Back in 2008, Jessi Robertson recorded her debut album in her bedroom. She created an honest and grounded collection of songs with a captivating, raw quality. Each track from Who We Are, What We Have Done focused on her acoustic guitar and layers of electronic music. It creates a hypnotic atmosphere that sets the stage for her words. But it is her storytelling that made this release stand out so much. Her lyrics hold nothing back, and the emotional tone of her voice is beautiful. Tracks such as “The Weather” and “It Gives” perfectly showcased these talents. But “Papers and Magazines” has everything that makes her work a must-listen.
A few years later, she released Small Town Girls. It delivered more of her sublime storytelling with “You and Me” and “Whiskey and Cigarettes”. It was followed by, I Came from the War. From the opening track, “You’re Gonna Burn”, you knew this was something special. With the help of some friends, they created outstanding moments such as the atmospheric “Immolate” and the rockier “Lipstick”. As a special bonus, most of these songs can be heard live with her album Live From Union Hall. 2021 saw Robertson deliver something different with Delayed Pursuit. It offered something more raw with its Lo-Fi vibe. It might feel different, but her excellent way with words and captivating vocal presence is still there to appreciate. Standout moments include “Delayed Pursuit” and “The Time That Never Was”.
Robertson has decided to re-record her debut album and give each song a new lease of life. When asked why explains, “When I started working on the original album, I had been in Brooklyn for about three years. I could barely afford to pay my rent, let alone go into a studio and record an album. I was gifted a Mac laptop and decided to play around using GarageBand. Over time, I built layer upon layer of synthesisers and vocals in many of my tracks. When I decided to remix the album and reassemble these lost recording sessions, I was amazed to find how many layers they contained. I’ve learned a lot in 15 years, and I’m still learning. Now, when I listen to the special edition, I feel proud of what I created, not just as a songwriter and an artist but also as a producer”.
How does Memory and Abandoned Parts differ from Who We Are, What We Have Done? First, it features four new songs, all created for the debut album but unreleased. Now, all recorded to fit this new audio landscape. The opening track, “Everybody’s In Trouble”, highlights what this album can offer with its electronic elements and sublime vocals by Robertson. It feels more accessible with its catchy hook and its infectious soundtrack. While “Dissolution / Disillusionment” and “Happiness Hurts” are all about the music. “Losing Some” is the one that stands out the most. The strumming pattern from the start pulls you in. Robertson starts her tale with, “Five o’clock, I am locked in a train / Tempted to pull the emergency brake / To stop myself from rolling out of control”. Her voice is beautiful as it shares each word. It gets even better as she delivers the hook.
Jessi Robertson has used her 15 years of musical to re-imagine her debut album with stunning effect.
Now we know what is new, let’s talk about the rest of the album. Musically, it feels more alive. Robertson shows how far she has come from that Brooklyn bedroom, especially with her arrangement talents. These new layers give some songs a new lease of life (some more than others). However, tracks such as “City / Country” still capture that beautiful combination of Roberton and her guitar. A spellbinding partnership that adds a captivating quality to lines such as “But I took a G train north on Sunday to see a show / And I sat at the bar in the candlelight glow / Heard the voices and the guitars bleeding out their tones”.
Some offer something a little different, as showcased by “Lighthouse Keeper”. Her vocals do not steal the show like the original. Instead, it wraps you in a musical blanket to make you feel the music as much as her words. You can hear the difference with lines such as “I threw a line / Out to the shore / But you severed the cord / Oh, lighthouse keeper”. It is not bad, just different. The most noticeable difference comes with “Mayday”. Wow! Robertson weaves electronic layers to give this track a new look and vastly improves on the original. It helps to elevate her vocals even more, ensuring the hook hits home with, “It’s Mayday, it’s Mayday”. As a result, it creates another standout moment from the album.
Even though the soundtrack might have changed, one quality has not. From the debut album until now, Robertson’s storytelling and vocal talents have continued to stand out. It is thanks to the emotional depth and delivery of her lyrics. With this release, you can listen to the fine improvements in her voice since her debut. Songs such as “The Weather” and “Foolish Dream” confirm how good she can sound. They also showcase her way with words.
One of the best examples of these traits is another standout track, “It Gives”. The delicate sound of her guitar and keys draws in the listener. It does not take long for Robertson’s voice to join in with, “I keep running up against the wall / Like this time it will change / Like this time it won’t be there at all”. She mirrors the mood but adds the right amount of emotion with her delivery. It all comes together to create a beautiful and captivating atmosphere. As she shares her words, there is no urgency. Instead, they move freely and are allowed space to breathe. It helps to give more impact to lines like, “But it never gives / Then I begin to give up / And I begin / To let you go”.
Memory and Abandoned Parts is a beautiful collection of songs by Jessi Robertson that NEEDS to be heard
Memory and Abandoned Parts is all killer, no filler. Like all art, a favorite comes down to personal taste. One track continues to impress with each play-through, “Papers and Magazines”. It perfectly symbolizes what Jessi Robertson wanted to achieve with this album by re-molding her work into something new. The cleaner vocals and other subtle changes improve the listening experience of an already impressive song. Her electric guitar welcomes you in, followed by some electronic elements. She sets the scene with, “Remember when we couldn’t sleep / ‘Cause the nightmares were real and their shadows stretch deep / I’d say think of a beautiful dream”.
Her way with words shines throughout as she shares moments like “Remember when I met you at the train / We drank beer on my stoop without saying a thing / Then we both laughed and took a breath”. All delivered to perfection by one of the best vocal displays by Robertson. Shining more brightly during the chorus with lines “‘Cause we know who we are and what we have done / The monsters we fought and the battles we won / We don’t need anything from anyone”. It was a sublime song 15 years ago, and the new version is equally as impressive.
Some may say if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. But sometimes, a little tinkering can have great results. Memory and Abandoned Parts may not be a dramatic change. But, like Who We Are, What We Have Done, it is a superb album that deserves your listening time. Press play and let the excellent songwriting and vocals by Jessi Robertson do the talking.
