Aftertones - JANIS IAN***

Aftertones/I Would Like To Dance/Love Is Blind/Roses/Belle Of The Blues/Goodbye To Morning/Boy I Really Tied One On/This Must Be Wrong/Don't Cry Old Man/Hymn

Aftertones was the follow up release to singer songwriter Janis Ian’s surprise US chart topper. Her brief spell of commercial success in the mid 1970s ended with this one as future albums charted much lower. (US:12)

“In the mid 70s she was in her prime, but doing this album was a bad idea. It suffers from outdated arrangements, lack of intensity, unimaginative lyrics and filler.”

“Tracks such as Boy I Really Tied One On were my introduction to Janis Ian so it's maybe for that reason that this album is still my favourite. I later read that she was struggling to come up with new material to meet the recording deadline, but to my ears it stands up as a fully realised album with no filler.”

“Janis' poetic imagery combined with her musical genius to create an album you'll never tire of listening to. Each song has its own magic and portrays her true-life vulnerabilities so deliciously.”

“This album did not receive much critical or popular acclaim when released, but has some amazingly excellent writing on it. The harmony on the song Hymn alone is worth it, but you won't be disappointed with her obvious talent in singing and writing blues. Her sense of humour shines through on Boy I Really Tied One On. A few songs foreshadow her struggles and disillusion with the music business, and the angst of the performer has always been a theme for her. There's real quality work here.”

“One of the better albums from a master song crafter, with fabulous arrangements and engineering, horns, strings, jazz and blues influences. With salsa, and torch songs such as Love Is Blind, I never tire of this album.”

“I don’t think there are any songs here that grab you emotionally in the way that Janis Ian’s best do. A few of the songs seem like poorer versions of earlier better songs. Most of the songs are fairly gloomy as she only takes a positive perspective in one or two songs.”