The Courtroom), the gang violence epidemic (Never Fear), and so much more. On Falling In And Out Of Love, Snowden presents a dilemma many of us know all too well:
“Wedding bells are coming near,
Later comes the voicing fear…”
“I’ve been abused and oh-so used.
It made me all confused.”
The inclusion of instrumental pieces like The Sounds of Autumn, From Phoenix to Yuma, and La Luna Bella serve as prime examples of Snowden’s terrific skills as a pianist and composer. This balance of lyrical and techincal prowess is in perfect synch; never is one side distracting from the other. It’s a balance that you rarely see in music at all, but Life In The USA And Canada excels exceedingly.
At first glance, her lyrics may seem fairly overplayed and trite. After all, there are plenty of songs about hapless love; what makes this one stand out amongst the many? For me, the conviction and innocence in her voice says the most. The mere act of composing poetry for others to read does not properly convey the message you would like to express. The performance of these pieces is what gives you a look into the mind of its creator: a graduate of Berklee College with a Bachelor’s in Applied Music, a teacher of children, a loving daughter, and an accomplished musician. While she has since been pushed aside as “outsider music” (mostly due to her inclusion in Irwin Chusid’s Songs in the Key of Z), there is no understating the passion B.J. Snowden has for her craft: simple melodies that reflect our own lives. Our fears, our troubles, our worries, our questions; Snowden’s music takes them and filters them through a collection of heart songs that will undoubtedly stand the test of time. As Snowden croons on In Canada, “It’s really neat.”
