Jamie Lynn Spears in “The Journey” EP
“So, Brittney’s little sister wants to be a country music star after getting booted off Nickelodeon ’cause she got knocked up at sixteen.”
This is the conclusion most high-nosed country music snobs can come to upon hearing that Jamie Lynn Spears has bent her back to the pursuit of a country music career, without even having to listen to a peep of her music. At first notion, the premise of Jamie Lynn Country seems so flimsy and transparent, it’s darn near a forgone conclusion that it can be nothing more than bubble gum and choreography.
Then when Jamie released her first single, the co-penned “How Could I Want More” in November 2013, many high-nosed music snobs had to spread mustard on their presumptive words and eat them. Not that “How Could I Want More” was Song of the Year material or anything, but it made one pause and consider for a moment that for all we knew, Jamie Lynn Spears could come out as one of these critical country music females like Kacey Musgraves or Ashley Monroe, and impress with weighty composition and artistic merit.
Or maybe releasing “How Could I Want More” ahead of an album was simply a way to diffuse critics, and creep onto the right side of the country music gatekeepers. After hearing Jamie Lynn’s full EP The Journey, the latter may not be a bad theory.
READ: Jamie Lynn Spears Surprises w/ “How Could I Want More”
“How Could I Want More” certainly defines the The Journey‘s critical apex. Otherwise, the album starts off with two very commercially-oriented and formulaic offerings. As true as the story behind “Shotgun Wedding” might be for teen mom Spears, aside from a few moments of lyrical wit, the EDM-enhanced, banjo-backed intro and the predictable chorus make any enjoyment about as lasting as the joy in most forced marriages. “Run” is also fleshed out with oft-trodden cadences and sonic tropes; the somewhat interesting chorus progression notwithstanding.
“Mandolin Summer Sun” is all rhythm, and the hook and melody feel very forced. While the last song, the sedated “Big Bad World”, finally offers some of the same intimacy and vulnerability we hear in “How Could I Want More”, and Spears finally allows the listener to connect with her through story.
Really, there may not be enough here with The Journey to truly make any hard and fast determination about Jamie Lynn Spears the country singer, not just because we’re only given five tracks for insight, but also from a feeling of ambiguity or lack of direction in this release that leaves more questions than answers. Does Jamie Lynn Spears want to be known as a singer like Carrie Underwood? A songwriter like Taylor Swift or Kacey Musgraves? Is it all about the entertainment factor? What is her overall style or message? The Journey doesn’t really go very far in answering any of these queries. This could be on purpose, using this EP like a weather balloon simply to gauge public sentiment to see if the younger Spears is worthy of being picked up by a major label (The Journey was released independently on “Sweet Jamie Music”), or what style or songs will work for her moving forward.
Spears herself has said she’s “trying to figure out what the exact sound” is she wants to go with, and some of the material on The Journey sounds downright dated, like female pop country from the mid to late 00’s. Reading up on the album, you find out “Shotgun Wedding” was likely written in 2008 or 2009, giving it a good half decade to grow stale.
Even in 2014 though, half baked and dated material still bests most of what is coming from mainstream country males, and it’s only fair to grade The Journey among its peers. “How Could I Want More” is pretty good, “Big Bad World” is not half bad, and the other three tracks are pretty forgettable, but not offensive.
End Diagnosis: Inconclusive. Like with most EPs.
One Gun Up. One Gun Down.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Fred
May 28, 2014 @ 9:05 am
As much as it might pain me to admit, if ‘How Could I Want More’ had been written by Ashley Monroe or Kacey Musgraves, I’d probably consider it among their best work. It doesn’t quite have the eye for detail that makes a song truly real, but it packs some emotional truth.
I’d buy an entire EP of that. But, from the review, doesn’t sound like that’s what we’ve got here.
Michael
May 28, 2014 @ 9:43 am
I think she has a lot of promise here and it sounds like what was said with her trying to figure out her sound. It also looks like it was gaged to see what will work with the public and what won’t.
I think she has the POTENTIAL to become a Kellie Pickler type artist. She just has to make sure she signed with a label who won’t try to make her Taylor Swift or something. for instance signing with Capitol Nashville or possibly Mercury (although they have been good with Musgraves) might be a bad idea. There is also the influence of her sister. But she looks to be the better of the sisters. I could see Ashley Monroe or Kacey Musgraves co-writing some of her stuff possibly.
The Nick side of the street tends to produce better talent with more substance and feeling than the Disney side another good example of that is actress/singer/songwriter/column writer and former Nick star Jennette McCurdy one of the better all around talents I have ever seen. She also took a chance at doing Country with her stuff commercially for a while and left the mainstream after Capitol Nashville went to control her and her music opting to write a column for the Wall Street Journal and other stuff and produce music on the down low. Her mother was also dying of cancer at the time.
Albert
May 28, 2014 @ 11:37 am
In my humble opinion , this is a listenable production which would not ,however unfortunately , sit comfortably on a contemporary radio playlist . Mindy Smith , Alison Krause, Mary Chapin Carpenter , Ashley Monroe and many others have all mined this vein more effectively .The lyric is far more lightweight in substance than the above mentioned artists would turn in .The chord structure is cookie cutter with no surprises ( read boring ) and the melody does nothing to challenge or effectively show off her vocal talents or lack there-of .Something akin to the attack Jessica Simpson attempted to mount on country radio several years back…littel conviction or passion or character beyond an accessible-by-a-youthful-demographic-lyric. I’m not suggesting she aim for the Carrie-sphere -.even Carrie misses that target occasionally-but it may have benefited Jamie more had she found material she could leave her stamp on in terms of vocal character . This is a fairly unremarkable offering in that respect.
Trigger
May 28, 2014 @ 12:31 pm
Jessica Simpson is EXACTLY what came to my mind when listening for the first time, it just didn’t make it into the review. I agree, she’s trying to tread between two worlds, and thus, slightly fails at both. I definitely don’t hear anything for the adult crowd beyond “How Could I Want More”, and none of the commercial material will fly on mainstream country radio. A part of me senses this is a dumb of odd and sodd tracks for some underlying purpose, but I’m not sure if any purpose will be fulfilled with this material.
Wendy
June 2, 2014 @ 8:35 pm
maybe with a little polish she could be something more than jessica and even her sister granted I might be sounding slightly deaf(I had numerous ear surgeries as a child) but I don’t think any one in her camp will give her the slight push to say take a few vocal lessons.
Tom
May 28, 2014 @ 12:33 pm
This is way better than half the crap out there!
Kylie
May 28, 2014 @ 3:38 pm
I’ve listened to the EP and it’s not half bad. Compared to the majority of mainstream country songs at this moment, it’s very good. I do think that some songs sound quite generic, and I do also agree on the fact that it sounds like a mid-late 00’s female pop-country album. I also agree that this album is stuck in the middle of two worlds – the adult crowd (aka good music) / deaf frat boys, teenagers & soccer moms (aka mainstream country radio) – and thus, does not have a proper place. The lyrics aren’t substantive enough to fit in with the Ashley Monroe, Brandy Clark types, yet seems almost “too country” to fit in with mainstream radio (because there’s a banjo). I also have doubts that Jamie would appeal to the “bro-country” crowd (I don’t know why, I just feel that when listening to her music, then listening to one of those “bro-country” people, that the musical styles seem different in a certain perspective).
I see potential in Jamie Lynn. Whether it be in mainstream country pop-country, or traditional country is the question. She has to alter her style of music to be fully accepted one way or another, though. I agree with Michael on the fact she could very well become a Kellie Pickler type artist, seeing that her label won’t attempt to turn her into a Taylor Swift.
ElectricOutcast
May 28, 2014 @ 6:39 pm
You know what trend I’ve been noticing these past few years? Most of these EP’s have not even been evolving into full albums, biggest example I’m giving is I’ve been following Sarah Darling since I first heard her back in 2009 and her most recent release was an EP called Home to Me, released in January ’13 with a promise from her former label Black River Entertainment, that a full album would be issued late summer of that year.
But instead of getting that album, they dropped her instead and really didn’t get anything out of her except “Little Umbrellas” and a Christmas EP both self-released. I know what I’m saying ain’t relevant but I do fear the same with Jamie Lynn Spears, I’m probably with most of you and I do want to give her a chance but I want a full album to give a verdict on her and I fear we might not get that.
Michael
May 28, 2014 @ 7:10 pm
The one good thing about having Britney Spears as your sister is that she likely has connections to record companies that she can pull some strings with. My fear is that radio doesn’t play her. That is what happened when Jennette McCurdy went commercial in 2011/2012 their justification being that she sounded too much like Carrie Underwood. That along with Capital Nashville controlling her drove her music underground.
I call it the Miley Cyrus syndrome of one bad one spoiling the whole bunch. I would like to think that Britney can pull some strings on the label side for her sis.
Albert
May 28, 2014 @ 11:27 pm
When you listen to all of the incredibly talented people voted off of THE VOICE each week , you quickly realize how much of a popularity contest ” the biz” has become .Jamie Spears wouldn’t make it past the blinds , in my opinion , up against REAL singers with character , drive , passion and heart who even with all of those gifts seem to vaporize after their 15 minutes . Yes …perhaps with her sister’s help she could negotiate (buy) her way into a record deal and with some serious marketing $$$ she might even manage to land something in the charts . Spend a few hours You-Tubing and you’ll find more incredibly gifted unknown vocalists and musicians than you could ever count . BUT …they need something marketable in the way of a defining uniqueness over and above their material , the arrangements , and their talents . I hate to harp on T.S. but I think anyone with a working set of ears would agree she is NOT God’s gift to vocals …..or even a vocal stylist .Her songwriting skills are competent at best . BUT …every young girl wants to BE her and every young guy wants to date her because let’s face it ….she’s a beautiful looking package …a marketers dream and she doesn’t even have to ride an inflatable penis to boost her street cred .
The good stuff will rarely make it to the mainstream without SOMETHING marketable/definitive over and above artistic merit . Keith Urban is a talented guy …recognizable vocal style , killer guitar chops …decent writer . But he’s almost become a caricature of himself – the 41 year old guy hanging on to the image of the straggly-haired ,work-boot wearing , tattooed , chain-dangling -from -the -pocket , tattered T-shirt wearing 18 year old kid that he just isn’t anymore ( Steven Tyler , Mick , Keith etc… ). THAT’S what sells Keith in the end ..a BIG marketable youthful image – a cartoon character with male model good looks that gives his talents a shot at sustaining a career and his market .
But I digress . Check out all of the GREAT female ( and male ) vocalists that weren’t marketable for whatever reasons : Jessica Andrews (Who I Am ) ) Sarah Buxton ( criminal that she isn’t a HUGE pop- country star -great voice and an amazing writer )…Mindy Smith …etc. . These ladies were and are acknowledged for their amazing talents….and yet they are far from household names because they didn’t get marketing $$$ on their side . I think Jamie Spears is destined for a similar fate as an ‘artist’ .
Camie jo
May 29, 2014 @ 9:23 am
Well, I did see her leave the building when ‘they’ made fun of her sister for lip syncing. Come to find out, they were doing it, too. Pot to kettle.
Camie jo
May 29, 2014 @ 9:29 am
I don’t know Keith Urban slipped in here, but he must really give you a pinch. I think he has a great personality and he’s not a high-nosed snob. Have you ever been to one of his shows? He treats everyone like they’re a highly valued individual and he’s very kind.
Camie jo
May 29, 2014 @ 11:08 am
I’ve had my share of spankings on here. I used to pop off and say all kinds of snarky things. My ‘culture’ has changed. When I would reread them, I made myself sick. It wasn’t contributing a darned thing to the thread.
I started thinking about the little band on the road, barely making it..traveling from venue to venue on bald tires. Some having to eat bad gas station sandwiches.
Driving on icy roads and all kinds of weather…just trying to be heard.
So I decided to shut my north and south, most of the time. I read and listen to the music. I’ve grown up.
Sonas
May 29, 2014 @ 12:52 pm
“How could I want more.” She’s happy with her boyfriend, how’s that enough of a basis for a song.
Jordan Stacey
May 30, 2014 @ 3:23 pm
She’s not happy with her boyfriend is the point of the song, listen to the lyrics again. 🙂
Sonas
May 30, 2014 @ 10:02 pm
Well, I did listen to it again Thank you. Yes, it is OK.