(relatively) Current Review- "Let In The Light" by Shannon Wright

To prepare for this review (being a journalistic shaman, I always require extensive preparations before any sacred album review ritual), I gave a listen to Shannon Wright's older band, Crowsdell. Their album "Dreamette" is a fantastic peice of 1995 indie rock, like a nice rough backrub with jangling Fender guitars, or an afternoon of too much coffee with your female friend that you are not so secretly in love with. This was a good idea, since it provided the clarity I felt I've missed in my past attempts to absorb her new album, "Let In The Light".

This new one is not quite in the early Cat Power/comfortably depressing mood of her last few albums, but not quite the rambling light conversation of Crowsdell either. The album has an in-between feel, stuck between going somewhere else and staying behind, saying what it really means while holding back at the same time. I can't get a grip on it. I don't know if it's half what it should be, or half-invisible.

The overcooked, compressed production and mixing distracts from the lyrics and fries the mood until it's burnt. The songs drift between pleasurably driving and aimlessly drifting.

There are some very good tunes, but this release never quite came together all the way for me. The final third of the album is excellent, though, and saves the overall listening experience.

4.5 (out of 7). Worth a listen if you are into the artist/sound.