Melissa Payne

High and Dry

Not opening with Radiohead's "High and Dry", the second record from Ontario singer/songwriter Melissa Payne is filled with nine bubbly and pining country popsters in the vein of Blue Rodeo, Amy Millan or Whitehorse - lots of reverb-soaked twang and pedal steel, decorated with oohs and aahs. She also ventures into southern-fried baroque pop balladry ("Call Me a Fool") and her raspy warble is welcome on each and every track, no matter the style (the girl can do diversity). Lyrically, she sits comfortably in storyteller mode, especially on the epic closing number "Cold Out There". It's a strong record that will get her on the radio and the folk fest circuit, but does it stand out as anything more than another personal pretty disc? That's up to you to find out.

Published in Volume 68, Number 28 of The Uniter (July 2, 2014)

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