JULY RAIN
Samara Yung
Indie
8.5-out-of-10
Well I thought I had escaped doing CDs after some 2000 reviews, handing it off with the start of the new year to the capable ear of Sean Craib-Petkau, but here I am again for a sort of guest appearance.
Samara Yung and I go back a long way in terms of music. The young lady is 24 and was nice enough to leave me feeling very old in a recent interview when she pointed out I've been writing about her career since she was 12.
It has been a busy career too considering Yung was the first Yorkton singer to win the annual GX94 Star Search, spend time with Saskatchewan Express and hit the local stages with various musical and theatrical productions.
Oh, and she launched a solo CD a few years back, to which July Rain is the follow-up effort.
I reviewed Show Me the World in late 2008 and gave it an '8' a number that might have been a touch inflated as a sort of hometown bonus. It was a good CD although it admittedly hasn't stuck with me as an elite album.
The good news is that Yung has matured with July Rain.
In the recent interview Yung stated, "I'm very proud of the first album. I love everything that's on it. But, this album is more mature We know a lot more now than we did the first time around
"I just really tried to make it who I am as a person, and who I am as an artist."
The girl gets it. She has made strides as an artist. She has grown a lot in the three years between albums.
That Yung has her fingers into writing almost every cit speaks to her taking the right steps to control her music. Who better to capture the style and stories a performer wants to offer up than themselves, so they should generally have an interest in writing the material.
There are a few radio-ready hits here folks.
Everyday Matters, the catchy lead cut, is a summer-style hit.
Mardi Gras is the first single, with a hit new video, Yung's first, to support it. Watch it and you see another aspect of her growth.
One song that is closely personal for Yung I Wonder Why.
"Dad (Murray), and I wrote the song. That's really cool to me," said Yung.
Yung explained they were on a camping trip in July, and it was raining.
"Dad had his guitar with him," she recalled, adding he offered up a "little riff Some words came to my head and that's the song that came out of it."
I've known Murray for years too, and Samara is right, it's pretty cool they collaborated on the song, and it's also one of the very best on this strong effort.
Oh and my personal favourite is Vertigo. I really think this one has Yung at her maturing best.
Sometimes I suggest buying a CD simply to help local artists, with this one I can say buy simply because it's a fantastic country CD.
I rather hope I get to review disk three one day in the not too distant future.
Check it out at www.samarayung.ca
- CALVIN DANIELS
