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DVDfever.co.uk – Stephanie Finch and The Company Men: Cry Tomorrow CD reviewElly Roberts reviews
Belle Sound Records
- Released: August 2010
- Rating: 10/10
Shes got the girl-next-door good looks, shes got the voice and shes got the songs too.
Like the PR blurb says, Cry Tomorrow really is a little gem.
Its not often the hype matches up to the content, so it comes as a pleasant surprise to hear such a compact album which is effectively a country boogie and ballads collection.It helps if you have a great band behind you and Finch has it, with the likes of inspirational solo artists like Kelley Stoltz and hubby Chuck Prophet, (whose albums Ive reviewed in the past) along with Rusty Miller who make up the fabulous The Company Men.
For starters, she serves up a boogie shuffle Tina Goodbye, a perfect radio single and foot-tapper par excellence, which you can hear now on my radio show THE PLUG at www.calonfm.com ( go to listen again, Aug 2 show). From the off you just know this band are gonna swing and it happens again on southern-boogie-like Dont Back Out Now with the main hook being the catchy chorus. The wiry minimalist guitar solo is just perfect, giving it a bit of edge.
A thumping and funky groove ensues for In My Book Of Love, again a very catchy tune, and potential single, which she might need to crack the UK. Wandering Son also has single potential with a neat swing and boogie template with the boys dropping-in some fine back-ups, but its the tightness of the outfit that impresses most, resulting in involuntary foot-tapping.
The ballads are excellent too. On laidback So I Do, Finch gets a chance to show that lovely country lilt, but as comfortable as they all are switching code, you get the feeling they want more boogie-chillin and that comes back on Dont Back Down Now.Mid-paced Sensitive Boys has a mellow groove and is a very sweet song, about, well sensitive boys. Stoltzs piano and celeste give it a creamy texture while plodding Count The Days is a chilled break-up song full of determination. If you check the inner CD picture that shows Finch holding a phone, you can imagine that this is the conversation taking place.
Sealing a splendid album, the collective bash out an uplifting acoustic boogie and its obvious theyve all done a great job, while having loadsa fun.
The verdict Bring on the next one..ASAP !
Weblink:myspace.com/stehanirfinchmusic (Song samples)
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Tina Goodbye
2. So Do I
3. Dont Back Out Now
4. Sensitive Boys
5. Shes The One
6. In My Book Of Love
7. Transmission
8. Count The Days 1234567
9. Wandering Son
10. All Is Forgiven
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.