NOra Petran - vice president

Nora Petran 

Vice President
self-released; 2013

3.5 out of 5

By Matt Jensen

Oh man, how I wish the recent release Vice President from Nora Petran had even half-way decent production. You can tell that she has a gorgeous voice and that she can write a good song but unfortunately if it weren't for the lyrics sheet you wouldn't have any idea of what she's saying. She has this Joanna Newsom gnomish thing going which is not an insult at all. In fact I found her voice very original and she knows it as she often overdubs her voice creating vocal harmonies. 

The album opens with “Armadillo” which contains loose guitar picking that creates a hazy atmosphere. Petran seems at ease with her delivery, which creates a vibe that feels very natural. The second track “Grandfather Fisher” improves upon the first. Her vocals are clear, a bit more distinguishable and rest upon the guitar better than they did before. Additionally the vocal line is catchy and the more you hear her voice the better it becomes. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the juxtaposition of the lyrics “Would you buy me a phone, cause mines broken and yours is new?” and “I wish I didn't feel so temporary.  all of my bones turn to sand in my feet.  How can i go on? How can i speak?” on “Rib Phone,” which is the best song on the album. Unfortunately, her vocals are so buried on “Old Woman” that I could barely hear her voice at points.  She closes with “America,” which is a soft pretty song but is distorted to the point of taking away from the music.

Nora Petran has some good songs and a great voice. I wish the album production was better so that it displayed the hidden gems that lie behind the veil.

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