Jenni Dale Lord Band
“In the Dance” - Album review
If you’re going to write a solid country album, there are a host of “must-have” elements…. Clever lyrics inside of relatable stories …. a great drinking song (that’s easy to sing when you’re drunk) ….. a solid duet ….. a song about heartbreak ….. a song about loving where you come from …. an up-tempo 2-step track for line-dancing…… a song about getting over the loser you just dumped ….. an inspirational song ….. classic country instrumentation and tones, and, a unique voice (to name a few). “In the Dance,” the seventh record from Lubbock, TX singer-songwriter Jenni Dale Lord, checks all those boxes, and then some. Here’s our track by track review.
Once You Go Bourbon - The album starts with this straight up drinking song with all the classic tones and harmonies. This is definitely a sing-along with a simple and effective hook. This was our introduction to her voice and it’s safe to say that she has a unique one. She’s got a huskier tone than most, and we like it. She’s a bit Terri Clark, a bit Jo Dee Messina, and a lot of Wynonna. With this first track you also get a sense of her lyrical abilities and rhymes. Her skills are quite good here. The ability to turn a phrase in country music is a must, and she sets the tone well here.
Better Things - This is the perfect “screw you” song, further displaying Lord’s lyrical prowess. The tone of her voice really helps sell it. Just when you think the verse sets the mood, a great change up in the chorus makes this track really pop., and we love the chord choice at the end of the chorus. The separate solo sections are a nice touch, and there’s good interplay between the organ and guitar on the second round. We can definitely see a host of women singing this one at the top of their lungs!
I Don’t Want to Hurt You - A classic style duet with Darrin Morris. The tones and production on this are perfect for the genre. The contrast between their voices in wonderful. Her lower register is one thing, but then you get his. Kind of like a Kristofferson / Messina vibe. This is a solid song and very relatable about a relationship that has gone stale. So many of life’s questions are unanswered, and the way this song ends echoes that.
Love You Like You’re Leavin’ - Lovely intro for this hopeful and uplifting ballad, with a lyrical perspective that you don’t always hear from a woman’s point of view. Another point about this song that we like is that the lyrical structure and flow is not the standard faire. The verses flow in and over the choruses seamlessly - there’s not the standard “break” between the sections.
Love Wrapped Around My Finger - Pull back the rug and go get your boots on for this up-tempo 2-step jump, we definitely see a crowd line dancing to this. The classic upright piano tones in the left speaker are a nice touch - makes us feel like we’re at the Twin Sisters in Blanco (look it up, people). Great structure, lyrics and melody for this tune about getting engaged and married. Might be our favorite track on the record - incredible sync potential with this one!
Lay Us Down - Keep the boots on because here comes another up-tempo number, but this one covers the inevitable topic that we’re all going to be food for worms one day. The guitar tones are perfect and dry snare tone has the perfect effect. She’s managed to combine West TX country with a bit of California surf music, and it works very well. Pay attention for the background vocals, they’re subtle but very effective. The ending of the song perfectly display the narrative of the lyrics.
It Takes One to Know One - There’s nothing like a song about two women meeting up about a shared (but hidden) love interest. That’s this duet with Billie Jo. Just like the earlier duet, there’s good contrast between the voices. There’s a lovely chord progression in the chorus (especially under the line “somehow rearrange him”) and solo section, and the way she uses the major flat 7 chord (E, in this case) in here is always one of our favorite tricks.
Who I Used to Be - More of a modern feel with this intro and delayed part on the guitar. Love the way she breaks the theory rules on this track by using the major chord of the 6, and the minor of the 4 - this really adds some depth to the song. It’s a very uplifting and forgiving song, but also heartbreaking and very personal. We won’t give it away here, you’ll need to hear it for yourself. Safe to say it will resonate with a lot of women. Back to the theory side of this track, we love where the band starts the guitar section, and how it drops out for effect before that final chorus.
Two Lane Kinda Day - Here’s that song about loving where you’re from and being a country girl. The imagery of a “two lane” day is perfect if you know Texas well - especially West Texas where the horizon stretches for miles. This up-tempo vibe has great harmonies, structure and a big smile energy. If she was going for a driving with the top down vibe, she nailed it.
It Feels Good - Every solid country needs an up-tempo rocker with a bit of a naughty side, and this one delivers. Love the dirty B3 sounds, the fiddle and the chord progression that launches you into the chorus. We all need that song that helps us shed our inhibitions sometimes and live life to the fullest. If this one doesn’t do it for you, perhaps you should see a doctor (or listen to the first song again with a bottle of Pappy Van Winkles’ in y our hand).
Too Famous for Me Now - Back to the 2-step on this great, up-tempo, “good-riddance” song. The arrangement with the rhythm of the lead vocal in the chorus is quite clever, and the harmonica adds a great vibe. Backgrounds are solid in their presentation and when we get to the bridge there’s a classic slow-down all-stop. Nice production on this track!
In the Dance - Nice mid tempo vibe featuring a host of voices (presumably from her band). The “nothing is promised” premise about making the best of life (despite the challenges) comes across well with so many different people singing. It creates a community effect, reinforcing the idea that we’re all in this together, we all go through the same hardships and should take advantage of every breathe. Easy to understand why this is the title track.
I Won’t Give Up - Nice blues waltz for the final track with a gospel-choir feel in the chorus. Once again, love the chord choice for where the guitar solo starts, and the tones have been on point throughout. The build-up at the end is a surprise, reinforcing the community vibe that is prevalent throughout the record. Good way to end it, we get the vibe that there’s more coming.
In a time when most artists are only releasing singles, it’s nice to come across a project with considerable material that shows everything about them. It’s hard enough to put out one song, but 13 at once is a massive undertaking. In the Dance is a respectable project that shows Lord’s unique voice, talent as a lyricist, and ability to include a larger audience - qualities that every artist should try to achieve. Make sure you check out her social media to see where she’s playing next.
Check it out now!