ALBUM/TRACK REVIEWS

BORN AT THE DISCO
(KIAM RECORDS, 2021)

“Despite the flourishes, the singer hasn't gone entirely techno-happy as her indie folk rock and lyrics tackle introspective subject matter—the results from the album are quite poignant and emotional (among the standouts include “Crimes,” “Carrying You,” and “Lucky Life”). The use of electronics on Born at the Disco won’t alienate O'Connor's longtime fans—rather, they add a new wrinkle to her sound.”
Forbes

“Her nimble, soft voice, as pure as ever, proves to be a solid fit for a grunge-rock drone like the stripped-down “Tell the Truth” and the psych-pop harmonies of “Who Can You Kiss.” Traces of straightforward O’Connor numbers exist on Born at the Disco, too, like the stark piano ballad “Crimes” and the driving, guitar-heavy highlight “Less and Less.’”
No Depression

“The homespun feel of the music, all understated guitar solos and steady drum machine grooves held firm by O’Connor’s quietly affecting vocals, never feels like it’s missing anything. Another less confident artist would filll every inch of this canvas with sound. With just a few simple melodic lines, O’Connor creates an entire world.” Paste

Jennifer O’Connor’s first album in five years nods to her childhood love of ‘70s disco and ‘80s New Wave, as she soundtracks her incisive lyrics with drum machines and vintage synths. There’s a novelty to hearing her sing softly over a pulsating dance beat on the title track, but Born At The Disco sounds just as lo-fi, bespoke and intimate as any of her previous guitar-driven albums. The vibe is moody, the arrangements minimalist, but the experiments bring out new aspects of her songwriting, in particular the way she repeats lines and images until they become both more accusatory and more forlorn.” UNCUT

 

SURFACE NOISE
(KIAM RECORDS, 2016)

“…the hushed closing track “Black Sky Blanket” would do Lou Reed proud. Title to the contrary, Surface Noise is insightful, subtle, and intriguing.” - Mother Jones

“…Powerful songs.” - Stereogum

“Jennifer O’Connor has long been a compelling songwriter, and on her sixth full-length album Surface Noise, she continues to prove why we should all be listening to her.”
No Depression

“New York-based artist Jennifer O’Connor has sneakily worked her way into being one of the premiere singer/songwriters of recent memory. Alongside the rhythm section of her longtime drummer Jon Langmead and Yo La Tengo’s James McNew on bass, she massages the catchiest melody you’re likely to hear all day out of the basic voice/guitar/bass/drums set-up we’ve all heard a million times.  But that’s the O’Connor magic, and long may it wave!”
KCRW (Track Premiere)

I WANT WHAT YOU WANT
(KIAM RECORDS, 2011)

“Leavening her usual sensitivity and unadorned acoustic melodies with tough-minded flintiness and crunchy rock ’n’ roll attitude, Want is a survivor’s statement of purpose that’s brimming with stubborn persistence and inspiring gusto.” Steven Hyden, AV Club

“The ability of one person to completely disarm you with a sentiment and melody is still special in 2012. You know how you can be in a crowded place, in a city especially, and see strangers and wonder what they’re thinking, wonder what is going on in their lives? This feels like the musical answer to that, offering a window into conversations, relationships, the way people think about and deal with life. That personal slant is what sets us up for the effect of cutting through life’s noise and disarming us with a feeling that we recognize or relate to.” Popmatters

“Is Jennifer O’Connor’s new album I Want What You Want her big comeback? Not really. She’s always been good.” New York Music Daily

HERE WITH ME


(MATADOR RECORDS, 2008)

“This Matador-signed, indie-folk songwriter's fourth album is packed with predictably sturdy guitars and predictably sympathetic vocals, yet there's no sense that her approach is losing any of its vitality..” - Pitchfork

“She may be the most plaintively emotive singer on her label (Matador, Phair's old stomping grounds), but even so, O'Connor knows, unlike a lot of first-name-last-name singer-songwriters out there, when to shut up and let the music speak. Here With Me's title track ends not with lofty, open-throated vowels, but with an unexpected rush of guitar trills that communicate a wistful joy—the kind that wordy sentiment would too easily oversell..” - Nashville Scene

OVER THE MOUNTAIN, ACROSS THE VALLEY AND BACK TO THE STARS

(MATADOR RECORDS, 2006)

“O'Connor's forthrightness-- both lyrical and vocal-- makes "Sister" one of the most genuinely affecting pop songs you'll hear all year, capably expressing adult pain without any delusions that pain makes you particularly soulful or special.” PITCHFORK

“Back to “Exeter, Rhode Island,” an ambivalent song about a car trip. Perhaps she is a confessional singer-songwriter, but she has a winsome way of making her confessions sound matter-of-fact. “I drove through Exeter, Rhode Island, all alone,” she kept singing, and the verses filled in some gaps: “I’m on my way home to see you,” she sang, though she was also daydreaming about never going home, about staying in Exeter forever. And then, when the song was done, she deflated the daydream: “I never really spent any time in that town,” she said.” THE NEW YORK TIMES

THE COLOR AND THE LIGHT

(RED PANDA RECORDS, 2005)

“Now that Liz is lost in the Matrix, Brooklyn's Jennifer O'Connor (originally from Connecticut) picks up the ball and buck-n-runs with it. Right from the get-go, The Color And The Light explodes with some of the most compelling mid-fi indie since Exile; O'Connor shares Phair's deep register, droll delivery and the endearingly limited vocal range that enhances expressiveness rather than hinders it. While these parallels serve as a savvy calling card, O'Connor quickly outpaces them.” CMJ Music Monthly

“Smart, engaging indie-singer-songwriter-rock from the NYC-based O’Connor. While her plainspoken vocal style quickly brings pre-2003 Liz Phair to mind, this is on the one hand a great starting point, to my ears, and on the other hand it becomes with repeated listens only a starting point, as O’Connor’s ability to combine drive, melody, and cool lyrics helps to create her own particular vibe.” Fingertips Music

FEATURES / SHOW PREVIEWS

FEATURES / INTERVIEWS/ SHOW PREVIEWS & REVIEWS, ETC

  • LoHud (Tarrytown Music Hall Preview)

    “ ‘As a fan of Jennifer's, I feel she just gets better with each record. Her previous LP was so good,” says James McNew, the bassist for for the independent rock pillar Yo La Tengo. ‘I was already eager to hear this one when she approached me.’ McNew contributed bass to “Surface Noise.”

  • IMPOSE MAGAZINE FEATURE 2016