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Wednesday, 29 March 2006 17:36

The simple piano chords and percussion instruments further demonstrate Wojcik’s uncanny ability to make listeners both laugh and contemplate what she has to say.

Within a symphony of ukuleles, literary works, xylophones, paleontology, and modern art, Hailey Wojcik has secured herself a spot as the newest genius of the music scene. Her music tastes like a playful version of college, one where the students erupt into harmonious songs about orange peels and pointless jobs. The simple piano chords and percussion instruments further demonstrate Wojcik’s uncanny ability to make listeners both laugh and contemplate what she has to say.

Wojcik was born and raised in Lansing, Mich., on a steady stream of solid musicians, such as Joni Mitchell, the Talking Heads, Jimmy Buffet, Jackson Brown, and various blues artists. Mitchell and Elvis Costello are among two of her bigger influences, along with indie rock and riot-girl music. With Jealous Sees as her fourth album, she is gaining more and more notice as a singer-songwriter across Michigan (she attends Western Michigan University as a creative-writing/journalism major) and is building up more attention across the country.

“Nabokov’s Butterfly,” the first track on this album, explores the literary works of the Russian writer Vladimir Nabokov, and how Wojcik’s significant other adores his work. “Dinosaur Bone” proclaims that Wojcik is ready for someone to love her: “I’m trying to be something like geology/or maybe like a dinosaur bone/and I won’t be alone/because some day you’ll really dig me.” With blessingly simple and earnest lyrics, Wojcik sings with the voice of an angel. Proving that even angels can have dirty mouths sometimes, on “F#Ó@ You (I Quit),” Wojcik describes her anger with self-centered coworkers and the satisfaction she feels after she has quit her job.

Wojcik sounds similar to a female version of Conor Oberst—with a ukulele. Her lyrics are brilliantly delightful and true, with small pieces of life mashed in with the truisms that she has composed. The ukulele work on the album sounds like she would get along well with Donovon Frankenreiter, and the piano style is reminiscent of Billy Joel. Her lyrics sound like Ani DiFranco has been quietly sedated and is, for once, calm about what she has to say.

The future of music lies in Wojcik’s talented hands. If only every artist was as honest as she is.

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