The truth about this CD is out there...
Greg Brady | Capital City | 01/06/2005
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Like most who sampled this, I was hooked by the askew pop tribute to X-files star David Duchovny. The ephemeral nature of pop icons probably tends to make people overlook this album as an artifact of the past decade, but that's writing Sharp off too easily. Lyrics claiming the TV spookchaser is the "American Heathcliff" and the stalkerish menace of the fadeout "I'll be waiting in Nevada" hint at the abilities Bree possesses. A listen to the album reveals an awful lot for your about $5 used.
HIGHLIGHTS:
"America" simultaneously castigates ("sit back, relax, enjoy the war from your living room") and celebrates ("All I know is my lonely soul and the remote control") consumerism and apathy, while "Fallen" addresses the issues of poverty and suffering viewed through the lens of a little girl's eyes, perhaps Bree's own? ("Why doesn't everyone have what they need? Where are the angels?"). While "Fallen" may be the album's strongest song, loose male harmony vocals keep the chorus from being what it could be. "Cheap and Evil Girl" puts Bree in the shoes of a femme fatale who toys with boys AND the law ("The dumb gumshoe making his rounds, shaking all the wrong girls down").
LOWS:
Probably the only completely lackluster tracks on this one for me are "Show Me" which seems out of place as it careens between angsty rock and formulaic pop..and "Fool's Gold" which is a by the numbers disillusionment tale.
BOTTOM LINE:
Better than the bargain bins you find her in...think of her as Sheryl Crow with more snarl and better lyrics in general. I'll be looking for a copy of Sharp's followup "More B.S." now...
3 1/2 stars"