What's the Story?
So you can see my bra underneath my shirt / Watch the wind underneath my skirt / But
that ain't the picture, it's just a part / Everybody's got a story that could break your
heart
So the chorus goes in Amanda Marshall's new song 'Everybody's Got a Story' from the album
of the same name. If you're a die hard Amanda fan then adding this CD to your collection is
a must.
Her eponymously titled debut CD contained such gems as 'Let It Rain', 'Birmingham', 'Dark
Horse' and 'Trust Me (This Is Love)'. She followed that up with a pretty good sophomore
effort in 'Tuesday's Child'. Though it didn't sell as many copies as her first effort it did
showcase a voice that could knock your socks off with songs like 'If I Didn't Have You',
'Love Lift Me', 'Believe In You' and 'Why Don't You Love Me?'.
Now comes the coup de grace in her albeit short career. 'Everybody' takes off in different
directions but still showcases one the greatest voices in Canadian music which will have to
be reckoned with in The States before too long. (If the record execs ever get their heads
out of the sand)
As the title implies every song is a little snippet of a story that'll make you think about it
long after it's ended. From the racial implications of 'Double Agent' (I got no uniform /
I'm camouflaged in any light) to the 'what did I do' tone of 'Sunday Morning After' (Oh my
God! / I woke up with a snake tattoo / Oh my God! / And I think that my tongue's pierced,
too) there is something for everybody here.
With Peter Asher, Billy Mann and Molecules (a little known DJ from NYC) handling the
producing chores, this album takes on a diverse range of styles and Amanda pulls it off
very well. Don't let the title track, currently playing on a Canadian radio station near
you, turn you off from buying it. Not all the tracks are as funked up as that one or
'Sunday Morning After'. For those who want ballads like the last two efforts check out
'Marry Me' (co-written by her boyfriend and guitar player) or 'Colleen (I Saw Him First)'.
You won't be disappointed. My personal favorite from the CD is 'Inside the Tornado', which
really blew me away the first time I heard it.
(Let me know
what you think of the song)
The bad news is the album was released in Canada in December and won't hit The States until
May. If this is a problem then I suggest you head for the border and get your copy now.
Or call up that friend who lives right across from our northern neighbor and beg and plead
him or her to get you a copy. You'll be glad you did.
As a side note to the record execs in The States: Get off your duffs and start promoting
this CD now. Canada has some really great talent besides the likes of Celine Dion and
Shania Twain and the American public has a right to hear it. Don't blow this one, guys.
Amanda has a voice that will have to be heard now and in the future.
- Richard Blaine
* Richard Blaine's views and opinions do not necessarily
reflect the views and opinions of the staff at Twin-Music.