By comparing herself to No Doubt's Gwen Stefani, Amy Roberts (http://www.amyro.com) is actually selling herself short; Stefani never had this much soul in her voice. In fact, Stefani's range is downright thin compared to Roberts'. But that is the reality of the music business which finds Stefani constantly on the charts but Roberts still a relative unknown. Considering how good this record is, that actually might not last long.
If there's a flaw in Roberts' songs, it's that they don't stick to you right away; the tunes grown on you, gradually unveiling the subtle charms and polished studio touches that make for worthwhile listening. "Butterfly" recalls the Cardigans in their Hot AC heyday ten years ago, namely because of Roberts' schoolgirl innocent voice; when the song picks up tempo, it is utterly delicious.
|
"How Sweet" sneaks into R&B territory, but not the faux R&B of today; rather, Roberts delivers a bluesy take on the song's melancholy lyrics of a failed relationship. The mellow, soothing "Without U" and "Shelf" place an increased emphasis on Roberts' vocals, which is reminiscent of Dido's longing croon on these tracks.
"Come Back" is basically Roberts' "Don't Speak" except that Stefani never plumbed the depths of sadness as Roberts does here. The emotions sound real, and it's a tearjerker that could become a classic given a sympathetic ear by radio programmers.
|
