Bess Rogers – Decisions Based On Information
The name “Decisions Based on Information” feels so nerdy…but hey I do fancy nerdy girls. Bess Rogers trying to portray that nerdiness is an accomplished musician kind of like the female -Spencer Krug (I guess Spencer will now always be mentioned due to the gazillion side projects he’s in) playing in The Age of Rockets, and playing along the likes of Jenny Owen Youngs (I know her by the single “Fuck Was I”) and Ingrid Michaelson.
Bess Rogers’ music is a mix of pop and folk though with a hint of experimentation. I debated back and forth (with myself) whether or not I wanted to get a copy of her release. I found myself constantly going back to her myspace to make sure I liked her. Eventually I decided that I’d like her enough to get a review copy.
Sometimes when I get a review copy especially one where you directly ask for it….I start listening to the album and start thinking maybe I’ve mad a bad decision but I owe the artist a complete review.
It’s been more then a month since I received the album and I’m not going to say it was a mistake but after forcing myself to listen to the album I must say I understand the decision to get this album.
This album is pretty solid all around, both lyrically and instrumentally it has its memorable moments. I liked the tracks Only One and Modern Man. While there is something on each track I think I could like…they are really no standouts. The tracks I like don’t seem to be memorable either. I tried to figure out why…I think the reason is that when she’s singing and showing off her talent as a song writer musically it isn’t there…when there’s some cool experimentation or the use of interesting instrumentation she isn’t there to make it all the more epic.
Take the last track “Untitled” a 7 minute experimental orgy…I came off as hating it but I find myself able to like things like that when under the right circumstances.
It’s not a bad album by any means but for me I feel like I’ll just forget about the album in the long run and I’ll have no desire to listen to it unfortunately.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Bess Rogers still has some potential to make a landmark album but this one just isn’t quite there.
