Album Notes

Jessica Smucker writes what could be considered "dark pop" songs: catchy melodies in minor keys, lyrics that masterfully infuse sad stories with tiny flecks of humor and hope. She performs in diverse configurations and contexts, but her songs have a consistent melodic edge. "Woven with a sort of defiant sadness, a square-jawed resilience" (Fly Magazine), her compositions often start down a familiar road but, through a series of subtle twists and curves, deliver the listener to an unexpected destination.

Unflinching in her dealings with controversial themes - God, sex, social justice, and the movement of all three through an intimate personal narrative - Jessica delivers lyrics that will trip your mind and tie your stomach in knots. Her voice gives an impression of innocence until it erupts into an explosion of rage or desire - evoking, in its gentler moments, a lullaby quality in the vein of Cat Power, Sarah McLachlan or Over the Rhine, then launching into a vocal diatribe with all the anger and intensity of Alanis Morissette, Ani DiFranco, Fiona Apple or even Janis Joplin.

'This Broken Moment' is Jessica's first full-length album, arranged in collaboration with her band, The Sleeping World, and engineer/co-producer Charlie Burnett. Her previous recordings include The Sleeping World's 2008 self-titled EP and 'Reluctantly Yours,' a solo EP released in early 2010.

The Sleeping World, in its current line-up, is:
Jessica Smucker - keys, lead vocals
Erin Gosik - backing vocals
Rich Sexton - guitar
Dave Sheaffer - bass
Mike Roy - drums