mascott

newsflash still recording at THE FORT. details coming soon! BUY ALL OF MASCOTT'S ALBUMS AT ITUNES Kendall Jane Meade, who swaps time between New York and her native Detroit, has carved out a glowing reputation on the indie pop circuit. As vocalist for the band Juicy in the '90s, she made autumn-colored rock with titles like "Detroit Skies" before heading out for a solo career as Mascott. 2001 brought her debut album for Birmingham's Le Grand Magistery label. It was a quiet record loudly acclaimed by critics. Dreamer's Book is a worthy descendant of Follow the Sound. It's a delicate but resplendent record that displays a contemporary cool take on '70s singer-songwriter pop. Two years in the making, it gently covers a host of musical moods -- from the poignant touch of "Bluebirds in Heaven" to the more pointed push of "Turn Off/Turn On" -- without losing the loveliness that wraps itself around the sound. There's an undeniable style to Meade's work, but there's a refreshing sincerity, too -- a genuine passion that suffuses these dozen songs and saves them from hipster pretension. "Dreamer's Book" is a literate record, but there's enough heart-shaped curve in Meade's approach to make it as seductive as it is smart. Recommended for fans of Aimee Mann, the Sundays and the Cocteau Twins -- and, of course, Sparklehorse, with whom Meade has woodshedded as a guitarist. -Detroit Free Press