Renée Wahl - Cumberland Moonshine

Renée Wahl - Cumberland Moonshine
2011, Renée Wahl Records

Physicist, educator, U.S. Air Force veteran and singer/songwriter Renée Wahl has packed a lot of living and learning into her life thus far.  An educated drifter and an organized dreamer, Wahl found her way to Nashville a few years back to make another dream come true.  Earlier this spring part of that dream came to fruition, with the release of Wahl's debut album, Cumberland Moonshine.  With an alternative edge but deep respect for country music's roots, Renée Wahl writes about life, love and the spaces in between that make all the difference. 

Cumberland Moonshine opens with "On Something New", an energetic, mid-tempo country number capturing the high of new love.  Wahl's voice is sultry and just a bit gritty, with a gorgeous velvet tone.  The folks behind her aren't too shabby either, matching Wahl note for note.  "Keeping You For Mine" takes love and obsession to dark places.  Etched against a classic melody is tale of obsession so complete that only death can ensure they never part.  "One More To Go" is a catchy country number that's commercial without commercial aspirations.  Wahl could be mistaken for a cross between Reba and Bonnie Raitt here, and the song borders on instant classic status. 

Wahl delves into blues-based rock n roll for "Under My Skin", showing off a bit of her upper range in the process.  "Roses Are Blue" is a kiss-off number born of infidelity, but laced with a good-natured humor that's refreshing.  Wahl manages to sound classic country even while placing her firmly original stamp on the song.  Renée Wahl has a likely hit on her hands in "Heartbreak Thing".  Blues, rock and country mix in a tune about trying to get over a lost love but not quite letting go.  Drinking her troubles away turns into a cycle that keeps her locked in place, with the story told against a catchy honky-tonk arrangement you won't be able to get out of your noggin.  Wahl is thoroughly in her element here, in perfect voice with all cylinders firing.

"Love Won't Be Denied" is a solid, radio-friendly country number; the sort likely to pop on a soundtrack somewhere over the next year or two.  "Come On Baby" is the ultimate invitation in song.  Wahl drops this one like a bomb; listeners of all persuasions will find themselves wishing she was singing to them, in what might be one of the catchiest and danceable country songs of 2011.  "Got A Feeling" finds Wahl turning sultry and in a slow blues number carved from the harsh realities of life.  Cumberland Moonshine closes with "I'm A Wave", perhaps the only song on the album that seems out of place.  It's a somewhat disappointing end to what is otherwise a stellar effort.

Renée Wahl might just set Nashville on fire with her voice.  Wahl gives her all on Cumberland Moonshine, one of the most exciting country debuts in the past five years or so.  Wahl's just getting started, but has already shown herself to be better-than-average songwriter.  With a voice you could listen to all day long, and a backing band that's among the best in Nashville, expect big things from Renée Wahl in the future.  Cumberland Moonshine is a thrilling introduction.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Renée Wahl at www.reneewahl.com or www.myspace.com/reneewahlmusic.  Cumberland Moonshine is available from Amazon.com as a CD or Download.  The album is also available via iTunes.

Grace Stumberg - To Whom It May Concern

Grace Stumberg - To Whom It May Concern
2011, Popadelic Records

Grace Stumberg is a 22-year old singer/songwriter from Buffalo, New York who proves that appearances can be deceiving.   But when you hear the big voice that emanates from her 4’11” frame you will be floored.  Stumberg, a graduate of Robbie Takac’s (Goo Goo Dolls) Music In Action career training program, is ready to take on the world with her debut album, To Whom It May Concern.  Showing a depth of songwriting talent you don’t often find in one so young, and a presence that recalls some of the great singer/songwriters of the past, Stumberg is just a break or two away from national recognition.

