| This seven-song tour (with one song,
"Wishing Star" repeated twice, with both pop and country treatments) from
Paulina Franz focuses on her ballsy bluesy voice. With competent, yet fairly generic light
rock arrangements (especially "Stand by Me," with its Muzak synth sounds) behind
it. Still, if you like your rock light, with a bit of righteous R&B thrown in via
breakbeats and backup vocals, "Stand by Me" has the quality of an urban radio
makeout rack, and it stands apart from the pop rock fare. Franz is no neophyte singer,
either, and one hears a bit of Sheryl Crow in her gritty lilt, even Melissa Etheridge, on
"Teach Me," a rocking rave-up with guitar up front and soulful backup vocals.
Lyrically, it's not a stretch to relate to these songs about deserving true love, feeling
free like a bird, wishing for love, being lost and lonely -- the stuff of human longing.
In fact, a heartfelt cover of the classic "Angel From Montgomery" (made famous
by Bonnie Raitt, and also covered by Dave Matthews, Jackson Browne, etc.) may be the most
authentic track for Franz, its unmistakable bluegrass honky-tonk gloom cast further
downward by an unmistakable sincerity and a judicious use of pedal steel. Make no mistake,
Franz is in a league with scores of divas in and around Chicago, and most will be
compelled to catch her live or check out her disc as she harnesses further the unique,
smoky, sexy qualities of her voice and backs its quality with an even bolder sound.
Paulina Franz Artist Page
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