SONGS FROM THE ALIEN BEACON

How close can you get without f—ing up the friendship? So asks Jennifer LFO on one of the catchiest songs on her debut album… But the question may well be metaphorical, as throughout this album she takes her pop songs and stretches them into ’70s prog territory, with tasteful heaps of sonic decoration courtesy of her producer Michael Philip Wojewoda, and a cast of Toronto all-stars. Together, they push this material to extremes and then pull it back to a more straightforward piano ballad or three-chord rocker. Foster’s lyrics stray from conventional fare as well, which makes her all the more believable when she sings: “I know the girl you look for/ you won’t find her too soon/ She’s teaching string theory on Saturn/ she’s playing her synth on the moon.”

- Michael Barclay, Kitchener-Waterloo Record


Her new cd Songs From the Alien Beacon is a collection of wildly imaginative pop songs, and she brings along a stellar band that includes bassist Chris Stringer (also producer for prime Canadian Indie acts Timber Timbre and Ohbijou) and former Rheostatics drummer Michael Phillip Wojewoda, who also produced the album. Wojewoda helps Foster straddle the line between infectious and inventive, crafting songs that have memorable hooks as well as trippy sonic touches…

- Halifax Chronicle-Herald


Jen has the vivacious looks, the vocal hooks, and an engaging witty songwriting style that’ll playfully sucker-punch you when you least expect it and have you down on the floor looking up with a new-found respect before you even know what hit you. You can trust me when I tell you she’s that good.
- Metrotimes Detroit


Jennifer LFO (a.k.a. Jennifer Foster) will be playing live in support of her spellbinding and instantly memorable new release Songs From The Alien Beacon. This release will definitely be in my favourites for 2009. All of you should check out her live to experience the beauty and addictiveness of this compelling artist. I had the privilege of talking to her about the release and her upcoming performance. Full interview here

- Canadaeast.com


Kid, you’ve got a great voice that you use with all the right inflections; you write real smart songs; and, equally important, you have a sarcastically wry sense of humor that’s so black it’s almost ultraviolet. In a day and age when female singers all sound like they were stamped from the same laconic sonic cookie cutter, you’ve got the powerful potential to be the next Grace Slick or Chrissie Hynde via Lene Lovich…
- Jeffrey Morgan, CREEM Magazine

An interesting eclectic album from an up and coming Canadian artist. Mainly a pop album, Songs From the Alien Beacon dabbles in folk and electronica… a unique sound in her music that sets her apart from other artists in the genre. Featuring some pretty interesting views on life and relationships… a fun pop album from a talented artist.

- Times & Transcript, Moncton

FIT FOR MARS


What an eccentric trip she takes us on – and what a weird, rewarding journey. For this release, Foster (late of The Pursuit of Happiness) seems to have adopted the all-over-the-place approach. There is Blondie-esque rock’n'roll here (“Dumb Down”), forlorn folk (“Homesick Homicide”), a gorgeous trippy dreamscape (“Fit For Mars”) and a back-porch jam session (“Flower”). And yet, as the record plays out like a series of look-ma-no-hands type demonstrations, Foster manages to fill each role with an authority that one can do little to fault.

Ultimately, through this wild eclecticism Foster conveys a sense not only of her promise as a songwriter and performer, but of her remarkable range. And her band, comprised of accomplished session folk from the Los Angeles area, does most of the right things, and most the time. At any rate, nothing they do overpowers her enviable presence, her playful deliveries, her clever, peculiar lyrics.
This is a good one, folks. Think Sarah Harmer, Aimee Mann, Dar Williams…
- Umbrella Music

Sporting pop-punk hooks and sophisticated folk-tinged arrangements, Fit For Mars is a remarkably eclectic EP by promising solo artist Jennifer Foster. The Toronto-based singer-songwriter may be best known as a member of the Pursuit of Happiness and it was no coincidence that former TPOH front-man, Moe Berg, co-produced Foster’s first album, Speedyhead. This time around she’s enlisted the help of producer/guitarist David Garza (Juliana Hatfield) and the result is a formidable follow-up… It’s a well-rounded second effort for Foster who is a gifted songwriter waiting to blossom.
- Exclaim!

Foster’s easy going nature and smart-pop songwriting had the crowd from the second she strolled onstage. The band played tightly, and had a great sense of humour that was perfect for the intimate setting. Jennifer Foster and her bare bones rock ‘n’ roll band delivered the goods, and if they keep on going they should turn a few heads. This band definitely took the right fork in the road. (five stars)
- Chartattack.com on NXNE


SPEEDYHEAD


In what must be a testimony to her talent and charm, Jennifer Foster has managed to recruit a whole slew of talented Canadian musicians to help her out with Speedyhead. Paul Myers, Moe Berg, Melanie Doane, James Gray, Blair Packham, and Sarah Slean all contribute in some fashion. While songs by adults about high school travails usually make me groan, “Ukulele Dropout” won me over big time with its hand-claps, high-end guitar break, and catchy-as-hell chorus. So too did the nursery rhyme-like “Charlie”, the classical pop of “Flesh and Bone”, and the subtly bossa nova “Brilliant Blue”.
Exclaim! national music magazine