2011-07-29
It takes a lot of guts to do covers of Van Morrison and Joni Mitchell on your record. There's the inevitable critique of your version of a classic and your original music is right next door for comparison. Well, it is a nice surprise that Liz Longley does Van and Joni well (faithful treatments, no wrong-headed detours) and her own tunes shine brightly. Liz constructs songs and sounds similar to Shawn Colvin (not a bad reference point at all). The opener, "When You've Got Trouble" starts things off sweetly and you think you're in for a set of valentines, but the very next song, "If You Want To," a hard tune about a troubled relationship, clues you in that there's going to be complexity here--kinda like real life. "Unraveling" is heart-breaking, about watching an older loved one fade into forgetfulness. The closer, "Dough 4 Dough" is a very funny song about a very aggressive Girl Scout cookie seller. Longley has an impressive musical resume as a graduate of the Berklee School of Music and a recipient of the BMI John Lennon songwriting award. All of this shows, and it's a pleasure to see another young singer-songwriter succeed with a solid set of music. 07/11 Michael J. F-Singer/Songwriter. [NOTE: "Bit--" on songs #2 and #11.]INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS
THINGS THAT FLY
THE KAMIKAZE HEARTS
Oneida Road
TONY LUCCA
Canyon Songs
Andy Ferrell
At Home And In Nashville
JOE FLETCHER AND THE WRONG REASONS
White Lighter
Gail Ann Dorsey
I Used to Be
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