Lucy Angel EP Review – Track by track
by Christian Lamitschka for Country Music News International Magazine & Radio Show
1. Serious
2. I’ll Be Your Whiskey
3. Only Woman Left
4. Color Love Blue
5. I’d Be Lyin’
Label – Gforce http://gforcemusicgroup.com/
GFM 1001
Release Date – 23 November 2010
Time – 20:19
Wwww
When this self-titled EP arrived it took me some considerable time to remove the shrink-wrap as the cover picture is most certainly appealing, with flowing goldilocks hair and sexy attire their striking looks make for a triple treat. So does the music match this hotness? – Indeed it does!
This 5-track offering is produced by Nashville songwriting prodigy Anthony Smith. He co-writes on 3 of the tracks and is someone who has penned songs in country circles for George Strait (‘Cowboys Like Us’), Tim McGraw (‘Kristofferson’, ‘Kill Myself’), Reba McEntire (‘It Just Has to Be This Way’), Suzy Bogguss ‘How Come You Go to Her’ and Rascal Flatts (‘My Worst Fear’). On this project he has recruited some stellar tunesmiths.
It kicks off with the up-tempo rocker ‘Serious’, which is anything but! It was originally aimed for a male artist, co-writer David Lee Murphy sang the demo and they soon released it could be adapted as a fun girly number. Murphy has country #1’s to his credit with ‘Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not’ (Thompson Square), ‘Big Green Tractor’ (Jason Aldean) along with ‘Living in Fast Forward’ (Kenny Chesney). Chris Wallin whose scored ‘Don’t Blink’, ‘Got A Little Crazy’ (Kenny Chesney) and ‘Famous People’ (Brad Paisley) makes up the song writing trio. Instead of lyin’ on the big ol’ couch, opening some wine and watching a TV movie these ladies are going to leave the roses and candle lights for another night. They’re ready to party, make mama nervous, daddy proud and have fun. Over a palette of the distinctive Hammond sound and driving guitar riffs they cry out – “Were goin’ to paint it up, were gonna burn it down, were gonna party like we own this town!
‘I’ll be Your Whiskey’, with its gentle acoustic opening and a swampy dobro develops into a gritty vibe and rocky affair. It was written by the prolific writers Hillary Lindsey (Carrie Underwood ‘Jesus Take The Wheel’, Sara Evans ‘A Little Bit Stronger’ , Lady Antebellum ‘American Honey’, Taylor Swift ‘Fearless’, Martina McBride ‘Blessed’, Julie Roberts ‘Men & Mascara’) and Brett James whose songs have been recorded by Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Sara Evans and the UK’s Leona Lewis.
The lead is edgy and the close harmonies are haunting as the woman reaches out to her man in the chorus lines: “I’ll be your whiskey when your dry, I’ll be your water I’ll be your wine”, but points to abuse with “I’ll be the one you love to fight, when your thirsty”. Is the demon drink the result of a relationship gone wrong – “that worn out door has seen enough of your heart breaking”? In desperation the woman demands the bottle be cast out of the window, she’s got the big fix, the remedy that will make him high.
“Only Woman Left” is a roll down the window dance carefree catchy number. This is modern high energy country/pop/rock at its best. Written with Sarah Buxton (Keith Urban ‘Stupid Boy’, Sara Evans ‘Never Alone’, and Katie Armiger ‘Kiss Me Now’) this is an immediate attention grabber. It ebbs and flows beautifully with Wilson Phillips-like “oohs” and packs a punch on the chorus. This woman isn’t interested in small talk, flash cars, diamonds or a “random get lucky” kind of guy. She needs a man to love her like she’s the only woman left in the world!
‘Color Love Blue’ is a gorgeous sweet country heartbreaker, it’s sparse but sparkles. Smith collaborates with renowned BMI songwriter, Carson Chamberlain whose written #1 singles, ‘Love’s Got a Hold On You’, ‘Everything I Love’ (Alan Jackson) and co-wrote the George Strait’s chart topper ‘The Best Day’. Lindsay Anderton takes the lead, sung with a quality that brings to mind Martina McBride with silky smooth vocal back up. Spanish guitar, weeping steel and soft percussion combine to brush strokes onto a musical canvas. Reflecting on love gone sour thoughts turn to hands held under a yellow moon, dreams in a field so green and red roses for Valentines that lit up a black sky – ‘The paints about out, down to one color now, so color love blue’
The anguish on ‘I’d Be Lyin’ is felt with every heartfelt word. The listener is engaged from its delicate opening with Kate Anderton (Epiphone acoustic/electric mandolin) and the arrangement picks up speed with orchestration underpinned by a heavy guitar riff and a rip roaring solo. After a break-up this woman’s world is left in turmoil, a deep love has changed her. The truth is she’s lonely and hurting and attempts to hold it together: ‘I don’t want someone to hold me that I didn’t spend a few nights crying’. With time she’s climbed the emotionally mountain and those hollow feelings have diminished. Glimpsing in the mirror she recognizes someone who’s now ready to move on.
Get serious, make a date with Lucy Angel and you won’t regret it x
Livewire
Amazon.com MP3 – http://www.amazon.com/Lucy-Angel/dp/B004DF9FBI/
Amazon UK MP3 – http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lucy-Angel/dp/B004DG3RVG/
Amazon.com EP – http://www.amazon.com/Lucy-Angel/dp/B004IV8IN8/
iTunes American Store – http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/lucy-angel/id405501062
iTunes UK Store http://itunes.apple.com/gb/artist/lucy-angel/id395955808