Customer Reviews:
 Killer voice, moderate songs, great image October 10, 2008
Mr. F. L. Dunkin Wedd
4 out of 6 found this review helpful
Amongst her influences Amy LaVere lists Willie Nelson, Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen. If you can imagine the three of them merged into one - not an easy call I agree - that would be Amy LaVere.
First off, her vocal tone is stunning: all the girly sexiness of Marilyn Monroe singing 'Happy Birthday, Mr President', plus there's something French and smouldering going on. There's a characteristic vibrato on long notes that's really attractive.
She plays an upright bass (rather larger than she is!) and it's a really good look. She's extremely easy on the eye, in a fragile sort of way, which won't hurt her career, but means that watching a DVD is a bit more rewarding than listening to a CD. Still that never hurt Alison Goldfrapp!
The material is country-ish, but she adds her own take on it; it would be too simplistic to pigeonhole it that way. There's some great playing from the band here too.
I have a couple of worries, though - which may of course be answered by that difficult third album when it comes. First is the songwriting. The songs are pretty good as they go, and have some cool lyrics. But they are repetitive, and need more variety.
Take 'Pointless Drinking': it's a great idea for a song, it has a great hook, and the lyrics are smashing. But its running time is nearly four minutes with never a middle eight for heaven's sake. The hook would be so much more effective if it didn't come around quite so regularly.
Second worry is that the voice sometimes lets down, and one wonders how much the trills and inflections are stylistic, and how much they cover a problem with intonation.
Still, it's a great CD to put on late at night. Just don't play it too often.
 Amazing performance at Royal Albert Hall October 6, 2008
A. Hill (Kent)
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
I saw Amy at the Royal Albert Hall supporting Seasick Steve and she was absolutely amazing. Can't wait to see her on Later with Jools this week.
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