| the JaneDear girls | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Studio album by | |
| Released | February 1, 2011 (2011-02-01) |
| Studio | Various (See background and recording section) |
| Genre | Country pop |
| Length | 36:46 |
| Label | Warner Music Nashville |
| Producer | John Rich(exec.) |
| Singles from the JaneDear girls | |
| |
the JaneDear girls is the debut studio album by Americancountry music duothe JaneDear girls. It was released on February 1, 2011, throughWarner Music Nashville.John Rich helped the duo secure a record contract and was the album'sexecutive producer. the JaneDear girls have co-writing credits on the entire album, while Rich produced all its tracks.the JaneDear girls is acountry pop album consisting of eleven songs, which critics identified had several musical influences. the JaneDear girls promoted the album by appearing on tours headlined by other country artists and at other events.
Reviews ofthe JaneDear girls were mixed. The album peaked at number 46 on theBillboard 200 chart, and had sold 32,915 copies as of March 19, 2011. Three singles – "Wildflower", "Shotgun Girl", and "Merry Go Round" – were released. Each song appeared onBillboard charts, and received mixed feedback from critics. "Merry Go Round" was singled out by critics for its use ofAuto-Tune. Following the album's release, the JaneDear girls disbanded to pursue solo careers.
Songwriter Kris Bergsnes introducedthe JaneDear girls members Susie Brown and Danelle Leverett to one another at a Nashville club in 2006.[1][2] Several weeks after their initial meeting, the pair wrote six songs over two weekends.[2]AllMusic's Steve Leggett reported that they felt a "strong musical affinity" for one another, leading them to write and record music together. Both women previously pursued solo careers and had experience playing musical instrumentals; Brown played the mandolin and fiddle, while Leverett played guitar.[1] After forming the duo with Brown, Leverett quit her job sellinghealth insurance to focus on music.[2] When creating the group name, Leverett said they wanted something memorable and distinctly American. Rejected ideas included The Janes, The Dears, and Dear Jane.[3] They had attempted to copyright the name Jane Dear, but were unable to do so due to conflicts with theJohn Deere company.[4]
Brown and Leverett attracted attention from various record labels while performing in Nashville. With the support ofJohn Rich, the duo secured a record deal withWarner Music Nashville,Sony/ATV Music Publishing, and the Turner Nichols & Associates Management firm.[1] Brown and Leverett received the offer three years after they first met.[5] The group performed their originalballad "Saturdays in September" as part of their audition for the label.[6] A mentor for the JaneDear girls, Rich served as theexecutive producer for their self-titled debut album.[1][7][8] Brown and Leverett are credited as co-writers on all its tracks.[7] The album was recorded in several recording studios in Nashville (Blackbird Studio, Brewbeat, David Axelrod Studio, and Sony Tree Studios) and California (Ollywood Studios, Petey Boy Studios, and RW Recordings).[9]
the JaneDear Girls is acountry pop album produced entirely by Rich.[7][8][10] AllMusic'sStephen Thomas Erlewine described the songs as "tacky, spangly four-four beats and hook-heavy crossovers".[7] Most of the album's instrumentation is provided by "fiddle, banjo, and cranked up electric guitar";[8] the lyrics revolve around "love, heartbreak and innocence lost",[8] with some sexual themes.[11] On the group's official website, Leverett wrote about their sound: "We like our guitars loud, our fiddles ripping and a steady beat that makes people want to dance!"[12]
Music critics identified the album as having different musical influences.The New York Times' Jon Caramanica described the album as having influences fromhip hop,teen pop, andR&B,[13] andWestword's Bree Davis connected it with an "underlying flavor" ofbluegrass music.[14] Eric Allen of theAmerican Songwriter likened the group's sound toShania Twain andTaylor Swift due to their focus ongirl power.[8] the JaneDear Girls also received comparisons toKaty Perry based on their more pop sound and colorful costumes.[15][16]
