Sarah VonderHaar - P.D.L.

Sarah VonderHaar - P.D.L.
2010, Sarah VonderHaar

Chicago's Sarah VonderHaar may be familiar to fans of America's Next Top Model. The Season 8 contestant was a fan favorite, and has not rested a moment since leaving that show. While still modeling, VonderHaar has devoted more and more time to writing and performing songs. Her debut EP, Are You Listening Now received a host of positive reviews and earned VonderHaar song placements in national ad campaigns. Sarah VonderHaar returns with her second EP, P.D.L., on August 24, 2010. While on four songs long, P.D.L. is a more nuanced and mature effort from the 23-year old singer/songwriter, showing a depth of songwriting ability that wasn't clear on her previous release.

P.D.L. opens with "Howling At The Moon", a campy jazz number that's sort of like listening to Jessica Rabbit in monster form. VonderHaar's voice is surprisingly supple and enjoyable to listen to. "Howling At The Moon" is driven by a walking bass line and the simmering sensuality in her voice. "What I'm Feeling About You" is a great bit of light pop. It's a love song of sorts, but more about enjoying the moment and feeling of falling in love, contrasting the naturalness of the moment with feelings of the past. "Pretty Damn Lucky" is a quiet, contemplative tune. The live acoustic recording presented here is a nice enough tune, but not her best, and exposes some of VonderHaar's vocal flaws in light of day. "All Mine" is a sweet, airy love song that avoids a bubblegum feel and is highly reminiscent of Jessica Jacobs (Riddle).

P.D.L. shows Sarah VonderHaar maturing as an artist, adding dimensions to her sound that will broaden her appeal. VonderHaar doesn't blow you away with her voice, but her sweet, smooth tone and involved presence help her connect to listeners on a personal level. VonderHaar has also shown herself to be deft self-marketer over the years, so don't be surprised if you hear a lot of this EP in the coming months.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Sarah VonderHaar at http://www.sarahvonderhaar.com/ or www.myspace.com/sarahvonderhaar.  P.D.L. drops on August 24, 2010.  You can pre-order digital copies from Amazon.com..