STORIES FROM HOMELauren Mann and the Fairly Odd FolkIndie7.5-out-of-10
Lauren Mann has one of those voices that tends to sparkle no matter whether a song has an upbeat, catchy sound, or whether she slows things down with a sadder tune. It's just a pretty voice which is a pleasure to listen too.
And, on her full CD debut Stories From Home, Mann certainly draws the listener in quickly. Lost in the Sound is the lead cut, and it's one of the best offerings on a very solid 11-song effort.
Stow Me Away contends for top honours as well, along with Lady in the Yellow Dress and Let's Go Into the Unknown.
The music is clearly folk at its heart, although one can see the influences of Mann's jazz training, and the reality of modern pop, adding brush strokes to the material.
"This album, Stories From Home, is a different sort of album," said Mann, who recently performed at 5th Avenue Cup & Saucer in Yorkton. "It's a collection of songs that I wrote and recorded over the past few years, some on my own, and some with a friend in Calgary who had a studio in his basement."
The finished product is very good, and Mann is rightfully happy with it.
"I think that "Stories From Home" is good as a self-produced and mostly self-recorded album," she said. "I'm proud of the songs, and I'm happy with how it turned out .
"It's also a good starting point to continue with. I think that writing those songs has helped me develop lyrically and musically as a musician, and I hope that development will be seen on future recordings."
This is a disk which should find a broad fan base as it has appeal in material and style which really does cross the barriers of age.Check her out at www.laurenmannmusic.com- CALVIN DANIELS
RED HOT CANDY HEARTJacquie DrewIndie6.5-out-of-10
Born in Nova Scotia Jacquie Drew moved west with her family at a young age where she took classical piano and grew into a career in not surprisingly country music given her new home in Calgary.
The Rolling Wind was Drew's debut disk back in 2008, and now Red Hot Candy Heart arrives on the scene.
It is interesting how some songs remind of others. Drew's Cowgirl That I Am is country, but I am reminded of Sonny & Cher's I've Got You Babe. Yep a strange connection, but there is something of the old TV show hit in the country song.
So how is the overall package of Red Hot Candy Heart?
With the title I had expected more of a southern, roadhouse-style country, but this is a rather mellow country effort. Stylistically Drew has a bit of a Crystal Gayle-thing going on. She doesn't exactly blow you away the way Gayle repeatedly did, but there are aspects of their vocals they hold in common.
There are times Drew goes in a bit of a different direction. Neither Would I is a song with a hint of jazz, and much closer to the pop line than the rest of the effort. In that regard it may be the most "marketable" song here, although in terms of country it is a bit of the square peg in a round hole too.
Cleaning Lady is a heavily jazz influenced cut, and that is good, or bad, depending on your country vision.
Generally Drew is solid, although she lacks the 'wow-factor'. The material and her voice are both fine, although remembering it a week from now may not be easy.
Check her out at www.jacquiedrew.com- CALVIN DANIELS
Past reviews are archived online at http://calmardan.blogspot.com/
