The first thing that needs to be stated is A GIRL IN TEEN
CITY is a totally adorable album. Susie Ungerleider aka Oh Susanna has come up
trumps with a superb piece of work that transcends both the gender in its title
and location in its theme. Substitute Vancouver BC in your imagination for any
urban or suburban area of the western world will enhance your engagement with
what Susie has set out to do. What is essential though is to tap into her mind set
and fire up all the trials and tribulations of your heartfelt nostalgia.
Perhaps it may help being on a similar generational plateau to Susie, but there
are plenty of you out there with your name on this album.
Another prelude to getting the best out of this album is not
to take the content at literal face value. Hence gender is not a pre-requisite to
mining its resources as this merely acts as a conduit to explore your own
experience. What you will do is share in the feelings conveyed and marvel in
the style that Susie has adopted to tell her stories. This is done with a sharp,
often explicit in sentiment, lyrical content hosted by a profound vocal
presence all underpinned by a supportive soundtrack. This leads to a sound
supremely blending the best of contemporary folk indie Americana with the heated
passion of pubescent new wave.
The order of this twelve track album has relevance with the
first couple of songs successful at setting the scene before the final two seal
the project by putting the recollections in some sort of context. Album opener ‘Flashlights’ will really grab you as
Susie reveals a major change in her life when ‘she fell in love with the night’.
Nearly fifty minutes later ‘My Old
Vancouver’ closes the book with ‘to watch my sun finally set’ being the
most fitting line to end this episode of warts and all nostalgia. Prior to
this, penultimate track ‘Pugent Sound’
provides one of many shiver down the spine moments that fill this album as
Susie waves ‘bye bye to our Canadian life’.
Earlier in the album, ‘Wolf
Boy’ can be construed as a song about belonging, one of the strongest
themes on the record, and growing up in general. Other tracks are probably less
subtle such as ‘The Darkroom at the
School’ and ‘Tickets on the Weekend’.
From a pure standout sound perspective, ‘My
Boyfriend’ puts its head above the parapet, and makes a case for being the focal
point of the record. Susie obviously agreed as she has just posted a video of
this song.
Lyrically the album is full of gems with nothing really
topping ‘whatcha gonna do when your boyfriend’s prettier than you? from ‘Getting Ready’. The vocal step up on ‘Lucky Star’ was really noticeable and
at this point the album is in full flow with the gist of it neatly planted in the
listener. As you would expect from an album with such focus, themes like
relationships, image and musical discoveries are aplenty. References to bands
like The Dead Kennedys and songs like ‘Clash City Rockers’ give a feel for the
time and many Vancouver landmarks are namechecked, relevant to both, residents
and those who may have visited. The change going on in the city in the early
80s is also firm in Susie’s mind as she made this album. Yet you can add in
your own bands, locations, characters and settings such is the spark that this
album provides.
A GIRL IN TEEN CITY is an album which will resonate with
many and will give the career of Oh Susanna an added impetus as she pursues
interest both in her Canadian homeland and in Europe. Take a chance on adding
this to your collection; where it leads is only down to you, but it may provide
a spark to a serious bout of positive nostalgia.
www.ohsusanna.com
Oh Susanna Spring 2017 UK Tour April 19- 27
Wed 19 London Cecil Sharp House
Thu 20 Sheffield The Greystones co-bill with Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage
Fri 21 Saltaire, West Yorks. The Live Room, Caroline Social Club
Sat 22 Glasgow The Admiral
Sun 23 Bury The Met co-bill with Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage
Tue 25 Hereford House Concert co-bill with Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage
Wed 26 High Wycombe Kingsmead House Concert
Thu 27 Basingstoke The Forge co-bill with Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage