The Sermon On Exposition Boulevard (Bonus Track Version)

iTunes Review

Initially conceived by painter-writer Lee Cantelon as a lo-fi spoken word interpretation of “The Words,” his book of the teachings of Jesus Christ, Sermon on Exposition Boulevard became a Rickie Lee Jones project upon her improvising what’s become the opening track, “Nobody Knows My Name.” Jones was inspired to take on 13 tracks and Cantelon and collaborator, guitarist Peter Atanasoff, helped with production that was eventually completed by Rob Schnapf (Beck, Elliot Smith, Richard Thompson). It’s an album of raw, mixed textures, spiritually akin to the grisly sounds of latter day Tom Waits. Jones sings from the ground up, whispering, chanting, stretching her ‘morning voice’ to reach its notes, occasionally letting the high note fly. “Falling Up” is virtual pop compared to the creaking whine of ‘Lamp of the Body.” Jones carefully balances her experimentalism with the conventions of song. “Road to Emmaus” is an ambient soundscape that leads to the slow, free-flowing acoustic lament “I Was There,” recalling Van Morrison’s Astral Weeks and Neil Young’s On the Beach with its late night wanderlust.