| Rootsy chanteuse
Cathy Braaten has a crystalline, expressive voice that can evoke a bit of Ricky Lee Jones'
breathiness and sultriness, with nods to the likes of Sheryl Crow and Sarah Mclachlan. On
her well-crafted 4th release All in My Head, she is joined by an extremely
sympathetic band, replete with Hammond B3, moog, electric violin, ulian pipes and dobro.
The musicians add color and texture appropriate to each song's mood, and while this disc
is hyper-arranged, to their credit, these flourishes frame rather than overpower Braaten's
voice. The production's slick and polished, as Braaten croons her way through opener
"You Turn Me On," a sexy paean to someone who reignites the fire in her soul.
"Angels and Me" shines with a loping, lazy beat and mellotron for accompaniment,
but, again, it's Braaten's voice on the melodic chorus that painstakingly hits home. Like
Beth Orton, Braaten seems most at home on the more melancholy numbers, and to these ears,
more original. On tracks like "Runnin' in the Rain," and the title track with
its pristine cello, she seems able to lift herself up from what is an obviously
accomplished and serviceable effort to what could be considered innovative or remarkable.
In an age when the radio only seems to allow one or two female singers, or cult
personalities, their due at a time, Braaten - who is mining neither hard rock nor teeny
bop - could be the Alanis for the less damaged set, or the feel-good version of a
not-so-twisted Aimee Mann. Whether or not you sing the praises of All in My Head
may depend on whether you find the relative angstlessness of her muse refreshing or a bit
plain.
Cathy Braaten Web Site
Upcoming Cathy Braaten Show Dates
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