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 | Title : Miss Fortune
Author : Moorer, Allison
Release Date : 20020806
Binding : Audio CD
Regular Price : $12.98
Amazon.com Price : $6.99
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Editorial Reviews :
Allison Moorer's passionate power earned her first two albums substantial and well-deserved critical acclaim and a loyal fan base. This time, she's shifted away from eclectic neo-traditionalism to more contemporary (i.e. conventional) Nashville studio arrangements, and the approach is different enough that it may prove disconcerting to some fans of her earlier albums. Still, her original lyrics remain sharp and focused as she explores a wide spectrum of emotions. The magnificent 'Steal the Sun' and acerbic 'Hey Jezebel' balance the melancholy of 'Tumbling Down,' the grim cautionary 'Dying Breed,' and the torchy 'No Place for a Heart.' While her vocal and compositional integrity remain intact, the question is what this budding paradigm shift portends for her future. Others who emerged as acclaimed neo-traditionalists (Sara Evans comes to mind) failed to significantly broaden their appeal until they firmly embraced the bland, mechanical predictability that still pervades Nashville. If Moorer is aiming for mainstream success by mollifying country radio, it's understandable. Whether that strategy works remains to be seen.
Buyer Reviews :
As a purveyor of artistic freedom, Moorer's third album again finds her defying all categories. There's a touch of blues and rock with the occasional country twang to most of the songs here. Moorer has to be congratulated for refusing to be cast into the Nashville mold.
As with her previous albums, the songs here chronicle the trails and tribulations of a relationship. The best of which is the lead single, a haunting and moody ballad 'Cold in California.' The stark lyrics of loneliness certainly send a thrill down one's spine. With vocal phrasing similar to big sister Shelby Lynne, 'Can't Get There From Here' contains a light humorous touch that belies the underlying feelings of hopelessness in a relationship. Backed by beautiful strings and a little more upbeat is 'Tumbling Down,' a very likely follow-up single, again dealing with a demise of a relationship. Lyically 'Going Down' is smart-it showcases Moorer's clever use of irony set over a bluesy rock beat. 'Hey Jezebel' (not the Chely Wright song) has a rock feel to it with a not too memorable melody.
However, one of the major weaknesses is that Moorer sound very vocally restrained. Unlike many females of country music, Moorer has been blessed with a strong voice. Unfortunately none of the songs provide her with the opportunity for her to display her vocal prowess. Also, being the co-writer of every song here on this disc, many of the songs sound quite similar. They all revolve around the mid tempo range dealing with the darker side of relationships. Certainly, a variety of tempos and perhaps more adventurous tunes with brighter lyrics might keep the album more balanced. After listening to this album a number of times, with the exception of a few songs, I find it a little difficult to hum to most of the songs or remember the melodies. Maybe gearing a little to country radio might not be a totally bad idea; at least most songs being played on country radio have more memorable hooks and melodies.
Since most of the songs here are too pop to be played on country radio and too country to be played on pop radio, will this album sell? If not, will Universal Records stick and continue to pay for Moorer's musical ingenuity? Well, only time will tell.
(by Timothy Yap)
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