Review: Krista Hartman :: Passport (independent)
printed in Vue Weekly / reviewed by Eden Munro

Krista Hartman’s new album is a bit of an uncomfortable listen, but this is far from a bad thing. Hartman and co-producer Lane Arndt have avoided polishing these songs to a blinding gleam, leaving plenty of jagged edges behind, and that suits Hartman’s songs—beautiful things, full of tales of love and loss—just fine. Hartman’s rough, edgy voice fits perfectly with her unflinching imagery, taking us along for a ride into the darker side of life.

On the musical side, Hartman’s band supports her acoustic guitar and keyboard impressively, and the low-key production allows the musicians to shine. There’s a great moment near the end of “Dusty Road” when Arndt’s electric guitar spins a riff out of Hartman’s chorus, snaking through the music and then taking the lead just as the song ends. It’s the little things that make Hartman’s music special, and there are plenty of them throughout the album. This isn’t simple, pretty folk music that you can tap your feet to and forget about in the morning, but that’s its charm. Hartman and her band don’t shy away from letting us feel their discomfort, and they give us ringside seats as they work their way through it. 4/5

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