Beth Thornley

Wash U Clean (Stiff Hips Music)

By Jennifer Jeffery
Published: March 17th, 2010 | 6:00am

Beth Thornley has a lot to get off her chest, just like any singer-songwriter does. But judging by the ten tracks on her third release, Wash U Clean, you may get the impression that Thornley’s mood is on the down-and-outs, which effectively brings the listener down.

Whereas Thornley’s music may be dark yet melodic at times, she possesses an ability to pen poetically intimate songs with indie-pop appeal. Her lyrics are fiercely honest and lets her audience take a peak into her innermost thoughts, like on the track “What the Heart Wants”: “I think I knew all along we were just wrong / But you were so kind and I thought I was strong.”

A versatile artist similar to the likes of Aimee Mann and Sheryl Crow, Thornley’s prose sways from fun pop ditties (“There’s No Way”) to somber, melancholic pieces — with a heavy emphasis on the latter. On the opening title track, a baritone sax adds an upbeat, old-school funk. However, the following three songs bring a dismal gloom until the rock-infused “You’re So Pony” kick starts a happier moment, before falling back into a dismal place yet again.

Perhaps if the songs were placed in a different order, Wash U Clean wouldn’t feel so dreary and actually allow for brighter moments to take precedence as opposed to a downward spiral of despaired piano numbers.

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Beth Thornley official site

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