For the first couple of listens this album itches like an itch you can’t scratch.
The opening track 'Plenty' is a haunting piano led track with cello and classical guitar. And then it came to me - its like early Tori Amos. And probably the best track on the album.
Although Sandra comes out of Nashville, this isn’t C&W. It was recorded and mixed by Ray Kennedy - spouse of River City People’s Siobhan Maher-Kennedy. And there are parallels to Siobhan’s hubby-produced debut released in 2002.
It’s that post Shania / Mutt Lange country sound - radio friendly, non-poppy but nevertheless undeniably commercial with a just a hint of c&w here and there.
Like Siobhan’s, Sandra’s album is perfectly pleasant and well produced, but it's another of those where the artist constantly reminds of others as opposed to making it their own - despite the bulk of the material being self penned.
It’s really hard to pinpoint who Sandra sounds like - Tori is just one of many. But at the end of the day this amounts to nothing more than wallpaper music. And covering Peter Sarstedt’s Where Do You Go To My Lovely was just a mistake.
***** Out of this world | **** Pretty
damn fine |
*** OK, approach with caution unless you are a fan |
** Instant bargain bin fodder | * Ugly. Just ugly
