Album Review
Sonya Isaacs - Sonya Isaacs
Lyric Street Records
Purchase The Album
Let me start by saying that the only complaint I have about this new CD by Sonya Isaacs is that it’s too short! Sonya Isaacs has done something with this release that I was not expecting to happen this year at all, she got me excited about country music again. This CD is a perfect mix of new and traditional country music. Sonya’s voice is so original that Dolly Parton came the closest to describing it when she said "If Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt had a daughter, she would sound just like Sonya."
Sonya is also an excellent songwriter. She contributed to four of the tracks on the disc. The CD opens with one of those songs titled “I’ve Forgotten How You Feel,” which is one of my favorite tracks on the album. It’s an upbeat song that features steel guitar and fiddle yet still sounds very modern. I can’t say enough about the merging of a little of the newer pop sounding country with the backbone of traditional country music.
For those who do not know, Sonya is not new to the music scene. She has been performing for years with her family’s band the Isaacs, who are regarded as one of the best bluegrass / gospel group around. With this being the first solo release for Sonya, she has more than proven worthy of making the transition to a solo artist.
The second song on the disc has also grabbed me as a standout song, as well as a very strong single possibility. It’s called “That’s What Love Demands” and is a great showcase for Sonya’s singing as well as her mandolin playing, proving what the bluegrass community already knew, Sonya is one of the top players in the business as well.
There are also a few ballads on the album that hit their mark. “Barefoot In The Grass” just may be the song to take Sonya to the top of the charts. It’s a truly special song about someone who loses their younger sister to cancer. The story is told in a beautiful way, as the singer reflects on the times she spent with her sister doing the simple things. Sonya’s voice is simply sweet and beautiful carrying the song’s emotional punch.
The album closes with a traditional song “The Battlefield” which hits pretty close to Sonya’s roots as a bluegrass performer. Vince Gill lends his voice for the background vocals, and the end result is pure magic. Gill also produced about half of the tracks on the album.
On an interesting side note, Lyric Street thought that they had a finished product back in February of this year. However, after the first singles didn’t tear up the charts, they decided to take a step back and re-evaluate the product. I’ve heard the original disc, and it was also a 5 star disc in my mind. With six of the original songs scrapped, they cut 5 new tracks with new producers (Michael D. Clute & Shelby Kennedy) who gave Isaacs a little more of a modern sound. While these new tracks are spectacular, so were the six tracks that got cut from the album. With the cd coming in at 43:17 in length, I have to ask Lyric Street why they did not include the extra 6 songs on the CD. It would have been a very refreshing change to get a country music CD in the 60 minute plus range!
With that being said, and since the only bad thing I can really say about this disc is that it’s too short, I have to recommend that everyone add this CD to their collection. If you like country music, I don’t think there is a possibility that you will not like this CD. It is definitely in my top five favorite discs for the year so far. I think it’s my favorite country disc of the year. Thanks Sonya, for putting out a country CD that is truly country, and truly refreshing and new!
Album Review by Darren O'Neill
The WOC Rating Scale |
|
The album stands above the rest. This is a record that every country music fan needs to have in their collection. This album is better than the average release. A strong record with some flaws that keep it from reaching that 5 star level. This album is an average country release. Doesn't posses qualities that make it stand out among all the other albums out there. A weak record that lacks solid songs or good vocal performances. Sample before you buy. This record is a bargin-bin reject that just isn't worth the time or the money. Completely misses the mark. |