Cat Dail – Choice

Cat Dail – Choice / 2006 Lucky Magnet / 12 Tracks / http://www.catdail.com / Reviewed 05 December 2006

The sedate sounds that begin “Choice” blend together Stevie Nicks-style vocals with guitars that should remind listeners of “Pump”-era Aerosmith and The Eagles. The track is destined for easy listening radio, in much the same way that the Matchbox 20 / Santana was all the rage a few years back. Cat Dail has a style that is definitely predicated on older styles.

When a track liker “Conscious Mess” comes up, one is reminded of the earliest days of the nineties, with acts like Enuff Z’Enuff and Mr. Big taking control of mTV. Hell, a little hint of Cinderella comes out of this track as well, even if the tempo of the track is much slower than any of the tracks that these bands originally came out with. “Think of a Story” mixes middle eastern sounding instruments with mid sixties jazz to create something that is completely new for Cat Dail. To throw a monkey wrench into this part of the album is a smart move, as it keeps the energy and momentum of Cat Dail’s disc at its highest level. Throwing in a piano that seems proper for a Tori Amos or Peanuts track is the thing that puts the track over the top in my eyes.

Each of the songs on “Choice” has a feeling of cohesion with the other songs on the disc, regardless of the different styles of approaches to music that Cat may attempt to do with that song. Cat Dail is another one of those singers that go forward in a Leah Zicari or a Fiona Apple way, but the one thing that distinguishes Dail from the rest of the individuals trying to make a living is that the disc is continually interesting and does not show Dail moving into a rut for any part of the album. Dail could go on and make more albums in the same vein without having to change up eir style in the least. There is for sure more places that ey could go on later albums, but there are enough changes in style and overall approaches during “Choice” that individuals should pick up this and any other albums that Dail may have out. Good, solid pop music that is independently released, a rarity in the current music scene.

Top Tracks: Future Fridays, Rumba Son

Rating: 6.5/10

[JMcQ]