CD REVIEW: Beth Thornley – “Beth Thornley”
By Stacey Board - 06/18/2003 - 04:08 PM EDT
Artist: Beth Thornley Album: “Beth Thornley” CD Review:
This is a very impressive CD debut from a strong band. I can’t help but make the reference to Fiona because I hear a dash of Jon Brion in the mix. There are reminiscent twist and turns in the production and arrangement. But the sound has a lot less brooding and a lot more playful humor than Fiona. There is also some British Invasion retro influence in the sound, a la Smashmouth but Thornley’s nice sweet pipes make it less heavy hitting than that sound.
I guess the point is that I definitely appreciate the creative surprises they use in their arrangement choices because they make the songs much less predictable to the ear.
It's very impressive that this is a band self-produced CD. Rob Cairns is one of the band members, but is also given production and recording credits. My hat is off to him for getting such a rich, varied and professional sound in the CD. He also shares some co-writing credit with Thornley. But there is no mistaking that Beth is the centerpiece of the sound. She is a strong writer, with many melodic and rhythmic surprises up her sleeve, and a really nice vocal sound also.
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