Brown wrote the album's opening song "Wildflower" on anelectric mandolin and based it on her experiences growing up, describing it as a "female anthem".[17] Along with the mandolin, its instrumentation also includes drums, bass, banjo, fiddle, and an electric guitar.[18] The second track "Shotgun Girl" is anuptempo number inspired by Leverett's experiences in a relationship, in which she enjoyedriding shotgun with her boyfriend.[19][20] The lyrics include references tocountry artistsWaylon Jennings,Willie Nelson, andMerle Haggard.[12]
The third track "Merry Go Round" was singled out by critics for commentary. Billy Dukes, writing forTaste Of Country, interpreted that its inclusion of fiddles and banjos was a way to soften its more hip hopchorus.[22] Dukes compared the duo's vocals toPeter Frampton,[22] and Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote that the track was similar to music byMiranda Lambert andCarrie Underwood.[7] Grady Smith ofEntertainment Weekly said it had a "honky tonk banjo melody".[21] Some commentators noted "Merry Go Round" for its use ofAuto-Tune.[7][21] Leverett said they added the effect due to a lack of time to complete the track, and kept parts of it in the final version as they liked it.[3] Brown identified the Auto-Tune for the song, as well as their approach to the album track "Sugar", as the group's way of playing with different musical ideas.[23]
The fifth track, "Saturdays in September", is the album's only ballad,[8] and Jonathan Keefe ofSlant Magazine compared the sixth song, "Sing Along", to the work ofNatasha Bedingfield andLiz Phair.[15] The following track "Lucky You" has an instrumental built onelectric guitars and drums.[15] The lyrics for the eighth song, "Pretender", focus on a person's first love, and its composition features "straight-out-of 80s keyboards".[24] According toThe New Zealand Herald, the duo adopt "country girl-tease personas" for the tenth track, "Free Ride".[11] Jeffrey B. Remz of theCountry Standard Time described the closing song, "Every Day's a Holiday", as an example of how the album was tailored for radio play.[12] "Baby It's You" is included as abonus track on some editions of the album.[25]
"Wildflower" was released as the album'slead single on April 26, 2010,[8][26] and received "steady airplay" on country radio.[17] the JaneDear girls chose the song based on its composition and lyrics; Leverett explained that it best represented them as "independent females chasing a dream".[27] Craig Shelburne ofCMT praised the song as memorable,[17] while Jonathan Keefe criticized it as unoriginal.[15] the JaneDear girls performed "Wildflower" on variouslate-night talk shows,[17] includingJimmy Kimmel Live!,[28] and theCountry Radio Seminar.[27] A music video, directed byDeaton Flanigen inAdams, Tennessee, was released on June 28, 2010.[17][29][30] The video appeared in the Top 20 on theGreat American Country television network.[31] It was nominated for Duo Video of the Year at the 2011 Country Music Association Awards; Flanigen also received a nomination for Video Director of the Year partly due to his work on the visual.[30] The JaneDear girls earned a nomination for the Single by a Breakthrough Artist during the 2011American Country Awards.[32] "Wildflower" peaked at number 60 on theHot 100 chart on February 19, 2011, and stayed on the chart for eight weeks.[33] For the 2011 Year End Country Songs chart, "Wildflower" ranked at number 71.[34] Deborah Evans Price ofBillboard wrote that the JaneDear girls were considered a breakthrough act for 2011 based on the commercial success of "Wildflower".[27]
"Shotgun Girl", the album's second single, was released on March 21, 2011.[19][20][35] The duo picked the song after hearing positive feedback from friends within the music industry.[36] Brown explained that it was chosen based on its radio appeal and how women could relate to it.[36] Some music critics praised "Shotgun Girl" as ideal for the summer,[8][36] though Jonathan Keefe called it an unsuccessful attempt at thearena rock sound of bands likeDef Leppard.[15] A music video was uploaded on June 15, 2011.[37][38] Alanna Conway ofTaste Of Country summarized the video as focused on cars and colors, praising it as having "plenty of entertaining moments that will captivate the audience throughout the song".[37] Leverett viewed the video as "very performance driven", with an emphasis placed on the band.[37] "Shotgun Girl" peaked at number 36 on the Hot Country Songs chart on June 18, 2011, and remained on the chart for 21 weeks.[39]
