While Jentri Colello is very much the focal point of the new EP that bears her name, Bird of Prey is very much a band effort. And she's not just being charitable. "Daisies," the melancholy lead cut on the disc would certainly work as a simply strummed folk tune.
But the impressionistic washes of country melancholy that lead player Josh Harty contributes so deftly help turn what could have been a strong demo into a complete recorded performance. Drummer Phil Feutz is equally supportive. His work on the trap kit is so insistent that Colello never gets lost in the confused emotions that drive her simple, at times withering lyrics. Mark Whitcomb's artful mix also deserves credit in that regard.
On her own, with nothing more than a strummed guitar for accompaniment, Colello could certainly put over a cutting lyric like "I'm sure she knows your every scar by now/I'm sure she'll never miss me."
But with her band anticipating the dramatic arc of the tune, offering lithesome folk-rock one minute and forlorn country-folk the next, "Daisies" encapsulates all the hurt, anger and weariness that comes from a romance that's died on the vine.
An MP3 of the track is available in the related downloads at right. More songs by Colello can be listened to on her MySpace page. She is playing a pair of shows next month; the first is with at The Frequency on Friday August 15, and the second is with Atlatl and Icarus Himself at The Project Lodge on Friday, August 29.
MadTracks highlights and provides MP3s of songs performed by local musicians. All tracks here are provided with permission of the artist. If you are a musician based in the Madison metro area and are interested in sharing your work as a MadTrack, please send a message.