Music reviews. CD reviews. Critically hip!

I like to believe that everyone has the ability to sing. Whether or not you're good at it is another story but it's definitely a gift (or curse) that we all posses. But my mother used to tell me when I was little that just because you can do something doesn't necessarily mean that you should. I don't think that Valerie Ising ever heard this saying because if she had, she never would have attempted to make this album. This is one of those album where you sit there and wonder if the singer really has any true friends. You know, the kind that wouldn't let you humiliate yourself in front of a lot of people. The kind that pulls you to the side right before you step outside with that blue flannel shirt and those pink polka dotted pants that you love so much and says, "Are you sure that you don't want to go upstairs and change? We have time. I'll wait."

The songs on this album were actually great as well as the writing. It was just the singing itself that was just hideous. Her voice never stood a chance. And in tracks like "Cold Wind" and "Leap of Faith" the singing changes the whole mood of the song. They start with soft, simple music and sudden tempo changes and a nice steady beat but Valerie just doesn't seem to be able to keep up.  The best of the worst would have to be "Sorry Angel" and "Pick Up The Telephone". They are exceptionally good (despite the singing of course) and extremely well written. Slow, sensual and sorrowful must have been the outline for these tracks. They have a sad, melancholy feel about them but they are still keepers.

I think it's pretty safe to say that singing just isn't Valerie Ising's calling. She would have a near perfect album if she wasn't singing on it. Singing is something that can be perfected with time and vocal training. Two things that I hope Valerie Ising will invest in sometime soon. Nonetheless, this was a very decent try and she should be congratulated on having such great thought provoking lyrics. In the future I hope to see her back with a new sound and a strong, controlled voice. And if not then she should definitely consider looking more into the songwriting and make a living off of that. Either way, better luck next time.