Search - Rain Perry :: Balance

Rain Perry - Balance: A Promising First Effort

03/28/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Balance, singer/songwriter Rain Perry's first effort is at once, a heartfelt revelation and an involving first effort. Ms. Perry's voice is a cross between the cool and precise enunciation of Suzanne Vega, and the more expressive vocal stylings of Sarah McLaughlin with an extra helping of soul and blues ala Joni Mitchell's more adventerous mid '70s jazz and blues explorations. Balance is a wildly diverse batch of songs that run the gamut of subjects like motherhood, relationship and interaction with parents, spouses, God and fantasy lovers, just to name a few.The albums strongest cuts include "Yosemite", a simple, yet, powerful acoustic duet with Ojai stalwart and Ventura County fixture Alan Thornhill. Thornhill, a member of the Ventura, Ca. based acoustic group, the Rincon Ramblers, lends tasteful guitar and vocal harmonies.Other standouts include, "Girl in the Doorway", a projection of multiple genrations journey through life. The track features a moody, Peter Gabriel-like bass line from Andro Kotula with expressive support on piano from Michael Bolotin. This track in particular, displays a musical sophistication that most of the other tracks are missing. First rate!Ms. Perry covers Randy Newman's mid 70's bluesy "Let's Burn Down the Cornfield" with a sexy force and confidence that also seems unique on this album. The track features some excellent dobro work from Charlie Benton.The album's closing track, "The Real Thing" is interesting. Many current female rap and hip hop singers have turned dissing men's sexual voracity into a '90s cliche. This track takes a different viewpoint. The song seems to actually pity the unfulfillment of purely sexual conquest in place of the stability of a committed relationship and resolves in asking the protaganist, "what more could you desire?" While Ms. Perry's music is a thousand light years from R&B and hip hop, she does find an interesting take on the same subject matter that is typified in much of todays female based rap and R&B.The albums musical backing is overall, quite good, although the lack of a cohesive band structure is apparent on a few of the album's tracks. Approached as a pop/folk album, several of the albums tracks could have benefitted from a stronger producer's hand in shortening a few meandering guitar solos and a several of the track's stop, then start up again refrains. Ms. Perry is a songwriter and vocalist of uncommon talent and as is typical with artists early in their careers, stylistically, she has not found her musical voice yet. She does diplay several moments of vocal and songwriting brilliance. "Balance" displays great musical range and versatility, yet it can be difficult to build a following with music this stylistically diverse. Perhaps her next musical offering will find her embracing a more defined style while still retaining her unique viewpoint and songwriting ability.Overall, a very easy to listen to album that shows great promise and makes Rain Perry a name to watch."

Totally tremendous!!!

09/27/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I couldn't have enjoyed the album more! The CD has been in my car for a week and I have no plans to change it anytime soon."

Balance

02/18/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The art of songcraft is alive and well. Rain Perry's debut album lyrically glides with driving melodies, beautiful harmony and wide ranging emotion. Her voice is hauntingly forceful and yet gentle. Where do lyrics like these come from? The real thing? This album certainly is the real thing."