Here at
CountryStarsOnline.com we’re always on the lookout for emerging
talent, and acts that have been around for a while, but
without the fanfare they deserve. That’s going to change. Here in
"
Waiting In The Wings" we’re going to introduce you to acts and
performers who, for one reason or another, have caught our eye and
our ear. We think you’ll like them.
Bella: Gravity Ocean Road Music/BMG
By: Jim Weaver
I
love these gals! If you've been reading this website for a
long time you might remember a review I did in 2003 on Australian
songstress Karen
O'Shea (if not just click on her name and you can read it right
now), a lot has changed in Karen's life since then. The most obvious
is that in 2004 Karen teamed up with Lyn Bowtell and Kate Ballantyne,
to form the trio called Bella.
Bella's first album is titled Gravity
and while you won't find any honky tonkin, heavy drinkin', let's get
another tattoo, songs on his CD, what you will find is one of the
smoothest and easy-to-listen-to CDs you've ever heard. I don't know
who's idea it was to get these three ladies together but it has
worked extremely well. Impeccable 3-part harmonies, just the right
emotion and 13 well-written songs that will leave you humming and
wanting more. Bella's current single is "She Still
Believes" and while you probably won't hear it on US radio
stations, you should.
Stand out tracks: "She Still
Believes", "About A Girl", "Time Again",
"Gravity"
What
a pity Jason Savory doesn’t answer his mail. If he had on the
several times I’ve tried, we’d know a little more about him. But
apart from a silent response from the good-looking Oklahoman, his
music speaks for him and shows a guy with talented promise. A guy,
by the looks of it, who’s throwing himself into his career -- his
web site journal hasn’t updated since August 2005…oh well.
He’s obviously busy.
His self-titled
album, however, is a reliable certainty. Complete with 11 tracks, 9
written or co-written by Savory, the album melds a blend of twang
and rocky shuffles all propped by a primed and note right band. In
the mix, there’s a sprinkling of ballads, notably the remembered
hit for glam bad boys Poison, “Every Rose Has Its Thorn”. With
an easy and a distinctive nuance, Savory plies his vocals to a song
made for a late night and moody memories. Another slow and easy
emotional prod comes with “Nothing More Than Me”, a tale of a
slow uptake of on a leaving and losing theme, while the up-tempo
‘The Woman Of My Dreams” paints the obvious.
The popular radio
spin with the fetching title,” Wife For A Night,” is here. But
in a batch of good songs, it’s not the only track that compels a
purchase. There’s a tale of tormented love divided by distance on
“My Mind’s Down In Mexico”, and Savory’s fractured drawl
works a wonder on “Those Kind Of Places” and “First Date,”
while honest sentiment is keenly on show with “Brotherly Love,”
a tune Savory shares with his sibling, Greg.
All in all, this is a
fine debut. Savory’s voice and style are sure-fire crowd-pullers.
His writing shows a guy who’s fully tapped into the genre, as he
covers the lovin’ and leavin’ and ropin’and ridin’ spectrum
admirably –what more could a fan want?
Miko Marks - Freeway Bound Mirrome Records
Cheryl Harvey Hill
Miko
Marks refers to her voice as "country soul" but although I
detected a lot of truly wonderful soul, I really didn't hear much
that I considered to be country; however, that isn't necessarily a
bad thing. After all, let's not forget that opinions are like ...
well, you know ... and that is just my opinion. There is a lot to
like about this album and the beautiful Ms. Marks clearly has a
knack for songwriting; she wrote seven of the ten songs on the
album.
Marks grew up in
Flint, Michigan and was educated at Grambling State University in
Louisiana on a music scholarship. She now resides in California. Her
bio states that it was in Michigan where her songwriting passions
were defined. Her songs are candid and sincere; delivered with
genuine emotion. While at GSU, Marks became fascinated with country
music and its story telling. She felt as if the stories were
universal and she had some to tell of her own. After graduation, she
moved to the San Francisco Bay Area and her new environment provided
plenty of additional fodder for her songwriting.
Marks has been busily
perfecting her own unique blend of country soul and Freeway Bound
was recorded in Nashville with well-known Producer, Ron Cornelius.
Marks is on an independent label out of Oakland, California and has
secured national and international promotion for the album. It is
available through a number of online venues, including her official
website.
Stand out tracks: "Kickin' Back,"
"Feelin' the Rain," "The Lonely One," "I
Believe in You"
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What
a pity Jason Savory doesn’t answer his mail. If he had on the
several times I’ve tried, we’d know a little more about him. But
apart from a silent response from the good-looking Oklahoman, his
music speaks for him and shows a guy with talented promise. A guy,
by the looks of it, who’s throwing himself into his career -- his
web site journal hasn’t updated since August 2005…oh well.
He’s obviously busy.