Keyboard, August 2006 (Diane Gershunv) If you like “smart pop” a la Aimee Mann, Sam Phillips or Brandi Carlile, you owe it to yourself to check out this CD – plug, you gotta love a girl who plays accordion! On her second outing, this indie singer-songwriter blends clever lyrics and hand-crafted compositions into a satisfying piano-pop package. Each song is a fully realized vignette, with a vibe, a mood, and a flavor all its own. From the introspective title track “My Glass Eye” to the quirky white-trash diner scenario in “Double Wide” and the lilting, melancholy “Home By Now,” it’s no wonder several of Beth’s songs have garnered awards from the USA and ISC songwriting competitions, even before the record was released. Producer Rob Cairns contributes inventive piano loops and synth creations on tracks like “Beautiful Lie” and “Once,” and keyboardist Michael Bluestein guests on “Stand.” |