Search - Anna Waronker :: Anna By Anna Waronker

Anna Waronker works hard with what she's got on her debut solo album. The former frontwoman for That Dog writes, sings, plays the majority of the instruments, and produces. But even with her stamp on nearly everything, she manages to sound like nearly everyone else. The album vacillates between a variety of prototypical indie-rock goddesses: "Beautiful" hints at Stevie Nicks, "Perfect Ten" sounds a lot like a Polly Jean Harvey's "Meet Ze Monsta," and the chord progression, lyrics, and even delivery of "Nothing Personal" seem to channel Courtney Love ("It's the season of the witch tonight / Is it worth it to be rich tonight?"). Still, the album is not without its own merits. Anna chews her words and carefully spits them out-—her enunciation and phrasing give strength and range to a fairly reedy voice. That voice is at its most distinctive in its upper register, where the plaintive, little-girl sweetness actually rings true. And if she pursues more songs like "John and Maria," she'll make quite a name for herself. --Laura Etling