To Whom It May Concern opens with "Change The World", an anthem of inspiration and aspiration about making dreams come true.  Stumberg shows solid pop sensibility on what turns out to be the weakest offering on the album.  Commitment overcomes the arrangement.  The high point of the song is Grace Stumberg's voice, a gorgeous, velvety alto that works well for folk, pop and rock n roll.  "Happier Side" is a bluesy rocker looking for the bright side in a rough start.  It's a great tune, with big energy and an even bigger sound.  By the end of the tune you'll be thinking may Stumberg is the real deal.  By the end of "To Whom It May Concern" you won't even question it.  Stumberg goes for a more Americana setting this time around, with accordion, violin, acoustic guitar, bass and drums.  Stumberg sings for her own dreams here, declaring a trajectory she won't back down from; her voice is gorgeous and Stumberg creates a moment here.

"Steady" starts from a simple, acoustic guitar led look back at how things and people change over time and turns into a polyphonic, multi-layered anthem of hope.  Stumberg builds the song by layering orchestration and vocal harmonies on a bit at a time, culminating in a grand crescendo of sound and melody that's breathtaking.  "The Roses" shows off the singer/songwriter side of Stumberg.  The ode to her grandmother or to a grandmother-like figure gorgeous details enough aspects of her life to make it real and is a compelling testament of love.  Before it's over there is a lovely, baroque-style orchestration that blends in to what is essentially a folk ballad, creating a moment of beauty so rich and touching you'll be moved whatever your constitution.

"Change My Color" is a live, in-studio recording that likens the changes of seasons to personal transformations, pointing out that both are as unstoppable as any other natural law.  The song features a pretty, singular and stoic melody that is unforgettable, and Stumberg's voice fills it out to perfection.  "Sticks And Stones" is a refreshingly poetic kiss-off song with a quiet undercurrent that is surprisingly catchy.  Stumberg's use of imagery and children's rhymes is novel in the context of someone finally opening her eyes to the truth.  This conceptual coming of age is buttressed by Stumberg's velvety, sultry alto.  It's an amazing piece of song craft.

"My Love", an internal exploration of love gone bad, is matter-of-fact in the telling, but underscored with a touch of regret that makes the song compellingly human.  Stumberg seems to have a knack for using each song as a vessel of truth, whether expressing views of the world around her or matters of the heart.  This ability to enliven ideas marks the great songwriters for who they are, and early indications are that Stumberg has the gift.  "Home" blends Americana, pop and classic rock in a Bruce Hornsby-meets-Bonnie Raitt mashup that's amazing.  It's a catchy, mid-tempo number about finding out where your roots belong.  Stumberg is in fine voice here, and listeners may be left thinking that Stumberg has found something of a home in this sound.  Refusing to be pigeonholed quiet so easily, Stumberg launches into the edgy rocker "Miscommunichicken".  The chorus is almost comical: "Don't spread yourself too thin, cause just like bread on butter you're only gonna get eaten".  Get beyond that, however, and you have a Ben Folds Five inspired rocker marked by heavily percussive piano and a correspondingly raw sound.  It's not Stumberg's best, but is an intriguing window on the breadth and depth of Stumberg's songwriting talent.

"Wartime" is a vibrant piece of rock n roll; full in sound and stark in melody.  What Stumberg has done with finesse up until now, she accomplished with inundating force of sound here.  It's an overloaded classic rock feast that will make a great jam tune for live shows, bordering on the neighborhood of progressive rock without losing the singer-songwriter pastiche.  There are hints of Neil Young here that are impossible to ignore.  To Whom It May Concern closes with "Change The World (Woody Mix)".  The mix is just Stumberg, her guitar, and occasional vocal harmonies.  The song is much more powerful in this stripped down setting, conveying the struggle to make a better world more powerfully as a solitary voice.

Wow.

Wow moments happen in music.  You might hear a certain song and be floored by the message, or the melody, or a turn of phrase.  But it's pretty rare to have that reaction to an entire album; to an artist as a whole.  Grace Stumberg is young and still lacks some of the polish of a seasoned songwriter, but she has a gift that most songwriters would kill for.  Stumberg makes her songs come to life for those willing to listen.  To Whom It May Concern lives and breathes from start to finish, touching on people, places, thoughts, emotions and events with a subtlety and grace that is surprising in an artist so young.  Stumberg can blow out the amps as well, when called for.  It's that knowing when to and not to that marks the dividing lines between a great songwriter and someone who might just be discussed one day in hallowed tones.  It's much too early to tell what Grace Stumberg's final trajectory will be, but she certainly seems to have greatness in her sights.  To Whom It May Concern is a Wildy’s World Certified Desert Island Disc.

Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Grace Stumberg at www.gracestumberg.com or www.myspace.com/gracestumbergmusic.  To Whom It May Concern is available from Amazon.com as a CD or Download.  The album is also available via iTunes.

Amy Black - One Time

Amy Black - One Time
2011, Reuben Records

Amy Black made her mark in the business world before embarking on a career in music.  Her debut album, Amy Black & The Red Clay Rascals was a tribute to Black's favorite songwriters, and earned Black notice for a compelling voice.  The voice is back on Amy Black's sophomore album, One Time.  This time around, Black penned nine original tunes to show off her distinctive love of storytelling in song.

One Time opens with "Run Johnny", a classic murder song that's surprisingly catchy.  Black's sultry voice falls somewhere between Bonnie Raitt and Jeannie C. Riley, with wonderful tone and just a bit of grit in the seams.  The tight and catchy arrangement presented here features top-notch instrumental work and shows off Black's presence as a performer.  "Whiskey And Wine" is a loved ballad about a doomed affair.  Black's gorgeous alto illuminates an exploration of a time when perhaps the pleasure is worth the pain.    "Stay" is a fun rockabilly number featuring an assist from Black's sister Corrie Jones.  Self-promotion is the name of the game in this soulful story song.

"Molly" is a melancholy ballad that plays like a letter written to a friend.  The arrangement and instrumentation here are exquisite.  Black mixes honky-tonk and old-school country on "You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man)."  This song has hit written all over it; being incredibly catchy, especially for a mid-tempo song.  It has one of those choruses you'll find yourself singing along with the first time you hear it.  "All My Love" blends blues, country and rock with the addition of some funky guitar work.  Black's voice is utterly sensual here, dripping with emotion and charisma.  "Meet Me On The Dance Floor" is an upbeat and catchy flirtation in song.  Don't be surprised if this is the breakout track of the album.

"I Can't Play This Game" explores the beginning of moving on.  Sorrow and regret mix with an unwillingness to be wronged once more in a statement of self.  This is a solid album track, but the songwriting is surprisingly subtle and deep for a song of this type.  "Words Fail You" is pure country sorrow, complete with the plaintive cries of a pedal steel.  Melancholy blends into sorrow over the tragically beautiful melody.  One Time closes with "Ain't No Grave (Gonna Hold My Body Down)", giving Johnny Cash a run for his money.  Blues, gospel and Americana mix with a swing feel to provide the most dynamic moment on the album.  You'll get a glimpse of what Black is live here.

Amy Black, where have you been?  One Time shows the presence and professionalism of an artist who's been in the music game much longer than Black has been.  Credit producer Lorne Entress (Lori McKenna, Bittertown) and a cast of musicians including Mark Erelli (guitar, vocals, and lap steel) and Stuart Duncan (fiddle) for helping to build a sound around Black that's both classic and fresh.  But don't forget to credit Amy Black herself.  One Time is destined for a lot of "best of" lists at the end of the year.  Performers this fresh and real and yet so polished come along rarely.  You'll be glad that Black finally put her musical dreams first.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Amy Black at www.amyblack.com or www.myspace.com/amyblackmusic.  One Tine is available as a CD or as a download directly from Amy Black's webstore. The album is also available digitally from iTunes.

Lynn Miles - Fall For Beauty

Lynn Miles - Fall For Beauty

2011, True North Records

Lynn Miles is one of the most accomplished Americana (or Canadiana, if you will) singer/songwriters in Canada.  Taking the time to build herself as an artist, Miles spent time in Los Angeles and Nashville before returning home to Ottawa, but in the process picked up several Canadian Folk Music Awards and a Juno Award.  Miles’ latest album, Fall For Beauty, appears on track to be her most commercially successful to date.

