Ever read reviews of CDs were they talk about the diverse influences the artist has and they toss out huge, generic words like jazz, country, folk, old-time music, soul, gospel, pop, and swing?? Well guess what? This woman really does cull from old-time musics past yet writes singer-songwriter pop. Great lyrics, lots of fun songs, some banjo and some hollow body electric, often a full band and an absolutely stunning recording job. She’s got a little swing, a little country, a little old-time music, and a bunch of pop but all wrapped in a folk singer/singer-songwriter package. Think mid-1930s thru 1960 but with a modern pop aesthetic. Oh and tons of Judy Garland references.

**1. Absolute pop rock brilliance. “I have my rock and I have my roll”. This is so fun to sing along with.
2. Faster, upbeat pop rock track that is a bit to slick.
**3. A swing track with slinky vocals and fun horn section. Short and to the point. A 30s feel.
**4. What a unique track. It’s folk but takes a few nods from gospel and/or barbershop quartets. The title tells all. “Born to Hum” and sure enough they hum in the chorus. The banjo is so simple, fits surprisingly well, and wonderful.
5. Folk pop that isn’t happy at all. I think vaguely about war.
6. Drums, piano and voice. Ballad…sorta.
7. A little country, folk, and old-time. “if you want to be a lady, have a look at me”.
8. Brutally honest personal love song. Drums, bass, and electric guitar.
9. Odd pop. Spoken parts, organ, oooo, aahh backing vocals, tight drums, about someone trying to get famous.
10. A bluesy lounge track. Brushed drums, blues guitar and a soft delivery.
11. A story that might has some washed up dancer bragging. Vaguely anti-war.
12. Hmm…big cheap beat, with a slinky musical feel to the vocals. Horn section doing spy/slinky sound.
14. Umm. Piano based musical type song that involves Dylan Thomas, Stravinsky, his lover, robots, and nuclear holocaust. If you don’t listen close, you’ll miss all that.

Great stuff. -mph