The sister trio SHeDAISY arrived in the late '90s riding the huge wave of Shania, Faith, and Dixie Chicks country-pop, and made a splash or two before seeming to sink out of sight. They buoyed with 2004's Sweet Right Here,... more » which climbed to #2 on the Billboard chart, but never regained the buzz they generated with their 1999 debut, The Whole SHeBANG. Now, on their fourth effort, they've pulled out all the stops to rejuvenate their career--Kristyn Osborn, their chief songwriter, cowriting two tunes with Sheryl Crow ("Whatever It Takes," "Healing Side") and another with Don Schlitz ("In Terms of Love"). In following the dissolution of a relationship, a theme that works throughout, the sisters craft a resonant album that should ring truthfully with their primarily female fan base. They bolster it with all the trendy radio-friendly production touches (e.g., driving banjo beneath a pop arrangement, à la Keith Urban), and sell it with their usual seamless and creative vocal blend. The latter is the only thing that saves the album's most disappointing cut, "God Bless the American Housewife," an indescribably awful piece of shameless pandering, even if the lyrics are meant to be tongue-in-cheek. It's to their credit that they didn't write it, but to actually record it speaks far more poorly of them than any reviewer ever could. Other than that, this comeback effort (replete with a bold and sensitive "mistress" ballad, "She Gets What I Deserve") goes the distance to keep SHeDAISY blooming. --Alanna Nash« less
The sister trio SHeDAISY arrived in the late '90s riding the huge wave of Shania, Faith, and Dixie Chicks country-pop, and made a splash or two before seeming to sink out of sight. They buoyed with 2004's Sweet Right Here, which climbed to #2 on the Billboard chart, but never regained the buzz they generated with their 1999 debut, The Whole SHeBANG. Now, on their fourth effort, they've pulled out all the stops to rejuvenate their career--Kristyn Osborn, their chief songwriter, cowriting two tunes with Sheryl Crow ("Whatever It Takes," "Healing Side") and another with Don Schlitz ("In Terms of Love"). In following the dissolution of a relationship, a theme that works throughout, the sisters craft a resonant album that should ring truthfully with their primarily female fan base. They bolster it with all the trendy radio-friendly production touches (e.g., driving banjo beneath a pop arrangement, à la Keith Urban), and sell it with their usual seamless and creative vocal blend. The latter is the only thing that saves the album's most disappointing cut, "God Bless the American Housewife," an indescribably awful piece of shameless pandering, even if the lyrics are meant to be tongue-in-cheek. It's to their credit that they didn't write it, but to actually record it speaks far more poorly of them than any reviewer ever could. Other than that, this comeback effort (replete with a bold and sensitive "mistress" ballad, "She Gets What I Deserve") goes the distance to keep SHeDAISY blooming. --Alanna Nash
"I really enjoy the latest CD from SHeDAISY "Fortunetellers Melody". I think it is their most cohesive and enjoyable album yet! There are a lot of fun uptempo songs, and some beautiful ballads that make up this wonderful album. The first single was the fiesty "I'm Taking The Wheel", and the new single is "In Terms of Love". It is a beautiful ballad with great songwriting. Their harmonies are present throughout. They collaborated with Sheryl Crow, who helped pen 2 songs on here, the fun uptempo "Whatever It Takes" and the moving ballad "Healing Side". Other highlights include "23 Days", "Bring It On Back", "Burn Down The House", "Kickin In" and more. Check it out!"
Intelligent Country Music !!!
toddfan | Kansas City, USA | 04/25/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This CD chronicles the ebb and flow of a relationship...from the heights of its promising beginning, to the depths of its heartbreaking end. Kristyn Osborn co-wrote all but one song on this CD, and among her co-writers you'll find the likes of Sheryl Crow and John Shanks. The CD is full of intelligent lyrics from one of the best writers in pop and country music today: Kristyn Osborn. The harmonies are (as always) inventive, well constructed and aptly executed.
The "rockers" are 23 Days, I'm Taking The Wheel, Kickin' In and Burn Down The House...all fire-burning get up and shake your booty kind of crowd pleasers. But, the highlights of the CD are the slower, introspective songs like Healing Side, In Terms of Love and the best song on the CD: Out Of My Mind.
I, like several reviewers at other sites, once dismissed these girls as "bubblegum". I was a long time Alternative Rock music fan who had a closed mind...but let me tell you, if you don't give SHeDAISY a chance and at least listen seriously ONE time...YOU will be the one missing out on some of the best music that is currently being produced by any artist, in any genre.
SOFC
"
Their best album to date....
Page Turner | 10/05/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is SHeDAISY's most consistist album to date, and probably their best (Not to say that their other three albums aren't any good - they are!). It's full of great pop-country songs, with plain wonderful lyrics. The girls sing about a range of subjects: Love, break-ups, and life. It's an album full of singles - But also carefully crafted songs as well. Pure ear-candy. Buy it if you like their previous albums, or pop-country music.
Choice tracks:
23 days,
Bring it on back,
Kickin' in,
What do I do now?
In terms of love,
Burn down the house,
and Out of my mind."
Pure Ear Candy-a great listen
blister | North Carolina | 05/28/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Have you ever been without buying a new CD for a long time and hungered for a good listen, something you could put into your CD player and just lose yourself in? That's what I got when I recently purchased SheDaisy's latest disc "Fortune Teller's Melody".
Talk about radio friendly, yet good! Usually I always end up programming any CD I get to play my favorite tunes first, yet I haven't been able to do that with this disc.
Every tune is catchy. For those who like to drive and listen to music at the same time, grip that steering wheel hard when "Kickin' In" and "Burn Down the House" come on! These are floor tappin', finger snappin', driving tunes that made me shake my head in time to the beat and sing along. Ever hear a fast tune that sends a shiver down your spine because the beat, harmonies, everything just "fits" and sounds good? Those two tunes did that for me.
The other upbeat tunes including "23 days", "I'm Taking The Wheel", are also catchy. "What Do I Do Now" made me think of my own past experiences of separation, the mixture of good and bad and asking well, what now?? This concept mixed with catchy harmonies and chorus ring true a catchy tune.
The ballads "In Terms Of Love" and "Out of My Mind" provide a break within the upbeat songs that were great. I really admire John Shanks and SheDaisy's concept of upbeat songs throughout most of the disc, then the ballads because by that time, I was ready for them and the fact the ballads are good made it even better!
Ending the disc is a ballad "She Gets What I Deserve" with powerful emotional energy. It's the kind of tune that you know well that someone went through this, whether it be a member of SheDaisy, the co-song writer, someone they know, or such. It's a twist on the usual infidelity style tune where the mistress feels such guilt that while she should be happy, she feels she deserves the stress and misery the other woman who was hurt receives. Very powerful.
It is my hope that in the midst of such competition and overwhelming politics of sales and success and hits within the music industry that people, many of them, stand up and take notice of SheDaisy's exceptional latest effort. I think those of my fellow reviewers here know what I'm talking about.
"
They're back---and better than ever!
Mitchell Randall | Minnesota | 03/15/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"SHeDAISY's latest, Fortuneteller's Melody, is their best album to date. While further blurring the line between country and rock, you can definitely feel the country influence in each and every song. There's more up-tempo songs on this record, highlights including the (now-hit) single "I'm Taking the Wheel," "23 Days," and "Kickin' In." But the best song is "She Gets What I Deserve," one of the best ballads the group has ever sang.