2429
(1 vote, average 5.00 out of 5)
Written by Gregg Shapiro
Feb 24, 2011
Sarah McLachlan performs on March 11 at The Riverside in Milwaukee. – Photo: Courtesy
Sarah McLachlan
Divorce and ending a once loving relationship are ugly and painful processes. As if we needed to be reminded of that, “Laws of Illusion” (Arista), the most difficult album of Sarah McLachlan’s career, drives the point home over the course of a dozen tracks. A long way from “Fumbling Towards Ecstasy,” “Laws of Illusion” opens with “Awakenings,” on which McLachlan sings about how “cracks began to show as soon as things got hard,” and it’s more or less downhill from there. The disc’s saving grace is McLachlan. Her vocal style elevates the subject above the potential dirge-like affair that could have been.
KT Tunstall
In many ways, KT Tunstall is the opposite of McLachlan, and not just because of the difference in vocal qualities. Tunstall takes her tough-cookie persona to new and astounding heights on her third album “Tiger Suit” (Virgin/Relentless), easily surpassing the achievements of her first two studio recordings.
The disc gets off to a roaring start with “Uummannaq Song,” which has an enticing beat and a message of empowerment. The appealing rhythms don’t let up on “Glamour Puss,” “Fade Like A Shadow” or “Come On, Get In.” But Tunstall has more up her striped sleeve, as you can hear on the gorgeous closer “The Entertainer” and the easy-to-like “Difficulty.”
Sara Bareilles
Three years have passed since Sara Bareilles’ major-label debut “Little Voice” was released, but that disc’s hit single “Love Song” can still regularly be heard on the radio. That’s saying something.
If you’re looking for that song’s equivalent on “Kaleidoscope Heart” (Epic), you might not find it. Instead of attempting to mimic her earlier hit, Bareilles chose to grow as a singer/songwriter. With tracks such as “Uncharted,” “Gonna Get Over You,” “King of Anything” and “Breathe Again,” Bareilles continues to develop her talent.
Tracy Bonham and Paula Cole
In the 1990s, before there was a KT Tunstall or Sara Bareilles, there was Tracy Bonham and Paula Cole. Bonham and Cole made significant contributions to the music of that decade and continue to make music that is worthy of attention. Bonham’s “Mast of Manhatta” (Engine Room), still finds her with violin in tow (check out “Big Red Heart” and “Josephine”), while Cole turns up the drama on “Ithaca” (Decca) on songs such as “Elegy,” “The Hard Way” and “Somethin’ I’ve Got To Say.”
Tift Merritt
Tift Merritt brings a touch of twang to the party on “See You On The Moon” (Fantasy). That’s not to say she’s a regular Miranda Lambert or Carrie Underwood. On the contrary, Merritt doesn’t get bogged down in the country swamp. On marvelous tunes such as “Mixtape,” “The Things That Everybody Does” and “Papercut,” she defies categorization. With “See You On The Moon,” Merritt demonstrates the sky’s the limit.
Jane Monheit
Chanteuse Jane Monheit has been working her way through the standards in the American songbook for 10 or so years. On “Home” (Emarcy) she touches on both familiar and lesser-known tunes and even shares the spotlight with guests John Pizzarelli (on “Tonight You Belong To Me”) and Peter Eldridge (“It’s Only Smoke”). The album’s centerpiece is Monheit’s heartfelt reading of “I’ll Be Around.”
Kristine W
Few dance music enthusiasts would dispute Kristine W’s place in the pantheon of disco divas. But it’s easy to understand how she might want to display her amazing talents in other ways.
On the double disc “Straight Up With A Twist” (Fly Again), the divine Miss W slows things down a bit and goes for a lounge feel. The concept is especially intriguing when we get to hear her originals, including such dance sensations as “Stronger,” “Feel What You Want” and “Wonder Of It All,” in this setting.
