,or Fighting the Stephin Merritt Factor?

Jaguar Wright “The What If’s”

Just to change things up, here’s a little bit of (relatively obscure?) neo-soul from 2002.

In my brief and former life as a minor freelance rockcrit hack (documented elsewhere around this site) I ended up on the mailing list to receive promos for either the crappiest of the mainstream acts who were presumably critic-proof (hello, Puddle of Mudd) or acts who were apparently being back-burnered for publicity by their labels.

Jaguar Wright’s debut disc seemed to fall in the latter category, and was easily the best discovery out of the Era of the Promo Whore. Ms. Wright has gotten her propers as a member of the Roots’ crew, although I think it’s fair to say she’s been overshadowed within her niche by the likes of Jill Scott and Badu.

It’s a shame that Denials, Delusions and Decisions was overlooked–it’s got singing that’s emotive without being too show-offy, and a breezy, classic feel that splits the difference between brand new and retro, all supporting some solid songcraft.

On the other hand, it’s also ridiculously front-loaded, mainly in that the first track, “The What If’s” comes on so fierce (and I don’t mean that in the Tyra Banks sense) that what follows it feels a little sedate.

I don’t know that I’ve heard another “man-done-me-wrong” song in this mode. It’s a litany of accusations, with anger bordering on righteous indignation, but tempered by a measure of sympathy for “the other woman” and the implicit question, “What the hell’s wrong with me for letting you do this?” Backing, you get some minor-key niceness anchored by the booming, jazz-nodding support you’d expect from the Roots.

Between Jag’s plainspoken lyrics and the fire in her delivery, it’s a stunner. I’m probably overusing this word lately, but it feels real.

Maybe I’ll post something I love that’s really fake tomorrow.

Denials, Delusions and Decisions at Newbury Comics.