Regular Columnists

Artist: Katie Jay
Album: "Katie Jay"
CD Review: Genre: Adult Alternative/Pop
Sounds Like: Natalie Merchant/Norah Jones/Avril Lavigne
Technical Grade: 8
Production/Musicianship Grade: 8
Commercial Value: 7
Overall Talent Level: 7
Songwriting Skills: 8
Performance Skill: 7
Best Songs: Up To You, Runaway, Who's Gonna Be There, One More Night
Weakness: Needs more up-tempo/aggressive songs to illuminate the stronger aspects of her voice
CD Review: Katie Jay, who is from the El Cerrito/Albany, California area, offers a CD that contains an organic, retro singer/songwriter feel with a contemporary flair that should appeal to young and older audiences alike. With a voice that rivals the best qualities of Norah Jones, Avril Lavigne and Natalie Merchant, she incorporates and benefits from the jazzy, bluesy, and sometimes country flavorings of her well-produced, multi-layered tracks that impressivley showcase the skills of her backing musicians.

While this project effectively cultivates mature lyrical topics and musical arrangements, its only obvious weakness is the lack of up-tempo songs that would increase the overall energy (and interest) level of the CD. Her songs "Up To You" and "Runaway," adequately capture successful songwriting elements (sing-along chorus/nice melodies) that make the project commercially viable, but it's the sincerity and power of the vocal performances on "Who's Gonna Be There," and "One More Night," that leave you anticipating more aggressive tracks that she is abundantly capable of.

Advice: Keep up the good work and diversify your repertoire.

www.katiejay.com