k.d. lang - Reintarnation

k.d. lang started out her career in the public eye as a kitschy, campy Canadian country singer. The songs on this album feature lang's greatest hits from the time she started making Nashville nervous until her break-away from country music in 1992.

For anyone that's only mildly familiar with lang's early roots, Reintarnation serves as a worthy introduction to this undefinable artist.

Having discovered k.d. lang for myself after she "switched over" from country music in 1992, I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised to take this little dip into k.d. lang: the early years.

Country music has always had a bizarre relationship with folk music. The lines between the two are often muddled by artists like Hank Williams and Johnny Cash. Looking at lang's early recordings, the line is even more blurry.

Although there's not a lot of sincerity in lang's early work (something that contrasts it with the earnestness of classic tunes from later in her career, like "Constant Craving"), the genius is in her dead-on satirical approach to country kitsch.

Since releasing Ingenue (Sire, 1992), lang has played her part in pop and crooner music, not to mention the tribute she paid in 2003 to Canadian folksingers like Joni Mitchell and Neil Young. This album, like any alt.country effort, is not for traditionalist folk fans.

Nevertheless, lang's toungue-in-cheek tribute to what happened to country music when it met TV, offers a great peek into the roots of one of alt.country's most diverse and celebrated songwriters.
Listen/Download Reintarnation