Mel Flannery Trucking Co. - As It Turns Out
2009, Mel Flannery Trucking Co./Halogen
The Mel Flannery Trucking Co. returns with their sophomore effort, As It Turns Out, continuing on the path they set on 2007’s White Flag. Flannery has a degree in vocal jazz performance, and you can hear the training in her rich alto voice, but she also tends to get sloppy with the notes occasionally, a distracting tendency we noted the last time around. As It Turns Out is something of a logical progression; the songwriting continues to be awkward, with Flannery struggling to fit the music around messages both political and emotional. When she succeeds there are bits of magic to be found, such as on the lonely ballad "I Need You Here With Me" or the sultry "You Know What To Do". Flannery gets political on songs such as "We're Still Here" (gay marriage) and "Running" (domestic violence); her heart is in the right place but Flannery forces lyrics with melodies and arrangements that just don't work together and sully her message. Emotional songs like "Gone" and the final track, labeled "untitled", where Flannery's emotional ramblings take on the tantric tones of teenage angst prove equally mismatched, although it should be said that "Gone" is the best track on the disc from an instrumental perspective. As It Turns Out is an experience best left for die-hard fans of the Mel Flannery Trucking Co. On the other hand, word is their live shows are unforgettable.
Rating: 2 Stars (Out of 5)
Learn: website, MySpace
2009, Mel Flannery Trucking Co./Halogen
The Mel Flannery Trucking Co. returns with their sophomore effort, As It Turns Out, continuing on the path they set on 2007’s White Flag. Flannery has a degree in vocal jazz performance, and you can hear the training in her rich alto voice, but she also tends to get sloppy with the notes occasionally, a distracting tendency we noted the last time around. As It Turns Out is something of a logical progression; the songwriting continues to be awkward, with Flannery struggling to fit the music around messages both political and emotional. When she succeeds there are bits of magic to be found, such as on the lonely ballad "I Need You Here With Me" or the sultry "You Know What To Do". Flannery gets political on songs such as "We're Still Here" (gay marriage) and "Running" (domestic violence); her heart is in the right place but Flannery forces lyrics with melodies and arrangements that just don't work together and sully her message. Emotional songs like "Gone" and the final track, labeled "untitled", where Flannery's emotional ramblings take on the tantric tones of teenage angst prove equally mismatched, although it should be said that "Gone" is the best track on the disc from an instrumental perspective. As It Turns Out is an experience best left for die-hard fans of the Mel Flannery Trucking Co. On the other hand, word is their live shows are unforgettable.
Rating: 2 Stars (Out of 5)
Learn: website, MySpace
Buy: Keep checking Flannery's website for availability
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