Vicky Emerson - "Vicky Emerson"
It's been a couple of years since Vicky Emerson's last CD, "reach", and I'm not sure whether it was her move from Minnesota to NYC during that time, but her music has gone from that album being good, to her new self-titled album being great! Kicking off with the bluesy "wheat fields", Vicky grabs your attention in the same way Lucinda Williams is so good at. From there the album goes to a beautiful mid-tempo country song, "the hey hey song", mixing a traditional R&R backbeat with steel guitar, for a fun song that makes me smile every time I hear it. Track three finds Vicky changing gears again to a piano laden country-styled ballad, "I miss you (more than I usually do)". "Mauna Loa Lane Romance" (track four), continues to change things up with a lively jaunty jive country song. These first four songs showcase Vicky's versatility as a singer/songwriter, and the strength of her voice and music as the songs flow together well and never leave you feeling disjointed. In fact, I think it is the diversity of this album, mixed with the strength of her compelling vocals and the wonderful musicians who back her on this album, that makes it so enticing and entertaining. Throughout the 13 tracks of "Vicky Emerson", I found myself alternately smiling and wanting to dance, and on other songs wanting to cry in my beer. That's the power of this album. Even a cover of, "amazing grace", a song we've all heard covered many times, was emotionally stirring with this simple instrumental rendition of piano and guitar. "Vicky Emerson", is a brilliant album, one that had I received it in 2007, would have certainly made my top 25 albums of 2007.
www.vickyemerson.com
It's been a couple of years since Vicky Emerson's last CD, "reach", and I'm not sure whether it was her move from Minnesota to NYC during that time, but her music has gone from that album being good, to her new self-titled album being great! Kicking off with the bluesy "wheat fields", Vicky grabs your attention in the same way Lucinda Williams is so good at. From there the album goes to a beautiful mid-tempo country song, "the hey hey song", mixing a traditional R&R backbeat with steel guitar, for a fun song that makes me smile every time I hear it. Track three finds Vicky changing gears again to a piano laden country-styled ballad, "I miss you (more than I usually do)". "Mauna Loa Lane Romance" (track four), continues to change things up with a lively jaunty jive country song. These first four songs showcase Vicky's versatility as a singer/songwriter, and the strength of her voice and music as the songs flow together well and never leave you feeling disjointed. In fact, I think it is the diversity of this album, mixed with the strength of her compelling vocals and the wonderful musicians who back her on this album, that makes it so enticing and entertaining. Throughout the 13 tracks of "Vicky Emerson", I found myself alternately smiling and wanting to dance, and on other songs wanting to cry in my beer. That's the power of this album. Even a cover of, "amazing grace", a song we've all heard covered many times, was emotionally stirring with this simple instrumental rendition of piano and guitar. "Vicky Emerson", is a brilliant album, one that had I received it in 2007, would have certainly made my top 25 albums of 2007.
www.vickyemerson.com