Much of the publicity around singer/guitarist Amie Miriello compares her to female artists like Ani Difranco and Tori Amos. In fact, she even gives both of them a nod in the liner notes to her new album I Came Around.It's hard not to make those comparisons. Her subversively catchy adult pop can not only sounds like Difranco (when she gets angry) and Amos (when she tickles the ivories) but when Miriello gets countrified she can evoke more sophisticated country artists such as Kathleen Edwards.
Miriello possesses a big, powerful voice. When she unleashes it, as on songs like "Pictures", or the soulful country ditty "Coldfront", we are treated to sustain and range with a twang that we've come to expect from a singer like Neko Case.
Lyrically, Miriello is not a good girl. She's not afraid to cuss when appropriate ("When I see you driving in your car looking like a fucking star" or "Be an angel, I can be a bitch"). In fact, she is at her best when she is rocking and just a little bit bitter, as on the exceptional "Brand New".
But as we are all too aware, nothing's perfect. On occasion rare occasions Miriello's country drawl can seem a bit forced while there are a couple of tracks like "Snow" which could probably have been omitted.
Jay Dmuchowski, Miriello's former Dirtie Blonde bandmate, more than capably handles guitar duties on the record.
There is also a Canadian connection, as several of the tracks were engineered here in Toronto.
Above all, I Came Around, is a heartfelt and spunky album that will endear Miriello to you more and more with repeated listening.
Best tracks: "Brand New", "Hey"
Get Amie's non-album cover of Smashing Pumpkins' "Disarm" here: DOWNLOAD
Track listing for I Came Around:
- I Came Around
- Pictures
- Coldfront
- Brand New
- Snow
- Grey
- Beauty of Goodbye
- Mother Cries Wolf
- Who You Really Are
- Drifter
- Hey
- I'd Hate You
7.5
5 praise/complaints:
I might have to rate this just a tad higher than you, but I agree with everything you said... great album by a great new talent!
I know. I struggle mightly to not be either too generous in my rating nor too critical. It's a hard balance to strike and it doesn't always work.
After all, too many 6.0, 6.5, 7.0 and it becomes meaningless.
Does anyone have the Itunes Bonus Track "I'd Hate You"? I bought the album from a store but really would like to hear the song
I haven't been able to find it for download or stream anywhere yet. But I did get it with my iTunes purchase and it's pretty good.
I think it was left off the album because it's a bit harder sounding than the other songs and just wouldn't fit well.
Could someone please put the itunes bonus track on IMEEM for us to listen to? Or youtube? :(
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