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Susan Werner - I Can't Be
New (Koch)
Released - March, 2004
This whole exercise is as much about my own education as anything else,
and I'm constantly running across singers I wish I'd discovered earlier.
Susan Werner is one of these.
Multi-talented as an instrumentalist (Piano, Guitar, Ukulele, Wurlitzer
Organ!), she sings and writes this stuff, too.
This isn't just covering old standards, folks. In fact, all of it is
original. This is cerebral stuff. From "I'm Not Sure," one of my favorite
tracks: "Love is the one drug no one does without | Love is a
cruel drug when it's cut with doubt."
Yikes. This is sitting around with a double on the rocks staring out the
window stuff.
Likewise for another favorite track - the title cut, "I Can't Be New."
"I can be your girl through the best and worst time | But I
can't be the girl you notice for the first time | There's so much I
can do | But I can't be new."
They're not all downers. "You Come Through" is a hoot, as is "Stay on Your
Side Of Town," penned (as the publicity goes) after sitting in the
bleachers at Wrigley Field.
Go. Listen to an iTune clip or two.
There's a whole bunch of comparisons if you go Googling Ms. Werner,
including George Gershwin and Cole Porter.
But you know who I was reminded of?
Smart, sophisticated.
Mel Tormé.
I'll be seeking out the next
release.
Highly recommended.
  Three
and one-half microphones (out of four)
- Doug Boynton
(12/23/06) |
