Arnau's Rising Tide

Arnau's Rising Tide

Bruce Von Stiers

Jennie Arnau is a musical artist whose style is hard to pin down. It's Americana, but not quite. It's a little alt-country, but just a little. And it's a little bit of rock with a homespun thread running through it.

Arnau has a new album, her first in well over a decade. The title of the album is A Rising Tide.

According to the press release for the album, the songs on it are extremely personal. Arnau had to step away from performing and recording to help care for her mother, who had been diagnosed with dementia. During this period, which stretched over a decade, she continued to write songs, often reflecting on her life and things both spoken and unspoken.

This songwriting cumulated into a desire to share them with the people who'd supported her throughout the years. And to share the songs with the world at large. The result is a fourteen-song album.

Arnau provided the vocals on the album and played acoustic guitar. Alan Lerner played the drums and Pete Levin was on keyboards. Binky Griptite played electric guitar on two songs. Brett Bass was on bass for several songs. Skip Ward played bass on the other songs. Greg McMullen was on pedal steel and Jacob Joliff played the mandolin. Mike Savino played banjo and tenor guitar. And Kendall Sherman provided backing vocals on two songs.

The album begins with Ocean's Rise. It has a light rock tone and is about trying to get ahead but things keep dragging her back donw.

Countryman has a sort of a classic country flavor with some nice banjo music. She wants to see things more than on the other side of town. She could do with a countryman to be her companion.

Sail Away is soft and gentle. It is about leaving trouble behind and sailing away from the past.

Mabel is a love song dedicated to the woman of the song title.

Young & Alone is another soft and gentle song. But it does have a slightly darker tone.

Things go into a kind of alt folk tone with The King. It has fluid vocals and nice banjo.

Hold On is a song about staving off the heartache that is on the way.

Simple Man is a ballad with terrific music and solid vocals.

One If By Land is her wanting to be the one to save them.

Back To Carolina is about going back home to her roots.

Heaven In Her Eyes is a sweet and heartfelt love song.

Better Luck Next Time is a ballad of having lost and maybe it'll be better next time. But probably not. The song has some really good pedal steel in it.

Every Raindrop is a ballad with a choral sound at it's beginning. Then it moves into an aching anthem.

The album closes with a toe-tapping tune titled Sunshine. It has some really cool guitar between the verses.

Jennie Arnau has an interesting take on life. It shows in her songs. At times a little glum but mostly upbeat. Loves lost and loves found. Life's struggles and life's joys. Her style might not fit an exact mold, but it is her own.

A Rising Tide will be released on November 7, 2025.

To find out more about A Rising Tide and Jennie Arnau, visit www.jenniearnaumusic.com

Back to the BVS Reviews Main Menu

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _