Customer Reviews

Dandelion

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Claire Holley is one among a huge crowd of women working the singer-songwriter beat these days. She's an excellent singer, and has the ability to write a catchy hook now and again to make her best songs memorable. Her southern roots are also reflected strongly in the stories behind her songs. All of that said, Holley ranks one notch or so below the top talents like Patty Griffin, Lucinda WIlliams, Caitlin Cary and Tift Merrit.

The highlights on "Dandelion" include the blistering country-rock opener "6 Miles to McKenney," the title track, "Waiting for the Whales," and the sublimely hummable "Waving Goodbye." In between some of the songs are less engaging, but enough of them are first rate to make the album a worthwhile winner.

This album has thoughtful, sometimes funny, songwriting, catchy melodies and, above all, the lovely voice of Claire Holley. Keep an eye on this rising singer-songwriter.

bottom line: incredible lyrics, incredible guitar, incredible voice. you won't regret this purchase!

There are two elements of this album that stand out in immediate relief. First is the exquisite recording quality, a sound that leaps from the speakers with an articulation uncommon to both indie and major-label releases. Second is the inscrutably memorable opening track, with a bluesy slide guitar and harmonica hook that drive the title's refrain deeply into one's song memory. Hum "Stuck in the Middle With You" (or something from Sheryl Crow's debut) in your head and you'll get the idea.

The rest of Holley's fourth album is a mellower affair, pleasantly taking advantage of the production quality, but never quite living up to the spark of the lead. At times she sounds like an Americana version of UK singer Donna Lewis, with perhaps a twist of Jewel's (or '60s folky Melanie's) naiveté and Suzanne Vega's sophistication. The warmth of Holley's voice, and her laid-back delivery, adds mood to the music more than it carries a lyrical message. What sticks in with the listener are the melodies and musical colorations more than the story details. Holley's voice is so pretty that it can be difficult to focus beyond its sound as an instrument.

"Henry's" is more effective in communicating the song's rainy-afternoon setting, delineated by the song's electric piano and laconic vocal, than revealing the protagonist's story. Similarly, "Waiting for the Whales to Come" strikes home more with its loopy bass-heavy mix than its tale of whale watching. Several of Holley's songs sketch memorable characters or details, but the vocals require either intense concentration or lyric sheet reading to fully gather the stories. For the most part, Holley blends into the electric folk-rock backings, rendering this more mood music than statement. That's not necessarily a bad thing - this is an exceptionally pleasant spin - but it's probably not what a singer-songwriter aims for.

3-3/4 stars, if allowed fractional ratings.

One of the best albums of 2003 was this release from Mississippi native Claire Holley, and it is in the same ever-expanding bag of Americana roots rock that includes Tift Merritt, and such veterans as Lucinda Williams.

Claire's approach is more Southern blues-oriented than many other Americana female singer/songwriters, who tend to lean on country and folk-rock inflections, but those Southern roots do show through on DANDELION, particularly on the album's opening track "6 Miles To McKenney"--a track that, if this were still the 1970s or if corporate radio would give it a chance, could be a very big hit. Claire is an effective enough vocalist, and her guitar skills are not too shabby either.

For anyone with a taste for Americana and roots-rock, DANDELION is the perfect form of Southern Comfort.

I'm not familiar with her previous albums, but I understand she's been primarily a singer/songwriter or gospel/folk type artist. She works in some rock & country influences into several of the songs particularly "6 Miles to McKenney" which is a song that will stick in your mind the first time you hear it.

Some songs are really fun like "6 Miles" and "Waiting for the Whales" (What is this about? I grew up on the East Coast and have never heard of such a thing) and others are more melanchony and thoughtful ala "Dandelion" and "Sugar".

I got introduced to her live as she's local but for those that are not, to compare her to some singers that are more nationally known, I'd say if you like Sheryl Crow, Natalie Merchant (pre-solo career) or Nancy Wilson (70's Heart) you'd take to this CD as well.

I enjoyed Holley's first album a lot, but this one IMO is
even better. Besides the 'snapshot' story songs of (mainly) Southern life, there're some snarly blues ones akin to Lucinda
Williams like '6 Miles to McKenney.' She has some of the same 'cinematic' observational approach to songs as Kathleen Edwards
too. But instead of the dour melancholy of Edwards or Williams, there's a more tender aspect, & a couple songs like "Waiting for Whales" have some offbeat humor tossed in! And she has a vocal delicacy not so far from Tift Merritt too. Great stuff I think.

Contrived vacuity and forgetable monotony -- with a condescending attitude. Don't bother.