Kirsten Jones

There's no denying that the company you keep makes a big difference in life, and music. For her sophomore release, Toronto, ON singer-songwriter Kirsten Jones pulled out all the stops to work with one of her primary influences: Gary Louris of the Jayhawks. As well as his experience behind the board, Jones brought along a host of other luminaries, including Jim Cuddy, Oh Susanna and steel guitarists Greg Leisz and Bob Egan, giving The Mad Mile a rare polish, in terms of Canadian independent releases. However, Jones's songs are strong on their own, delving deep into classic themes of love and loss. Her understated, almost effortless singing is the binding force, in terms of setting just the right tone for Louris's uncluttered production. While, at times, The Mad Mile will seem a bit too understated for some tastes, its charms will surely appeal to the majority of Canadian folk fans.