Spinning Jenny

by Clifton Hanger

The voice of Cherie Felos and the guitar of Robin Gabrielli dominate the sound Spinning Jenny puts forth on their new, self-titled release. Felos and bassist Anthony X formed Spinning Jenny in 1990 after meeting at Berklee, and, not being two people who fuck around, set to recording almost immediately. The result was Dizzifying Heights, their first CD. It was received rather coolly by critics.

Spinning Jenny, their second CD, was recorded in their own 24-track studio, the legendary Prophet Sound. On this new release, you’ll find Felos’ siren-like voice wrapped around Gabrielli’s chunky guitar and X’s and drummer Jay Fitzgibbons’ rhythm section. Felos sings like a bird in flight, soaring in and out of the rest of the band’s busy skies. Sometimes she overdoes it, stretching her notes to the snapping point (but this is a simple production issue). Songs like “Angel” and “The Way” reveal enough promise and talent to necessitate keeping an eye on this band from Stoughton, MA.