This review originally appeared in the April, 2006 edition of the Illinois Entertiner, which featured Tom Lanham’s cover story on Artic Monkeys. Editor Steve Forstneger sat down with UK singer-songwriter Beth Orton for an interview, and he also profiled Ben Harper. On the club scene, Violent Femmes were at the Cubby Bear in Wrigleyviille; Cracker was at Durty Nellie’s in Palatine; and Heartsfield was at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn.
Garrison Starr has excelled at putting some rock in her roots on past releases, but she takes a lighter approach with The Sound Of You And Me. The country twang and fetching melodies are still there, but this CD presents Starr in a more intimate setting. Most of the 11 songs deal with troubled relationships, as she conveys heartache though her throaty vocals.
On the acoustic ballad, “Pendulum,” she sings, “And you’re a brick wall/Now baby, tell me did I break through at all?” “We Were Just Boys And Girls,” a raw attempt to show Starr at her most vulnerable, feels calculated, especially when compared to the simple beauty of “Black And White.” “Beautiful In Los Angeles” sports The Sound Of You And Me’s most commercial arrangement, but it’s the catchy “Let Me In” that’s most likely to please Starr’s loyal fans.
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