Fall For Beauty opens with "Something Beautiful", a song that explores humanity's yen for seeking the beautiful and sublime amongst the everyday struggles of life.  The song offers a poignant, mature perspective in a sharp folk/rock arrangement with more than a little pop sensibility.  Miles has a wonderfully mature voice that's part Sheryl Crow, part Bonnie Raitt and part Lynn Anderson.  "Fearless Heart" features a melody that climbs inside of your head and refuses to leave, amidst a dynamic country/rock arrangement that's the perfect complement.    It's the story of someone who wishes she could grab hold of life and ride free but is caught up in her own fears.  It's a brilliant aural portrait of someone caught in-between, and the vocal harmonies are angelic. 

"I Will" is a musical monologue from someone who has lost faith in herself, life and humanity, but sees the need to get back to where she's been.  It's a song of determination and hope that carries the seeds of recovery from heartbreak and disillusion.  The gentle urgency here is compelling.  "Three Chords And The Truth" is a portrait of the artist as a young girl; an ode to taking on the world the only way she knows how: growing up and finding herself through writing and performing songs.  "Cracked And Broken" is a mournful tune detailing her broken heart at the hands of someone she loved deeply.  It's essentially an acknowledgement that she fell in love with the wrong person.  There's a tragic beauty to this tune, but something seems to be missing at the same time. 

"Little Bird" is a song of encouragement for someone who perhaps grew up with little.  It's a sweet number that may touch some chords out there.  "Love Doesn't Hurt" strays into the world of domestic violence, and may be the natural progression from "Little Bird".  The tale told here is simple and straight forward, all the more compelling for the lack of varnish or commentary.  "Save Me" is a mildly catchy number with an Orbison-esque guitar style.  It's an acknowledgment of wanting someone who is bad for and of being her own worst enemy.  Jim Bryson (Punchbuggy, Kathleen Edwards, Sarah Harmer, The Weakerthans) joins Miles for "Goodbye", a song of parting about the mutual realization that things aren't working out.   Miles and Bryson's voices are a unique blend that works very well.  Fall For Beauty closes with "Time To Let The Sun", a sweet and positive lullaby done in a classic MGM movie musical style.  This one obviously stands out stylistically, but is surprisingly good even for being a musical anomaly.

Lynn Miles writes with depth and insight, singing from the veldt that lays somewhere between heart and soul, but is of both and neither all at once.  Fall For Beauty is a mature and intellectually resounding work, more of a song cycle about the human condition than simply a collection of songs.  Miles also has a talent for crafting arrangements for her material that work perfectly hand in hand with the depth of her lyrics.  This is not an album you put down easily, even if gets a bit uneven at times in the middle.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Lynn Miles at http://www.lynnmilesmusic.com/ or www.myspace.com/lynnmilesmusic. Fall For Beauty is available from Amazon.com as a CD or Download.  The album is also available via iTunes.

Laura Roppé – I’m Still Here

Laura Roppé – I’m Still Here
2010, Laura Roppé

When Laura Roppé broke out in 2008 with her debut album, Girl Like This, it looked like nothing could stop her.  Grand reviews, a record deal in the UK and the sort of personal reactions from fans that build a lasting impression with a nascent fan base made it look like Laura Roppé was on top of the world.  Then cancer came calling.  The rare diagnosis of a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer might have appeared to have been a potentially cruel ending to a promising career path, but Roppé has never been the sort to give in.  Just two years later, Roppé is healthy, happy and inspired.  Her sophomore album, I’m Still Here, shows an artist reborn into her most primal self.  I’m Still Here finds Roppé taking a step back to make a leap forward.  The polish and power of Girl Like This is gone, but Roppé finds her inner voice on I’m Still Here.  With the assistance of producer, cousin and Rx Bandits front-man Matthew Embree, Laura Roppé has created her most honest and personal work to date.

