Stringing Me Along by Jess Chambers

Dang, even if Jess is my niece, I just have to say how much I love this recent recording of hers. It's such an offbeat sort of lyric — complaining about how poorly she's being treated by her lover, yet at the same time being open about how she's still attracted and attached to him — combined with such a sweet, bouncy, infectious little melody — that as a listener I found myself drawn into the singer's world, happily singing along, even though the words I'm singing seem to describe a situation I should be upset about.

This recording, as part of the recent Woolshed sessions, is a perfect match for the song. Jess' voice is just right, sweetly innocent sounding, low-key, letting the music carry her along, then breaking free towards the end. The guitars are just enough to complement the singer's voice, without overpowering or drawing too much attention to themselves. And the backup singers on the chorus provide a perfect framing device, sounding like a supportive band of friends who are standing with her, preventing the whole mood from becoming too self-pitying.

I love the video as well: a combination of still pictures taken of Jess and the rest of the musicians during the sessions. Like the backup singers, these pictures frame the singer's tale inside the larger story of the singer's telling of the tale, and put some distance between the subject of the song and the singer's current emotional state.

All in all, I find the whole thing an irresistible little package.