"Merry Go Round", the third and final single from the album, was sent to country radio in August 2011.[22][40][41] Bob Reeves, the vice president of Warner Music Nashville, said the song was the "overwhelming choice" following fans' response on social media and its digital sales.[42] On the other hand, Billy Dukes questioned its appeal to country radio audiences, viewing its release as a risk; he explained: "'Merry Go Round' isn't safe, it isn't polite and it isn't how more urbane listeners think young ladies should behave." Despite these remarks, he praised the group for their unapologetic attitude.[22] Grady Smith was also uncertain about the decision to promote the song as a single, and wrote that it would divide listeners through its use of Auto-Tune.[21] Jonathan Keefe panned "Merry Go Round" as a poor attempt to recreateBig & Rich's 2004 single "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)".[15] On October 26, 2011, the JaneDear girls uploaded a video to theirYouTube account that taught aline dance to "Merry Go Round" and encouraged viewers to choreograph their own dances.[43] Alyric video was released on the same day.[44] "Merry Go Round" peaked at number 44 on the Hot Country Songs and the Hot Country airplay charts on November 26, 2011, and stayed on both for 16 weeks.[45][46]
the JaneDear Girls was released on February 1, 2011, as aCD and adigital download.[48] Stephen Thomas Erlewine described the album cover as relying on "va-va-voom glamour" as a marketing tactic.[7]the JaneDear girls peaked at number 46 on theBillboard 200 chart on February 19, 2011, and remained on the chart for seven weeks.[49] It also reached number ten on theTop Country Albums chart on the same day, and stayed on the chart for 25 weeks.[50] It sold 10,307 copies in its first week,[51] and as of March 19, 2011, the album has sold 32,915 copies.[52]
the JaneDear Girls performed as part ofJason Aldean'sMy Kinda Party tour,[20][53] and on select dates forBrad Paisley's H2O II: Wetter and Wilder World tour.[20] They also served as theopening act forReba McEntire's concert; for their set, the duo sang primarily covers of country androck music, such asLed Zeppelin's 1975 "Kashmir". Emily Burnham of theBangor Daily News praised their performance as "a high energy start to the night", and McEntire called the duo "cute as a button".[47]
On January 18, 2011, the group also performed at theGrand Ole Opry as part of theAcademy of Country Music Awards,[54] where they were nominated for Top New Vocal Duet or Group and Top Vocal Duo of the Year.[55] the JaneDear girls sang several songs, including "Wildflower", "Saturdays in September", and a cover ofPat Benatar's 1980 single "Hit Me with Your Best Shot", at the2011 Country Music Association Awards.[6] They also performed at the 2011Montana State Fair,[56] theAcademy of Country Music event "Girls’ Night Out: Superstar Women of Country",[57] and the Go Country 105 FM's 4th Anniversary Show.[31]
They also performed "Wildflower" and "Shotgun Girl" at the opening of 2011CMA Music Festival;[58][59] during the set, Brown played a medley ofCharlie Daniels' 1979 single "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" andJohnny Cash's 1938 song "Orange Blossom Special".[59] Chris Parton of CMT praised the group for their energy and harmonies,[59] while Matthew Keever of theHouston Press wrote that they had a polarizing effect on the crowd as either the best or worst act of the night.[60] Keever had a mixed reaction to their performance, but responded positively to Brown's fiddle medley.[60]
Along with the duo's live performances, the album was promoted further when the track "Sugar" was featured on a 30-second preview for theDesperate Housewives episode "Watch While I Revise the World".[40] They also performed "Shotgun Girl" on theHart of Dixie episode "Planksgiving".[61] Peter Strickland, a senior vice president of brand management and sales for Warner Music Nashville, said the JaneDear girls were marketed based on three concepts: "Visual, youthful and high-energy."[27] The group also participated in a marketing campaign withMAC Cosmetics. To better connect with fans, Brown and Leverett posted weekly videos on their official website; the videos' topics ranged from songwriting, and fashion, to farming. Brown said these clips give "fans insight into our lives and what we love".[27]
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 56/100[62] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [7] |
