The Queen Of Vancouver Island

About

Canadian alt-country singer/songwriter Carolyn Mark came to that scene's attention as half of The Corn Sisters with Neko Case and with a steady string of smart, cheeky solo albums with tasteful arrangements and subtly devilish lyrics. <i>The Queen of Vancouver Island</i> stays true to Mark's sonic and conceptual vision. The music is smooth and shimmering, sounding as if it were recorded in a room stacked with vintage Fender amps and guitars. The only sign that everything's weirder than you think is when you gloss over the song titles and listen closely to the lyrics. Then tracks like "Not Talk" (which includes a "talk" part), "Old Whores," and "You're Not a Whore (If No One's Paying)" make clear that Mark enjoys playing all sides of an issue. Her cover of Elvis Presley's "Flaming Star"—the title track to the 1960 Don Siegel film starring Elvis and Barbara Eden—captures a rocking-country groove that brings the song new life. "Nobody('s Perfect)" illustrates her wit and relaxed demeanor; you can hear her muttering underneath her breath.

via Apple Music

The Clerk says

Start your shelf to read the full take →