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TRACY BONHAM
Down Here
Def Jam/Island
When there was a glut of female alt-rockers on the radio, Boston singer-songwriter Tracy Bonham was a powerful voice with a killer single, "Mother Mother." Four years later and most next big things have faded - not so Ms. Bonham, whose new release, "Down Here," may start the fad all over again. Employing her considerable talent with guitar,
violin and rock and roll lyric, Tracy, along with producers Mitchell Froom and Tchad Blake, have fashioned a disc with hooks and muscle that showcases vocal pyrotechnics and full throttled passion. With plenty of sass to spare, this siren slithers with seductive rage after offering tender resolutions, surrounding her heartache in minor key chamber music recitals before kicking out the jams with power chords and soaring snake charmer's dissonance. The effect is both dizzying and contagious, a carousel ride with grinding gears and flying sparks. "Down Here," is a delicious gypsy stew of bitter rock and defiant pop riding high on a tide of slippery riffs and steel belted rhythms.
John Noyd |
