Beautiful folk, confidently performed.
D. Mok | Los Angeles, CA | 06/08/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Hawaiian folk chanteuse Diesel's got a highly unfitting stage name. Not only is there already an industrial band by the name of Diesel, but the rough n' tumble word offers up the exact opposite image to what her music evokes. Diesel's songs are sweet, unhurried folk gems, with pop and country leanings, and her voice is a steady, cool breeze. Shawn Colvin is the name that comes to mind. Other than gripes about the name and sometimes sentimental lyrics, though, this record is great -- well sung, well performed acoustic music, Diesel's warm voice supple and inviting.The album begins strong with the melodic, harmony-rich "I'm Always Coming Home", carrying through Diesel's original song "Never Enough", with an insistent country-rock beat and an ambitious lyric about malcontent and hope, marred by too tough a guitar solo. This entire album is dismayingly light on her originals, but the songs are great: "Already SOmebody's Lover" shows Diesel's deft hand with a ballad, her perfect pitch allowing her to stay laid back and relaxed in her singing but never relinquishing control as a lead singer; the poppy "Standing Too Close to the Moon" is catchy, if only that chorus didn't slack up as much (those chord progressions and that melody in double-time would sound gorgeous); "Love Can't Live with Lies" is beautiful, the keyboard piano and acoustic guitar engaging in lovely interplay, and soaring vocal arrangements. "Hero to Zero" is also a country-pop gem (the hook is almost a reversal of a Black Sabbath song!).Well worth buying, unless you dread all acoustic music."
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1