Leah Callahan has succeeded in bringing a myriad of musical styles together to form a unique debut album. She mixes avant-guard, cabaret, 30s-style moods, poetry-put-to-music, jazzy funk . . . you name it. My initial impression was that she wrote all of the songs intending them be recorded acapella, but then decided at the last minute to throw in some music. Not in a bad way, mind you, but a very experimental, quirky way. Three words screamed at me while I listened to track after track: haunting, sultry and eccentric. Her alluring vocals hold the spotlight, however, and remind me of sitting in a café drinking way too much coffee, smoking way too many cigarettes. A refreshing release to say the least; her work is different than anything I’ve ever heard.

potty-mouth tracks: none detected

(note: rating numbers are out of 10 and following each track description)
1. Valentine: twangy guitar, an accordion and soft vocals (6). 2. The Sadness I Admire: acoustic guitar, male and female vocals harmonizing (7). 3. The Red Eye: carnival sounding out-of-tune guitar, seductive vocals, random sounds (5). 4. Better Than You: bass line supports vocals, lounge song (6). 5. Vampire Heart: accordion, darker, sad song (8). 6. Where You Are: alluring melody, sweet vocals (6). 7. Love Some Thing: sultry vocals, funky guitar mood (7). 8. Shocking Pink: drunken-feeling vocals, spooky carnival sound (6). 9. Strip Mall: acapella, quiet, lots of pauses where music could be (6).

review courtesy of LadyDev