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Michelle Anthony

frozenstarpalace

(Merctwyn; US: 3 Oct 2006; UK: Available as import)

Michelle Anthony isn’t your typical singer-songwriter, although she does have enough chops to earn that moniker, with songs like the bouncy, happy-go-lucky “Lead Glass Tiffany Shades” that sounds like a cross between Carole King and Bonnie Raitt to some extent. Meanwhile, the moody and mid-tempo adult contemporary pop of the title track is sure to bring to mind artists like Aimee Mann and Natalie Merchant. It’s the fact that she can’t be penned down that results in a very fine release, especially with the rowdier, roots rock of “Ugly Side”, which is quite pretty. Anthony shows another side with the smart, poppy “Aluminum” that relies more on her voice than it does the airtight, infectious, and winding melody. Then there is the tender, bittersweet piano ballad “White Lies” that she nails perfectly. And the same can be said for the delightfully low-key “Hard Way to Lose”. It’s a hard release not to enjoy.

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Originally from Cape Breton, MacNeil is currently writing for the Toronto Sun as well as other publications, including All Music Guide, Billboard.com, NME.com, Country Standard Time, Skope Magazine, Chart Magazine, Glide, Ft. Myers Magazine and Celtic Heritage. A graduate of the University of King's College, MacNeil currently resides in Toronto. He has interviewed hundreds of acts ranging from Metallica and AC/DC to Daniel Lanois and Smokey Robinson. MacNeil (modestly referred to as King J to friends), a diehard Philadelphia Flyers fan, has seen the Rolling Stones in a club setting, thereby knowing he will rest in peace at some point down the road. Oh, and he writes for PopMatters.com.


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