NEW MUSIC: Alice Smith
I'm predicting great things for Alice Smith. And while my predictions usually aren't worth a crap, this time it's money in the bank.
Still in her 20s, Alice Smith is a soul singer...and a rock star...and a jazz fan. Raised in Georgia and Washington, D.C., her musical education included James Brown, Wham! and Tchaikovsky. Sounds crazy? Well, she also sounds sublime.
On her rookie album For Lovers, Dreamers & Me, a title that's far more benign than she is, Smith unleashes a four-octave voice that can croon pop or blues or art-rock (or a blue streak, so cover your ears, kids). She’ll mix ’70s funk horns, acoustic strums and bellowing organs -- and make it sound as natural as her talent. Think Sly Stone fronting Queen -- or maybe Norah Jones on peyote buttons.
To hear Alice Smith, CLICK HERE. On iTunes, listen to Woodstock and Gary's Song.
Sean Daly is the pop music critic for the St. Petersburg Times. His CD collection -- from Journey to Dylan, Prince to U2, Public Enemy to Stan Getz -- is much bigger and better than yours.
Well, that's certainly a refreshing break from the cookie cutter pop-tarts that are typically crammed into my ears.
This time, I remembered to turn down my speakers before clicking on the link.
;)
Posted by: Marissa | November 17, 2007 at 10:57 AM
"lovers, dreamers, and me"....Didn't Kermit already sing that line in "The Rainbow Connection"?
Posted by: DG | November 17, 2007 at 05:30 PM
Yeah, that title is unfortunate. In fact, I almost tossed Alice straight into the giveaway bin due to that Muppet reference. But I'm glad I didn't. She's a badass.
Posted by: Sean Daly | November 17, 2007 at 06:43 PM
Sean, thanks to you Alice is now singin' like a rock star on my myspace page. I LOVE HER!
I thought the same thing about the title: She must love Kermit the Frog lol
Posted by: Marissa | November 17, 2007 at 10:38 PM