Review: Anne Smith

Anne Smith - Separated By Words (Independent)
Anne Smith is almost impossible to pigeonhole. The daughter of a pianist, she began taking lessons at six, and she’s been writing and performing music for as long as she can remember. She also designs clothes and teaches music; she’s a published writer and does her bit for charity (details on her website). Her sound and style of performance on “Separated By Words” is a little easier to pin down, her jazzy folk style is certainly easy on the ear, but listen closely to the words, and you’ll hear an artist with something say, and unafraid to ruffle a few feathers along the way.

Apart from a winning way with words, we desire the following three attributes from songwriters: sincerity, honesty and authenticity. The first two I think we can reach our own conclusions about, and the latter is written about in serious books and discussed on late night arts shows. Also, it’s probably overrated. Here, whether Smith is singing about the arcane mysteries of love (“Not Enough Road”), the prosaic, sometimes hurtful details of everyday interaction (“Mary, Do You Love?”), or the topics that cause universal concern (“Tillman's Tale”, “Temporary Suicide”), there’s a sense that she’s giving her all, telling it just as she sees it. In these troubled times, those are qualities worth seeking out.
http://www.annesmithgirlb.com/
Rob F.