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Sharon Little

Perfect Time For a Breakdown

(CBS; US: 7 Aug 2008; UK: Available as import)

Getting a fantastic opening slot never hurts anyone’s career, so it comes as no surprise that newcomer Sharon Little’s gig supporting Robert Plant and Alison Krauss is a huge boost in the right direction. But fortunately Little’s work is well worth getting to the shows earlier, as “Follow That Sound” has all the dark, blues-tinged grooves that she inevitably hits a grand slam with. From there, Little keeps things close to her vest with the gorgeous “What Gets In the Way” that could have been lifted from Sheryl Crow’s The Globe Sessions. Perhaps the first real iffy moment comes during “Set You Free” that comes off like some combination of Sade and the aforementioned Crow. However she rises from the mediocrity with the stellar “Try” that would floor the likes of Bonnie Raitt. Little shows another softer, soulful side during “Peppermint & Blue” and later on during “Accidentally”, the former being superior then the disco-y latter. The feel-good, summery “Space Ship” also soars from start to finish. Another keeper has to be the lovely, tender and heartfelt “Child in a Storm”. Don’t be fooled by the surname, Sharon is going to be big.

Rating:

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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