By DAVID MALACHOWSKI
Reviewer

ARTIST: Joy Askew

ALBUM: “Drunk On You” (no label listed)

Joy Askew is a musician; she’s also an artist. For the former, she’s played keyboards and sang harmony with some of the biggest stars in music; Peter Gabriel, Joe Jackson, Laurie Anderson, Rodney Crowell. As an artist, she’s released albums of her own compositions like Tender City and the Pirate of Eel Pie with guests musicians like Tony Levin, Jerry Marotta, Shane Fontayne, and Peter Gabriel.

On this outing, Askew enlists famed drummer Ricky Fataar, singer Amanda Homi and others to add colors and shades to her glorious new release “Drunk On You.” This collection of life stories put to music begins with the lush and luxurious title track “Drunk On You,” a clever pop ditty with smart lyrics and uncommon space and texture from ringing guitars, atmospheric keyboards, and a vocal that floats above, observing first, then joining in with verve.

What a voice. Emotive, flexible, often riveting, and singing lines like “I keep making the same mistakes /let you bend the rules till they almost break” as the ethereal beginning builds to a powerful chorus, then pulls back. Piano and strings provide a dramatic scrim for “I Broke The Law.” Soon, that’s pulled back and horns jump in for a Beatle-esque flair. “In My Life” is delicate yet moving, “All the Little Birds” has latent vaudeville underpinnings yet still soars skyward, while “Walk Under Waterfalls” is an elegant ode to a guitarist “he was beautiful, with is guitar, green velvet and fringes.” The stunning “All Be Saints” is simply gorgeous, in a modern, updated Burt Bacharach way.

Thoughtful and beautiful, clever but not precious, “Drunk On You” is a smart man’s pop record, well conceived, excellently produced, and emotionally sung. Long ago, there was a band called The Beatles that did that as well.

Askew is often in our area, as she is passionate about animal rights, and can often be found doing benefits for the Woodstock Farm Sanctuary and other noble causes. Support Askew’s other noble cause-her recording, by going to CDbaby, spread the Joy around.

Visit http://www.joyaskew.com/

David Malachowski is a guitarist, producer and freelance journalist living in Woodstock.

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