Last Saturday I travelled over to Kumeu with photographer Steve Bone to catch Jenny Mitchell, a wonderful country performer, and while I was aware she had a guest in Jamie McDell I had no idea who she was as I had previously not come across her. We listened to both soundcheck, and afterwards Steve explained to me that Jamie used to be a bona fide pop star, with gold records, #1 hits and a New Zealand Music Award to her name, but over the years she had changed and was now working in country music. I thoroughly enjoyed her set and afterwards was talking to her, saying I had not come across any of her material previously to which she was very pleased indeed, as it meant I was listening without any preconceived ideas.
Since then, I have been investigating her material, but made the decision to only listen to the last two albums until I had written the reviews, and then later go back to her earlier works so I can understand where she has come from without being influenced in any way. ‘Extraordinary Girl’ was her third album, released in 2018 some three years after her last album for Universal Music, ‘Ask Me Anything’. What struck me immediately is that album is full of confidence, even swagger, which only comes from someone who knows they have the ability and chops to carry it off. It is not what someone expects from someone in her mid-Twenties who is not part of a band, but has her own name on the cover, and has undertaken a shift in approach and has already had the experience of being signed by EMI at the age of just 16.
“Bad Attitude” sees her moving into country rock with some lovely crunching guitar, but for the most part this is delicate country with real presence and strong material. Vocally she is reminiscent at times of a young Stevie Nicks, while undoubtedly, she is also a fan of The Chicks (previously known as Dixie Chicks). Songs like “Lady In Waiting” has a filthy guitar, distorted and just down and dirty, yet Jamie has no issue with being in control at all times, no matter what is happening musically beneath her. The arrangements are a delight, and she keeps mixing the style so one never knows what the next song is going to be like, which makes for an interesting journey through the album.
Recorded in Nashville, award-winning Australian producer Nash Chambers and contributions from the likes of Kasey Chambers, Bill Chambers, and Tami Neilson (listen to the harmonies on “No Womans Land”) this album has Jamie outside her comfort zone, and away from her family. One would never guess from the confidence shining through this release though, as this is a delight from the gentle “Tori” to closer “A Liar Loves A Liar” which contains sounds as if it was recorded back in the 50’s. The result is an album which is a delight and certainly needs to be investigated by fans of the genre.
Rating: 8/10
