To be technical, this marked the first record
Paula Frazer made with
Tarnation for nearly ten years. That truly is a technicality, however, as
Tarnation's personnel (other than
Frazer) changed so constantly that it was pretty much a
Frazer project anyway. So is this record, on which
Frazer sings and writes the songs, with support from members of
the Moore Brothers,
the Kelley Stoltz Band, and
Oranger. To be honest,
Now It's Time is OK lyrically but unexceptional in its pensive, relationship-oriented concerns. Musically it's another matter, the record getting distinguished from several similar indie singer/songwriter oriented efforts on a few counts. The melodies are attractive and unusual, often with an arcing and yearning quality, and less fearful of brooding minor-key paths than many such efforts. Both the styles and arrangements are imaginatively varied, shaded with baroque orchestration, alt country overtones, and ringing folk-rock guitars. It might not sound like much on paper, but it really does a lot to help make it stand out from what might be considered its competition. Put brutally, it's more interesting to have a record that's average lyrically and above-average musically than vice versa, and
Now It's Time succeeds on this count. ~ Richie Unterberger