Search - Holly Long :: City Girl

There's no denying Holly's emotions

S. Lockerby | Minnesota | 09/24/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I stumbled onto the LA based singer / songwriter Holly Long on the radio and later that night went to hear her perform, where I picked up her debut album, City Girl. Since then, now almost a month ago, it's the only CD I've had in my player. Holly's soulful lyrics come straight from her heart and went straight to the hearts of both me and my wife. Holly had the ability to take the pain that she or somebody around her has went through and turn it into music that draws you in. City Girl is one of the few albums I know of that no two songs seem quite the same and every song seems to have its own individual identity. Holly starts on a note of hope with Just Fine, which doesn't begin to describe the quality of this album and is almost insulting if these two words were the only ones used to describe Holly's talent. Just Fine is one of the most intensely personal songs I've heard, and takes on a whole new aspect once one reads a little about Holly's life on her website. She continues through the album with a wide range of emotions, from a feeling of hopelessness in City Girl, to love and contentment in Rome. She even captures desire and the need to at least feel needed, even if you know it's only for a night in Club Fantasy. Although the emotions captured in the album aren't always happy ones, there's no doubt that they're real. Holly's style also varies nicely through City Girl. She's equally adept on both the piano and guitar, and uses whichever best captures the body of the song. She also knows how to manipulate her voice just as well as her instruments. You can hear her hope in Just Fine, as well as her pride for making it this far. In City Girl you can hear Holly longing to find a place where she belongs while feeling lost and overwhelmed by everything around her. She even comes across as strong yet desperate in the soulful You Need Me. Holly leaves very few emotions unturned in her debut album.Holly has a little of the style of other female performers such as Tori Amos, Sarah McLaughlin, and Shawn Colvin. There's even a touch of Stevie Nicks in there here and there, but Holly blends them all together to make the sound her own. If you want soulful music with the voice of an angel, City Girl should have a place on your shelf, or more than likely, right next to your CD player."