Regular Columnists

Artist: Amanda Marshall
Album: "Everybody's Got A Story"
CD Review: Genre: Pop Rock/Power Pop/Adult Contemporary
Sounds Like: Melissa Etheridge/Jennifer Paige
Technical Grade: 10
Production/Musicianship Grade: 10
Commercial Value: 10
Overall Talent Level: 10
Songwriting Skills: 10
Performance Skill: 10
Best Songs: Everybodys Got A Story, Colleen I Saw Him First, Marry Me, The Gypsy, Double Agent, Dizzy, Brand New Beau
Weakness: ?
CD Review: Every blue moon we industry professionals come across the CD of a music artist that has "undeniable talent." That level of talent is more commonly referred to as having "It," or "The X-Factor." In a nutshell, "it" means that they have, based upon our experience, talent that we feel will be critically acclaimed, highly respected, and phenomenally successful. Amanda Marshall is a singer/songwriter who has such talent.

Her talent is so immense that it defies categorization. With veteran industry producers Peter Asher & Billy Mann skillfully and artistically combining elements of Jazz, Hip-hop, R&B, Rock, and a whole lot of Pop in her music and vocal production, she single handedly creates a new genre and pronounces herself the Queen of it. Lyrically, she does with words what Picasso was able to do with a paint brush: create provocative, engaging, and stimulating work.

She is not merely a good songwriter, she is an incredible writer who just happens to write songs. Her lyrics speak to your emotions and arouse your intellect while managing to entertain you in a manner very similar to the King of the provocative lyric, Prince, who would be proud of the story telling ability she displays on "Colleen I Saw Him First."

She is so good, and her repertoire is so strong, that you start thinking, "There has got to be a weakness. There's no way she can be this damn good...maybe...she can't do ballads." Then the only ballad on the CD comes ("Marry Me") in its purest form: just acoustic guitar and light strings. The emotive quality of her voice reaches out and places an invisible hand around your heart and gently squeezes it with lyrics like:

"Some how I know without asking why...that you love me more in minute, than anyone could in a lifetime." She continues. "We don't need no preacher man reading from the good book, and I don't want no fancy dress, aint no ceremony for the vows that I took, from the moment I met you, I have been blessed..." Her conviction is undeniable.

Sure there are throw away tracks on this CD, (two to be exact) but her throw away tracks could be the best songs on some of the CDs that I have received. If you truly love and appreciate outstanding music, or if you're a pop rock female singer/songwriter looking for someone to inspire you, look no farther, Amanda Marshall's story is being told and sold at record stores everywhere.

Advice: Have your manager get on your record company's ass (Columbia) about promoting you in the US.

www.amandamarshall.com