Dreamer's Book

They Say...

Review by Alex Henderson, All Music Guide

There is nothing wrong with vocalists reinventing themselves stylistically as long as they do it well. Those who know Kendall Jane Meade from the '90s alternative pop/rock band Juicy might think of the New York City resident as an energetic, aggressive, spunky, emotionally assertive type of singer. But as Mascottas leader, Meade has moved in a surprisingly different direction and has successfully reinvented herself as an introspective singer/songwriter with a folk-rock/adult alternative orientation. Dreamer's Book is an appropriate title for this 2004 release because the material does have a very dreamy quality, and this hushed, relaxed, gently reflective Meade is a major departure from Juicyas alterna-rock energy. But not once does Meade sound like she is the least bit uncomfortable as a laid-back singer/songwriter; quite the opposite, in fact. Dreamer's Book is consistently appealing, and memorable tracks like "L.O.V.E.," "Turn Off/Turn On" and "Bluebirds in Heaven" make it clear that Meade is enjoying this softer direction a great deal. This is certainly a more subtle and lighter Meade than we knew back in the mid-'90s, but on Dreamer's Book, light doesn't mean lightweight -- vulnerable, certainly, but not wimpy or weak-minded. For all their subtlety and restraint, these songs have a lot of meat on their bones; Meade gets her emotional points across effectively and demonstrates she doesn't need a lot of volume to hold the listener's attention. In the '90s, Juicy fans never envisioned Meade as a gentle folk-rocker, but the folk-rock aesthetic serves her pleasingly well on this rewarding disc.