Album Name: Doodlebug Alley
Artist: Jude Cowan
Year/Label: 2010 / Independent

[Buy at Amazon]
[Download at Amazon]

Review by Anna Maria Stjärnell

Jude Cowan is an original; it only takes a few seconds of her new album to prove that.

The opening title track sees her attack a tune that’s as skewed as it’s unusual and compelling.

Jolly Roger is a strange song as you can expect from the title. Cowan sings of a woman escaping to a life of piracy from an unhappy life.

Liberty is sparse and sees the singer’s talent in evidence, even as she lets her vocal swoop and sway. I’m reminded of the equally obscure Rebecca Moore here.

The Lure of Paris is charming and cute as Cowan sings of the French city. Her voice sways with intent.

Obviously this won’t appeal to everyone, but I find it charming and rewarding so perhaps you will too.

Track Listing
1. Doodlebug Alley
2. Remember Sinners (François Villon)
3. Jolly Roger
4. She sits at the window
5. Lady Chatterley’s Dream
6. Nations Nations
7. Liberty
8. Naughty Daddy
9. Navajo Joe
10. The lure of Paris
11. Club Apache
12. The devil can take me
13. Alien Folk Valediction

[Jude Cowan Official Site]

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The post Album Review: Doodlebug Alley by Jude Cowan first appeared on Collected Sounds.

Album Name: The Birth and Death of Meaning
Artist: The Debutante Hour
Year/Label: 2010 / Independent

[Buy at Amazon] (pricey)
[Download at Amazon]

Review by Anna Maria Stjärnell

The Debutante Hour plays charmingly retro though not necessarily nostalgic music.

Opener Your Worldview Gets Me Down has sweet vocals and sharp words, and an accordion to make for a lovely sound.
It sounds like Nellie McKay can look over her shoulder for this competition is very fierce.

Miracle Birth is a neat account of the birth of some deities with a delightfully skewed humor and spot on harmonies.

Organizing My Planner for Next Week is equally smart, the trio of Susan Hwang, Mia Pixley and Maria Sonevytsky bringing their attention to modern day problems like information overload. Musically it’s still the same old-fashioned yet fresh sound.

Sometimes I Wonder About the Creator of the Universe has a sweet melody to underpin its existential crisis. The lead vocal is astute and lovely.

Elsewhere there are songs about zombies and 4th dimensions and all done in the most charming way possible. It’s a great album to spend some time with.

Track Listing
1. Your Worldview Gets Me Down
2. Devil Song
3. Miracle Birth
4. Galax
5. Sunday In The Trailer
6. Watch Carrie Eat
7. Organizing My Planner For Next Week
8. For Myself
9. Sometimes I Wonder About The Creator Of The Universe
10. Zombies Are Zen
11. 4th Dimension
12. Croak, Hiss And Sputter
13. Scheherazade
14. Be Yourself

[The Debutante Hour Official Site]

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The post Album Review: The Birth and Death of Meaning by The Debutante Hour first appeared on Collected Sounds.

Album Name: Water Into Wine
Artist: Ellen Woloshin
Year/Label: 2010 / 58th Street Records

[Buy at Amazon]
[Download at Amazon]

Review by David Adair

It’s always a rocky, often long and drawn out road to tread, when a songwriter who has penned numbers for the likes of Dionne Warwick, sets out alone. New York resident, Ellen Woloshin seems to be making steady progress, as is confirmed in her new eleven track forage. Opening up with harmless and longing string spiked mini-epic, Making My Way Back (To Free) that’s friendly if a little unadventurous. More body and vocal echo that disperses a searching narrative with cold clarity is deftly applied for Joanna. A winding instrumental spread gives hope to cushion the delicately dealt blows of the fatalistic lyrics:

Something’s you just can’t change, you can turn every stone; you can try your hardest.

The tear in your soul remains and there’s nothing to do except cry your heart out.

