From the everything-old-is-new-again file comes Mary Cutrufello. A singer-songwriter-guitarslinger, Cutrufello recalls on her debut the blue-collar grit of Bruce Springsteen, the whiskey soul of Rod Stewart, the tough-girl... more » rock of Melissa Etheridge, and, yes, even the arena-rock fist pump of Bon Jovi. Sure, the Yale-educated, Texas-based newcomer's throaty vocal gymnastics and very macho presence sometimes feels overblown. And some songs weigh heavy with rock clichés (hence the Bon Jovi and Etheridge references). But Cutrufello's downside is countered by an upside of unmitigated rock & roll bliss--tracks such as the rollicking, anthemic "Sunny Day" and the groovy, Black Crowes-like "Sweet Promise." Here is the perfect soundtrack for a Saturday with your head under the hood of a '72 Mustang. --Neal Weiss« less
From the everything-old-is-new-again file comes Mary Cutrufello. A singer-songwriter-guitarslinger, Cutrufello recalls on her debut the blue-collar grit of Bruce Springsteen, the whiskey soul of Rod Stewart, the tough-girl rock of Melissa Etheridge, and, yes, even the arena-rock fist pump of Bon Jovi. Sure, the Yale-educated, Texas-based newcomer's throaty vocal gymnastics and very macho presence sometimes feels overblown. And some songs weigh heavy with rock clichés (hence the Bon Jovi and Etheridge references). But Cutrufello's downside is countered by an upside of unmitigated rock & roll bliss--tracks such as the rollicking, anthemic "Sunny Day" and the groovy, Black Crowes-like "Sweet Promise." Here is the perfect soundtrack for a Saturday with your head under the hood of a '72 Mustang. --Neal Weiss
Ross B. from MEGGETT, SC Reviewed on 12/19/2006...
CD and all inserts as new. Mailed without the case to save on postage!!!
0 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.
CD Reviews
Forceful Country-Blues-Rock full of fun
10/12/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Mary Cutrufello is hard to describe but should be a household name in the near future. Her writing and playing is exceptional for its straight ahead force and melody. Lyrics are intelligent and fit the music seamlessly. If I find a fault it is a slight overproduction of the studio album. Mary would be better heard live or recorded straight from a live show (as in her great private issue album 'Who to Love and When to Leave'. Still, 'When the Night is Through' is a must hear!"
Kickass rocker!
mrjaxn | Ames, IA USA | 04/20/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Before buying this CD, my wife & saw her do a live show. She is the real deal, this debut release captures her passion and fire quite well. Waiting for her sophomore effort anxiously! Gimme Mary over these bubblegum popsters anytime!"
THIS GIRL CAN SING!
Patrick Earley | Edmond, Oklahoma USA | 07/20/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is female rock and roll at it's finest. Mary Cutrufello completes the trifecta of being a good guitar player, a great songwriter, and an excellent singer. Her sound is a little like a young John Mellencamp, with the energy of Mellisa Etheridge or Bruce Springsteen in his heyday. The thing that distinguishes her from the rest is she can outsing them all. Some of my favorite cuts here: the opening rock burner Sunny Day. The very Mellencamp sounding "Sad Sad World". The hook laden "Two Hard Roads", my favorite here that features some of her best singing. "Tired and Thirty" is a 6 minute anthem of squandered love, lonliness, and despair. Mournful lyrics but a great tune. In fact, the whole album is pretty much stories about lost love. She has enough sad tales on here to make an old bluesman proud, but this is pure straight ahead, energetic rock and roll. These are all smart catchy tunes that are a good showcase for one of the strongest voices in rock. With talent to spare, I can't wait to hear what she comes up with next. Highly recommended!"
Less Texas,more Jersey and Britrock. Still good.
Patrick Earley | 09/08/1999
(3 out of 5 stars)
"When Mary and her Telecaster, w/ "Yale" written on the headstock, came down to Texas, all her club gigs were more countryfied. Then she did a spell playing guitar for Jimmie Dale Gilmore. I think most of us were surprised by her CD...pleasantly surprised.A more rockin' sound. She has the goods- she can write,play,and perform. She derserves to be heard.Get this CD."
This one grows and grows
HANS D HARMS | runaway bay, QLD Australia | 09/28/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"After every listen you find yourself liking this more and more. What a telented woman MARY is. She writes all the songs - and there are no duds on this cd - plays all the guitar parts ( very good indeed ) and arranges the horns. Think a mix of ARMATRADING and SPRINGSTEEN and you'd be pretty close. Her rough vocals and thoughfull lyrics convey a lot of emotion and feeling. At times she gets almost a TOM WAITS quality to her delivery. Why this woman is not big is hard to explain. With all the bimbo blond warblers that pass for musos it is refreshing to hear some honest musik from this extremely talented woman. She should be selling CD's in huge numbers and the SPEARS and SIMPSON bimbos should sell calenders instead of the putrid musical insults to intelligent listeners over 12."