New Truth

Though singer and songwriter Jenny Ognibene found a niche in the greater indie rock scene throughout the 2010s as a choir member and backup singer for the likes of Bonnie Prince Billy, Father John Misty, and Richard Edwards, among others, the one-time music composition major was always releasing her own music. Her fourth album and debut for Mama Bird Recording Co., New Truth finds her again embracing the early pop/rock allusions of her prior releases while taking an unflinchingly personal, modern world view lyrically. In different verses, opening track God Knows Why addresses hearing loss, being stood up, and having a near-death experience (I had time to jump aside and four unwilling people died/Though Iʼd been saying awful things about my life). It does so while maintaining a relatively upbeat, distortion-textured indie pop that, at least musically, takes everything in stride. The similarly ear-pleasing Small Talk makes brief conversation of personal trauma while acknowledging: Ive been suffering/Some days are better, others are OK…I know youre suffering too, like everyone. Throughout the album, light vintage touches like the Mellotron on gently catchy folk-rock entry I Dont Want to Live Alone Anymore, the trippy layered vocal harmonies of What About That Day, and the sunny jangle pop of earworm Even if I Tried place these relatable anxieties in a familiar, comforting musical context. This effect is helped along by Jenny O.s sweetly world-weary vocal presence, which comes closest to losing its composure on a line like There should be a law, which is to say, not at all. At the end, Seek Peace combines harmonic guitar, angelic vocal harmonies, and softly swirling synth flourishes for an intimate, poignant closer subtly reminiscent of Beach Boys balladry. Taken together, New Truth feels like catching up with an old friend who appreciates both real talk and the classics. ~ Marcy Donelson