STYLE: Pop RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 1632-27086 LABEL: Independent FORMAT: CD Album
Reviewed by Trevor Kirk
Mary DeFrank and her husband Charlie have been part of the music scene in both Portland and Seattle for more than two decades, doing much work with the local grassroots bands in the area. Over the last couple of years, they've been concentrating on a project of their own, writing and recording songs in their home studio. From these demos they selected their 12 favourites, booked a professional studio, roped in some of their muso pals and cut the album in seven days. Mary has a neat line in acoustic guitar, her voice is gritty and expressive and the message in the songs is strongly evangelistic. Some of the songs work better than others; "Out Of Everything" is a grungy spin on 1 Corinthians 13:13 ("Out of everything, faith, hope and love remain"); "Roll Your Eyes" is just Mary, her acoustic guitar and recorder, and a song about trying to get the message across to someone who's searching for the truth and can't or won't accept it when he/she finds it; and "Life's Strange" invites us to "rip your eyes out of the darkness and hold them to the Light." Production values are good, and the musos, especially Mark Spangler on lead guitar, give their all. Worth a punt.
The opinions expressed in this article are
not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed
views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may
not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a
later date.
Interested in reviewing music? Find out
more here.