It is unfortunate that Jane Anfinson is going to immediately get compared to Laurie Anderson. The music on Precious Details has the same performance-art styling and storytelling that Anderson made famous, but the originality of these songs deserve to stand completely on their own.
Most songs on Precious Details are backed by electric violin and a serious jazz groove, but the vocals are so all over the place, that songs do not get stale or repetitive. Eddie Estrin uses many percussion instruments to add flair and flavor. Highlights include "Heaven Or The End" with its cool bass line and haunting vocals, "Mars" for its witty, fun lyrics, and "In Anticipation", a creative little song with an Iona feel. "Vital Statistics" is not an easy song to get into, but it became one of my favorites by the third time I listened to it.
Jane Anfinson does not create easily accessible songs, instead she produces highly creative efforts that take a little work, but which pay off in spades. Fans of the Wild Colonials will instantly get into this CD. Precious Details is an excellent introduction to this talented songwriter.
Track Listing
1. Vital Statistics
2. Back of My Hand
3. Heaven or the End
4. Night Flight
5. Muses
6. Violet
7. Noticing Change
8. Patience
9. Child's Play
10. In Anticipation
11. Bored
12. Mars