Regular Columnists

Artist: Kelly Sweet
Album: "We Are One"
CD Review: Genre: Adult Alternative/Easy Listening
Sounds Like: Enya/Celine Dion/Norah Jones/Dido
Technical Grade: 10
Production/Musicianship Grade: 10
Commercial Value: 10
Overall Talent Level: 10
Songwriting Skills: 10
Performance Skill: 10
Best Songs: Raincoat, How 'Bout You, We Are One, Ready For Love, Love Song
Weakness: None
CD Review: Kelly Sweet, a singer/songwriter from Kanab, UT, delivers a rarity: a project of depth that can be enjoyed from start to finish. From her profound Enyaesque opening track, "We Are One," to the closing lullaby, "Je t'aime," this easy listening, jazz flavored, ambient, adult alternative CD will please your musical, emotional, and intellectual cravings.

With the melodic arrangements and meticulous production of Mark Portmann that run from sparse ("Crush") to layered ("Love Song"), Kelly handles the vocals on this project with surgical precision and veteran execution without sacrificing emotive credibility as evidenced on the disc's unexpected Celine Dionesque aria, "Giorno Dopo Giorno," which beautifully scales and displays her vocal kaleidoscope.

Her most commercial song, "Raincoat," will inevitably draw comparison to Norah Jones, but it's a far more stimulating alternative. Should that song not hit the elusive radio mark, the Sheryl Crowesque "How 'Bout You" with its infectious sing-a-long melody and uplifting message could ignite interest along with the accessible "Ready For Love."

This is a superior project with a wealth of potential and showcases a world of promise for a singer whose success will be a "sweet" independent achievement.

Advice: You need none.

Official Website: http://www.kelly-sweet.com/