Album Notes

Defining love is an arduous, painfully private task for some, but vocalist / songwriter / keyboardist / guitarist Jill Carole wears the definition on the sleeve of her CD and in the chorus of its seventh track: "You're everything I wished upon: the Easter Bunny, sex and Santa Claus." Indeed, the San Francisco Bay Area artist is an attention-getting songwriter and a master at blending the tongue-in-cheek with the confessional in her collection of powerful and personal pop songs.

Her unreleased political thriller, "I Slept With Kenneth Starr" (which has been aired on San Francisco radio stations KGO and KPFA) is another fine example of how Jill balances serious subject matter with her own quirky brand of humor and clever word play.

In fall of 1999, Jill Carole gained national attention with her single "Every Now And Then," as it rose up the adult contemporary radio charts.

In 1998, Jill was signed to England's Mystic Records and promoted her CD by touring the U.K. as a support act for Colin Blunstone, former lead singer for the Zombies and a Mystic artist as well.

Jill made a great splash again in England while touring with Al Stewart last fall. She has also opened shows for such artists as: Love And Rockets' David J, Byrds' founder Roger McGuinn and Suzzy Roche of the Roches.

In the studio, her songs have featured Bob Weir (The Grateful Dead), drummer Steve Perkins (Jane's Addiction), guitarist Paul Robinson (Dan Hicks, Al Stewart), and keyboardist Jim Pugh (Chris Isaak, Robert Cray).

Currently, Scott Mathews (Elvis Costello, Bonnie Raitt, John Hiatt, The Virgin-Whore Complex) is producing her second CD, and her latest tracks have inspired one reviewer to call Jill Carole "Beck on estrogen." Jill Carole was recognized early in her career by the Berklee College of Music, where she twice received the Top Singer-Songwriter Award.

Her song style ranges from memorable and catchy pop tunes to haunting and textural melodies.

Her background in poetry and fiction writing shines through in songs with a sense of place and story, each one a literary landscape.

A self-confessed "love-junkie," she writes about all aspects of love: from loss of virginity ("It Was Paris") to a love triangle ("The Heart Of Oaxaca") to revenge fantasies ("Walk The Plank") to sex-addiction ("Kiss The Girls).

Jill Carole continually performs at venues throughout the San Francisco area. She has appeared nationally at festivals, and internationally has played some of England's finest theatres and venues.

With her lush vocal delivery and instrumental flexibility on guitar and keyboards (she plays both on some songs), Jill is available to perform either in an acoustic solo or duo situation or with her electric band, the Contrarians.

Reviewers have said: "The writing is intoxicating, haunting personal lyrics..." "Her lyrics are smart and sassy, with enough humor to offset the serious subject matter - love betrayal and revenge sung with a bittersweet resonance.

Her vibrant independence is reminiscent of Kate Bush or Tori Amos or maybe a mature Fiona Apple..."