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Artist: Amy Jane
Album: "Wide Open"
CD Review: There's no way to sugar-coat the fact that this CD simply isn't very exciting. Amy Jane has a pretty voice which she nicely augments with overdubbed harmonies and contrapuntal lines, and on songs such as the ballad "Blessing" she displays true understated sophistication, but for her to achieve notoriety she needs to develop a more distinctive, energetic sound.

Some of the songs, mostly written by guitarist Rich Marcello, have interesting harmonies and a certain unpredictability about them. "Sweat and Honey" and "Lean" are two which show signs of breaking away from the gentle mold of the rest of the CD. However, much of the material sounds the same after a while and virtually none of the songs stick in the listener's head. The acoustic guitar gets old after a while and the rhythm section, while solid, lacks any kind of unique style or personality.

Amy Jane can definitely sing, but it's hard to imagine this album becoming her calling card. She doesn't need to become Joan Jett, but a touch of Sheryl Crow or Bree Sharp might help her evolve into a more memorable artist.

For more information about Amy Jane, visit www.amyjane.com.