|
David M. Ross,
ross@musicrow.com MusicRow.com Carolyn Dawn Johnson invited industry friends to the Belcourt theatre (4/13) for a live preview of her sophomore CD Dress Rehearsal. The new Arista project, co-produced by CDJ and Dann Huff showcases a more mature artist placed into a sensitive landscape. Ringing acoustics, sinewy guitar growls, wide dynamic range and arrangement flourishes abound, but what rivets most are the songs. "Dress Rehearsal" introduces the provocative set and immediately engages listeners with lines like "Life doesn't wait for us to get it right...time is irreversible, this ain't no dress rehearsal." CDJ co-wrote eleven of the 12-songs with a cast of talented co-writers including Troy Verges, Rivers Rutherford, Craig Wiseman, Shaye Smith, Gordon Kennedy, Charlie Black and Steve Mandile. Powerful standouts "Die Of A Broken Heart" and "God Doesn't Make Mistakes" are timeless and they will touch you. (It won't take savvy programmers long to seize these tracks.) Two songs of this caliber on an album is a blessing for each and every consumer who plunks down the cash to take it home. And then there's the rockin' thumpin' "My Little Secret," the title tune and "Life As We Know It." continued » |
