Lady Antebellum - Own The Night

Lady Antebellum - Own The Night
2011, Capitol Records Nashville

Multi-platinum recording artists Lady Antebellum suffer an identity crisis on their latest album, Own The Night, vacillating wildly between 1980's pop and thinly veiled 1980's pop thinly veiled as country music. The blend largely explains Lady Antebellum's popularity, as many of today's pop/country fans were Garth Brooks converts from the 1980's rock and roll they grew up on. Not there is anything wrong with any of these styles, but Lady Antebellum's latest plays more like a closely surveyed, market-designed product than an album of original art.

Things start out well with "We Owned The Night". The 1980's pop theme is definitely here, but it's accompanied by a memorable chorus and a great melody. Even "Just A Kiss" satisfies as the sort of love song you might have heard at a junior high dance circa 1985. Unfortunately, Lady Antebellum slip on their own formula and fall into the soup for much of the rest of the album, playing sounds and styles certain to register high for pop and country radio programmers, and forgetting the passion and energy that have made such stars so far.

It would be easy to blame this one on the greedy record labels. It would be entirely in character for a label to push an already uber-successful band to alter their sound to maximize the profit potential of an album, but it's a shame to hear a band with real talent give in so whole-heartedly to the corporate shuffle. There are moments here when Lady Antebellum shines like the sun, particularly on the track "Love I've Found In You", but there's an overarching feeling of cliché to Own The Night that's impossible to ignore.

Rating: 2.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more at www.ladyantebellum.com or www.myspace.com/ladyantebellum. 

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von Grey - Make Some Noise

von Grey – Make Some Noise
2011, von Grey

von Grey is a family quartet based out of Alpharetta, Georgia.  Sisters Kathryn (16), Annika (15), Fiona (13) and Petra (11) are making some real noise in the country world.  Starting out as a chamber music quartet under the name Kannafitra in 2007, the classically trained sisters soon expanded into an Appalachian blend of Bluegrass, Folk and Celtic sounds.   In 2009 the band changed their name to von Grey, and have been developing their songbook ever since.  The band has already won the Lilith Fair Local Talent Search”, and sisters Annika and Fiona have shared the stage with the Chieftains.  Annika even won the 2008 U.S. 12-and-under Irish Fiddler’s competition.  There’s no denying the talent in the band, and when you hear their tight, 3- and 4- part harmonies on their debut E.P., Make Some Noise, you’ll be hooked.

von Grey opens with “With You I Can”, a catchy piece of country/pop with an impressive modular vocal harmony sound.  von Grey sounds radio-ready here with a sound that’s a bit young but not in an unappealing sense.  “Next To Nowhere” is a solid entry, showing off the quartet’s wonderful harmonies.  “Eyes On Your Honey” is a highly infectious country number with a touch of rock and roll attitude.  It’s a song all about what she wants in a boy, and has a chart-ready chorus you won’t be able to shake.   “She’s A Wildflower” shows lead vocalist Kathryn to be the real deal.  The songwriting and the instrumental net behind her are equally impressive.   von Grey closes with “Make Some Noise”, a catchy country rocker that shows off the more playful side of the group.

von Grey shows off a distinctive vocal mix on Make Some Noise; the filial connection between the sisters offering a unique blend.  At the same time, it would be nice to hear a bit more complexity in the vocal arrangement; passing notes, counter-movement, etc.  Be that as it may, the ladies of von Grey get inside of your head with their catchy songs and distinctive sound, and threaten to stay long term.  There are two or three songs here you simply won’t be able to shake, nor will you want to.  Von Grey sounds like they are destined to be chart gold.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about von Grey at www.vongrey.com or www.myspace.com/sistervg.  
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Susan Anders - Swimmer

Susan Anders - Swimmer

2010, Zanna Discs

Berkeley, California native Susan Anders grew up on the grounds of musical revolution.  It was never a question of whether Anders would be a performer but more of when and where.  As a songwriter, Anders' songs have been recorded by the Four Bitchin’ Babes, Jordan Carter and The Irrationals, among others.  As the front woman for Susan's Room, Anders releases five albums in the last decade of the twentieth century.  In 2002, Anders moved to Nashville with husband/guitarist/producer Tom Manche, and released her debut solo album Release in 2005.  In the mean time she's done work as a vocal coach, working with Rose MacGowan, Joey Heatherton and Lady Antebellum's Hillary Scott.  On October 26, 2010, Anders releases her sophomore solo effort, Swimmer.

Swimmer opens with "Thirsty", a brilliant bit of pop songwriting laced with a soulful vocal line.  Susan Anders' voice is untrained and full of character; esoteric and interesting.  Anders sounds like she's riding right on the edge of going off key at times but never stumbles, but it all works incredibly well on "Thirsty".  This is a song that in the right hands would be climbing the pop charts.  "I Want I Want" documents Anders' insatiable nature in a straightforward tune with a nice melody that is nice but feels a bit cliché.  "Love Beats Time" is a solid love song that's aurally pleasing but doesn't really stand out.  Anders dips into the well of brilliance again for "Always A Beginner", an edgy tune with both jazz and blues in its roots.  It's about a lost soul who's always getting tossed about by the waves of life. 

"I Can't Fix You" is a song of realization sung with a loving melancholy and resignation.  Anders offers some sweet country accents in a solid arrangement that is sure to please.  "Get To You" is highly emotive; the utter weight of the tune weighs it down despite some indications of pop sensibility in the arrangement.  "Box Of Mom" is a great memorial/ode to mom and the ways she made life special; the song is catchy and sweet and could become a favorite for mother's day.  Anders closes with "Forgiveness", a bluesy tune that's more about composition than story-telling.  Anders' melody is memorable, and it's a solid bow for Swimmer.

Susan Anders offers up a solid effort on Swimmer.  There are definitely some down moments on the album, but then Anders shows occasional flashes of utter brilliance as a songwriter.  As a vocalist Anders may be an acquired taste, but she gives solid and impassioned readings of her song that are charming and appealing in their own right

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Susan Anders at www.myspace.com/susananders or at Zanna Discs or Amazon.com.  Swimmer drops on October 26, 2010.  You can order the CD from Zanna Discs.  Digital versions available from Amazon and iTunes.