Babe Gurr - SideDish

Babe Gurr – SideDish
2011, Elan Records Canada
Babe Gurr continues her slow, relentless rise through the world of folk and Americana.  Her last album, Chocolate Lilly, earned rave reviews in both the U.S. and Canada, and led to a series of high profile concerts in both countries.  Gurr’s songs have also been featured on a number of shows on U.S. television, including the FOX series Higher Ground.  Gurr’s songwriting has also been lauded in venues such as the Billboard World Song Contest, the 12^th Great American Song Contest, and the Sonic Bids Nashville Song Contest, the latter of which she won.  Gurr recently released her latest effort, SideDish, a collection of eight originals and two covers with an international flair.

SideDish opens with “I’m Just Here To Dance”, a gritty tango, and Gurr’s voice is as sultry as the dance itself.  Gurr is a master storyteller, and proves it once again here.  “Solo Mia” is an absolutely gorgeous performance, with Gurr’s earthy alto the perfect complement to a great arrangement.  “The World Is Calling” is a wonderfully dark world/rock number that blends Middle Eastern and Western sounds in a vibrant and driven arrangement.  “I Will Be” is a pure love song; a promise of devotion with surprisingly melancholic undertones.  The song is dark and urgent; moving in an almost needful way. 

“Voodoo Love” is bluesy, elemental folk/rock ala Bonnie Raitt; a catchy number with an unforgettable chorus.  This is Gurr at her finest.  “My Love” and “Let’s Find A Way” are both solid entries, and lead to the closer, “Rio’s Lullaby”.  The song is an apt closer, a gentle goodnight that highlights Gurr’s voice as the supreme instrument it is.

Babe Gurr’s SideDish definitely walks a different musical line than we have heard from her in the past, but it is a worthwhile one to follow.  Gurr shows a versatility of language and style that is unique in modern music; not just an ability to cover different ground but a depth of perception and musical understanding that is startling.  Gurr’s voice, as always, is a pleasure, and the journey she takes on SideDish is one that listeners will prize.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Babe Gurr at www.babegurr.com.  SideDish is available on CD from Amazon.com.  The album is also available in multiple formats from CDBaby.com. 

Review: Babe Gurr - Chocolate Lilly

Babe Gurr - Chocolate Lilly
2008, Elan Records Canada

Babe Gurr. What a name. The folk/rock singer-songwriter from Vancouver Island, British Columbia has been turning heads for years with her blend of roots/blues/pop. Shaped by intelligent, sometimes funny lyrics, memorable melodies and strong arrangements, Gurr lights up her songs with an engaging presence and a sandy and sultry voice you won't forget. Gurr's latest release, Chocolate Lilly, continues in the vein of her earlier works. It's a stunningly beautiful and poignant musical experience.

Gurr starts with great songs and one of the tightest backing bands south of the arctic circle. Chocolate Lilly opens with Hard To Get Over Me, a soulful warning that's part Lucinda Williams and part Bonnie Raitt. If you ever want to court Gurr or a woman like her, listen closely to Love Is Tough. It's a statement of terms for a relationship, and probably one of the most commercial songs on the album. I Give Myself To You is destined for weddings, mix-tapes and scenes involving young men with box radios below the windows of ladies they adore. This is one of those classic love songs that with the right bit of commercial exposure would become the wedding theme of a generation. It avoids cliché while making an honest and forthright statement of devotion. The melody is memorable and won't leave you anytime soon. Gurr also pulls back a little back here vocally, sounding more like Shawn Colvin than Bonnie Raitt.

Babe Gurr is absolutely inspired on her cover of Ray Charles' Unchain My Heart. The song drips with soul and desire driven by Gurr's sultry voice. Larger Than Life frames a philosophy centered on taking life by the horns and having no regrets. It's a great Americana arrangement with real pop hooks. Make sure also to check out Understanding, a poignant look at inequality and the ultimate remedy. Other highlights include the title track, Chocolate Lilly, Now You're Gone and Break Thru.

Babe Gurr is the sort of talent who doesn't come along all that often, and her star is on the rise. Her music has already been tapped for the US television show Higher Ground, as well as being a guest on Canadian shows Canada AM and The Jim Byrnes Show. It's only a matter of time before Gurr's star rises above the Canadian Content Rule and she truly becomes an International artist. Chocolate Lilly is the clearest sign that she is ready, taking everything Gurr has done so well to this point in her career and raising her game another notch. It's an inspired performance.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Babe Gurr at http://www.babegurr.com/. You can purchase a copy of Chocolate Lilly at www.cdbaby.com/cd/babegurr3.