Flitting from the haunting touch of Belinda Carlisle to the more colourful nod of Donna Lewis that is backed to the hilt, by an expressive and occasionally rising backing band, this album builds up in range, as the intrigue factor keeps on ticking over. Where Does All The Time Go, uses a partly harrowing and wandering key trickle to build up to the hovering alto vocals that speak of a worldly wisdom, promoting a positive outlook no matter what stage of life you’re in. Caressing backing vocals helps to make it warming, as well as serious and reflective. Pleading touches litter the album with a fleeting sense of urgency that contrasts with the often leisurely and composed vocal gait. A patting percussion pushed and stirringly charming run through The Beatles classic We Can Work It Out, illuminates Ellen’s ability to add life and her own slant to thoughtful numbers from bygone pop days.

Just Come Home, scatters out soulful defiance that seeps into the masterfully sung Let It Go Now, as a free spirit starts to grow. Woloshin is continuing to embolden in her song-writing flame that contains enough spirit, a little gusto, plenty of personality and a charming poetic resonance to help her make her own mark.

Rating; 3.5/5

Track Listing
1. Making My Way Back (To Free)
3. In My Dream
4. Round We Go Again
5. Where Does All the Time Go
6. We Can Work It Out
7. Don’t Talk to Me That Way
8. The Words
9. Just Come Home
10. Let It Go Now
11. You Break My Fall

[Ellen Woloshin Official Site]

The post Album Review: Water Into Wine by Ellen Woloshin first appeared on Collected Sounds.

Album Name: My Star
Artist: Marina V
Year/Label: 2010 / Independent
[Buy at Marina’s Site]
[eMusic]

Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

I’ve reviewed Marina V several times in the past. I’ve had this one in my rotation for a few months now and perhaps I haven’t moved on it because I don’t want to have to remove it.

This is one of those albums that’s hard to review but that doesn’t mean I don’t love it. I do. And I adore Marina in general. It’s just that I’m not sure what I can say that hasn’t been said by me or someone else. Her releases are always lovely.

She opens with You Make Me Beautiful which is classic Marina. Catchy and massively appealing while still having an edge.

Her voice is just so warm and comforting. It always makes me smile.

Unbalanced is almost orchestral. It’s upbeat, but there’s a lot going on.

Tonkaya Ryabina is in Russian as you may have guessed. It’s a capella so her voice really shines.

Magical Christmas is sort of cabaret-ish with heavy showcase on piano, it sounds like we should be in a lounge sipping a peppermint martini. And it’s a lovely way to end the album.

Track Listing
1. You Make Me Beautiful
2. Thursday Song
3. Blue for You
4. My Star
5. Killing My Dream
6. Don’t Cry
7. Unbalanced
8. Weight of the World
9. Tonkaya Ryabina
Bonus track
10. Magical Christmas

[Marina V Official Site]

The post Album Review: My Star by Marina V first appeared on Collected Sounds.

Album Name: Under
Artist: Kenny Schick/Basement 3
Year/Label: 2010 / Basement 3

[Buy at Amazon]
[Download at Amazon]

Review by Anna Maria Stjärnell

Kenny Schick is one half of Artemesia Black, but the records solo also. He has a rather sparse, but intriguing sound on this effort.
His voice is well up to the task.

Ghost is a soft yet haunting song where his guitar does a few neat things. It’s kinda bluesy and has a lot of charm.

He covers Gillian Welch’s The Revelator nicely and it gets a good reading. Artemesia Black has also done a Welch cover so clearly he likes her stuff.

Opposite is calm and well played, Schick getting some vocal support by Sabiné Heusler. It’s an appealing song in all.

Back Home is a slow song that really shows off Schick’s skill with the guitar.

This is a very nice little album.

Track Listing
1. Bottom of the World
2. Ghost
3. Summer
4. Revelator
5. Rain
6. Kiss
7. Opposite
8. Calling You
9. Go
10. Sun Goes Down
11. Play
12. Back Home
13. Black and Blue
14. Sweetest Sting(Beena)

[Kenny Schick Official Site]

The post Album Review: Under by Kenny Schick first appeared on Collected Sounds.