| American Songwriter |  [8] |
| The New Zealand Herald | [11] |
| Slant Magazine | [15] |
OnMetacritic,the JaneDear girls received a score of 56/100, which indicates a "mixed or average" response, based on four reviews.[62] Roughstock's Matt Bjorke praised the duo'scrossover appeal, describing the album as having "a more universal, melodic grove" after its first three tracks.[24] ForThe New Zealand Herald, a reviewer believed the duo would appeal to an international country music audience along the same line as Taylor Swift; when describing the album's overall sound, the contributor wrote: "Think Swift wrapped inWinehouse with some leather-cladRihanna thrown in for good measure."[11] Citing the uptempo material as the album's highlights, Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote that the duo "wind[s] up with appealingly glitzy, crisp country-pop".[7] Eric Allen praised the JaneDear girls as "a breath of fresh air and a welcome addition to the current risk-averse and cynical musical climate".[8] Jon Caramanica summed up the album as "brassy and chipper and fun".[13]
the JaneDear girls did receive some more mixed to negative responses. Allen questioned the album's appeal to "traditional country enthusiasts",[8] while Bjorke wished the overall production was mellower.[24] Erlewine criticized the ballads as "surg[ing] so strongly no emotion registers".[7] Despite his praise for the duo's vocals and harmonies, Jeffrey B. Remz wished the album had more variety; he ended his review by saying: "A little less may have resulted in a lot more."[12] Jessica Phillips ofCountry Weekly rated the album two-and-a-half stars out of five, dismissing most of the songs as "uninspired", though she praised Brown and Leverett's vocals.[63] On the other hand, Jonathan Keefe wrote that the duo relied on costumes and melodies to cover up "the fact that they can’t sing even a little bit" and believed that they do not have "a single authentic thing to say".[15]
Following the album's release, the JaneDear girls disbanded and were subsequently removed from the Warner Music Nashville roster.[64][65] The duo's break-up was first announced in April 2012 through a promotional message from the organizers of the 8th International Dogwood Festival, where the duo had been booked as the headlining act.[64] Prior to their disbandment, the JaneDear girls released a cover of "Footloose" forthe 2011 film of the same name and the 2012 original song "Good Girls Gone Bad" for the television showGCB.[66][67] They were one of several musical acts that left Warner Music Nashville; a 2016Billboard article reported thatBlake Shelton andFrankie Ballard were the only two singers that remained with the label from whenJohn Esposito became its chairman and CEO.[68]
Following the split, Brown and Leverett pursued music careers as solo artists.[64][65] Leverett recordedindie andpop music under the stage name Nelly Joy, and Brown continued to record country music.[64] They released solo singles in August 2012.[65] Leverett later joined the country bandGone West alongside her husbandJason Reeves,Colbie Caillat, andJustin Young.[69] Billy Dukes wrote that the JaneDear girls, likeBomshel andMiss Willie Brown, were an example of how some female duos were unable to find a "formula for success" in country music.[70]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Wildflower" | Susie Brown,Vicky McGehee,Jeremy Stover | 2:43 |
| 2. | "Shotgun Girl" | Danelle Leverett,Deric Ruttan | 3:24 |
| 3. | "Merry Go Round" | Leverett, Peter Amato, Oliver Leiber | 3:15 |
| 4. | "Sugar" | Brown,Andy Gibson, John Kennedy | 3:03 |
| 5. | "Saturdays in September" | Leverett, Brown,Tom Hambridge, Danny Myrick,Jeffrey Steele | 3:53 |
| 6. | "Sing Along" | Leverett, Rune Westberg | 3:03 |
| 7. | "Lucky You" | Leverett, Brown, Ruttan | 3:12 |
| 8. | "Pretender" | Leverett, Brown, Myrick, Jeff Spence | 3:52 |
| 9. | "Never Gonna Let You Go" | Leverett, Brown,Marcus Hummon | 3:47 |
| 10. | "Free Ride" | Leverett, Jordan Lawhead,Jason Reeves | 2:55 |
| 11. | "Every Day's a Holiday" | Leverett, Brown, Myrick | 3:39 |
| Total length: | 36:46 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12. | "Baby It's You" | Leverett, Brown, Myrick | 2:58 |
The following credits were adapted from the booklet ofthe JaneDear girls and AllMusic:[9][10]
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
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