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Album reviews Music

Karen Elson

Rating: NNN


Ex-supermodel Karen Elson used to sing in a political cabaret troupe, but that’s not why you’ve heard of her. Back in 2005, she married Jack White, and his drumming and production contributions are all over her solo debut.

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Elson did, however, write all the tunes, which are brooding bluegrass hill-people music. Leading with the strong title track was smart, but the album loses its footing on the plodding Truth Is In The Dirt and the unconvincing Pretty Babies. They’re not failures, but they work best as background music. Lunasa raises the album’s spirits, relatively – it’s still a sullen track.

Elson’s put out a competent record, but it can’t help but be coloured by your opinion of White. His fingerprints are, after all, everywhere.

Top track: The Ghost Who Walks

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