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CD REVIEW: Kat Maxwell - One Day
By Steve Allat - 11/02/2004 - 01:50 AM EST

Artist: Kat Maxwell
Album: One Day
CD Review: Label: Independent - good girls say no records
Tracks: 8
Released: 2003
For Fans Of: PJ Harvey, Ani DiFranco, Edie Brickell, Natalie Merchant, Garbage, Concrete Blonde, Hole, The Pretenders
Fav Tracks: Run, It's Ok, Picture (acoustic).

'Run' starts off Kat's debut disc and you can tell from the start that she's out to get your attention and run with it. Compelling you to listen. And it worked. I did listen.

A mix of edgy grooves and Kat's expressive vocals. The songs hold a nice groove below the strong, ethereal voice. A little on the sad side of life, but very strong songs nonetheless (I loved Natalie Merchant's 'Ophelia' so I shouldn't complain too much about the melancholy genre).
Her vocals also border on sloppy at times, but in the name of style, I'll give her that one.
You can hear that she is very serious about performing, and I can imagine that her and her guitar put on a heartfelt show and it would sound great.

All of the above mentioned influences (For Fans Of) can be heard distinctly throughout the disc, something that Kat would do well to assimilate and transcend completely. Musically, a riff or two may turn your head, but otherwise the music serves the melody well all the way through, and overall it's a very cohesive set of songs.

Still, her songs as recorded her are just a step away from the power that I feel she's holding inside. The music attempts to match the songs and her performances but falls a bit short. I'd say either go full out on the next attempt or just let Kat & her guitar show the way.

A few general notes:
On 'Its Ok', the (intended) buried vocals are a bit too . . . buried.
The Acoustic version of 'Picture' is a great finisher, leading us into what a live performance could be like, and wanting me to hear more of these songs delivered in a coffee-house setting instead of perhaps trying to be something they were never destined to be.

Contact: Kat
Website: Kat Maxwell


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