I’m Still Here opens with “Bail Yourself Out”, a catchy folk/rock/funk/soul number that’s part Bonnie Raitt.  Roppé urges self-reliance in an urgently catchy tune that will get stuck in your noggin for days.  “Heart Inside Your Palm” is an unusually honest and childlike song about the responsibility of holding another’s heart in your hands.  There’s a cute quality to this song that’s almost trite, but that quality is overcome by the childlike simplicity of the song.  “Little Stick Of Dynamite” is a song Roppé wrote about her youngest daughter; both a loving ode and a warning to the world at large, “Little Stick Of Wonder” is full of the blend of mother’s love and utter awe at the unfolding of a personality born from her own but so thoroughly distinct.  “Woobie” is a simple love song using a child’s security blanket as the archetype for protection from the troubles of the world around us. 

“Making A Living” is a catchy pop tune about living life in the moment and rising above the norm.  “Daddy’s Little Angels” is an insightful tune about the push and pull between fathers and daughters, particularly once boys come into the milieu.  Interestingly, Roppé seems to be writing about her husband and daughters while imprinting her own experiences as a daughter within the subtext of the song.  This is among the best songwriting on the album.  “She’s Gonna Change The World” finds Roppé opining on her oldest daughter and her serious, purposeful way of approaching the world around her.  Full of a mother’s love, the song is a moving tribute.

Roppé’s battle with cancer helped produce her own personal “bucket list”, a concept playfully treated with in “George Clooney”.  This smarmy little number is about living in the moment and having the audacity to dream your dreams no matter how outlandish they may seem.  While not Roppé’s most polished songwriting, she gets points for honesty and for letting the song be what it wants to be.  “I’m So Sorry” is a tongue-in-cheek instructional tune on the proper way to apologize to a woman.  This is destined to be a crowd favorite in Roppé’s live shows, particularly for current and prospective Bunco girls.    “No Place I’d Rather Be” is a simple, feel-good love song that’s in love and in the moment.  This is one of the best pure melodies on I’m Still Here, and stands out for its uncomplicated approach to an honest and simple message that is too often glitzed and glossed to death. 

“Butterfly Girl” is a song of love and support that’s heartfelt and warm.  Mothers, sisters and others of that ilk will be touched by a tune both simple and deep in its truths.  “Wage Peace” finds Roppé kicking tail in a soul-filled 1960’s rocker that delivers an aggressively pacifist message with attitude and oomph that’s sultry and powerful.  Roppé is entirely in her element here, and shines like the sun.  Roppé closes I’m Still Here with the raw and powerful title track.  “I’m Still Here” is certain to be a cancer survivor’s anthem, and not surprisingly is Roppé’s most inspired performance on the album.  It’s a kiss off song with an edge that’s unaffected but full of the power and grace of one who has persevered.

There will be those who listen to I’m Still Here and not get it.  The album is not as musically consistent as Roppé’s debut Girl Like This, but there’s more to the story than that.  Girl Like This was an explosion caused by the long-standing pressure of someone in their fourth decade who has finally found what they are meant to be doing.  I’m Still Here takes that initial burst of enthusiasm and begins the process of channeling the creative energies that have always been there.  This process was both complicated and catalyzed by Roppé’s battle with cancer.  The end result is a startlingly honest and personal album from someone who has been quite literally ripped from her status quo and has subsequently given herself the freedom to dream.  So while you may make the argument that Roppé;s songwriting isn’t as consistent on I’m Still Here, that isn’t so much a criticism as it is an observation.  Roppé’s development as a songwriter has been given a mighty goose by circumstances beyond her control, and she is meeting the challenges of Becoming quite nicely.  I’m Still Here is a celebration of life, of art and of a self newly-discovered.  In it, Roppé is magically and musically human, bringing beauty and truth out of the darkness for all to see.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Laura Roppé at www.lauraroppe.com or www.myspace.com/lauraroppe.  I'm Still Here is available on CD directly from Roppé's website.  Digital versions of the album are available from Amazon.com and iTunes.