Shared Darkness

Canadian singer-songwriter Jann Arden has sold more than two
million records, but I confess that until I plunked this DVD down in my player,
I don’t believe I’d heard of her. I say I don’t believe that I had because the name sounds vaguely familiar, and
the face seems recognizable as well, as Arden herself self-effacingly jokes in
talking about living life seemingly on the perpetual precipice of something
bigger. Set against a backdrop of her music, Jann Arden: A Work in Progress is apparently part of a
north-of-the-border arts-biography series, and it delivers a charming, revelatory
portrait of a pop singer who steadfastly refuses to be stereotyped in an
industry that thrives on image and radio-ready singles.

Running 50 minutes and anchored by a Dolby digital 5.1 surround
sound mix, A Work in Progress mixes
together interview footage with performance material, to solid effect. First
things first: a complete track listing consists of “I Would Die For You,” “Good
Mother,” “Ode to a Friend,” “Wonderdrug,” “The Sound Of,” “Time for Mercy,” “Hangin’
by a Thread,” “Holy Moses,” “In Your Keeping,” “I Just Don’t Love You Anymore,”
“Could I Be Your Girl,” “Insensitive,” “Wishing That,” “Another Human Being,” “Piece
of It All,” “Sleepless” and “Will You Remember Me.”

It’s Arden’s disarming
candor and skill with a quip, however, that makes this title such breezy fun. Whether
talking about her weight (“I got a boob caught in the blender and thought it
was heartburn…”) and love of cooking, her dating and romantic history, the
occasional acting stint (she’s done a couple tours of The Vagina Monologues) or her musical inspirations, Arden comes off
as refreshingly at ease with who she is, and that in turn translates to the
appeal of her music, which is of the light and evocative singer-songwriter
mode, but with much more thoughtful lyrics. (Think along the lines of a female Luka
Bloom, for point of reference.) There are unfortunately no additional
supplemental extras herein, but this is overall a well-produced disc, and
certainly worthy of your time if interested in getting to know Arden
and her work. For more information, visit her eponymous web site. B (Concert) C+ (Disc)