Posted on: August 16, 2010 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

“Lucy” is a track that establishes Lindsay Mac as a very distinctive singer, really bridging the distinctive sounds of Tori Amos and Alanis Morrisette, throwing in a minor amount of Mariah Carey for good measure. The full sound of the track really allow the vocal embellishments levied on the track by Lindsay to be even more emotionally affecting. The second track on “Small Revolution”, “Use Me” feels as if it is insincere; the urban influence on the track (scratching and heavy bass lines) really take the spotlight away from Lindsay’s vocals and diminish the quality and number of ornaments laid down by Lindsay. The continual shifting of styles really makes this disc disjointed, but “Nowhere” is a track that has some comparable aspects to the positive facets of “Lucy”. “Nowhere”, a very country and western-influenced track, pairs Lindsay with a skillfully played banjo.

The distinctive and continually changing style of Lindsay Mac is perhaps why this album works where so many other female singers fail (Leah Zicari, for example). Some of the tracks are not unqualified successes; “Last Resort” may have a strong vocal presence but lacks severely in the tepid and clichéd jazz-like piano line that backs up Lindsay throughout. Lindsay’s wheels again spin during “Out of Me”, a sedate track that just does not have enough in the way of instrumentation to allow for Lindsay to work off of; the major force in this disc is a barely-discernible bass-line, and the repetitive and quiet drum-beats present on the track are simply not able to bolster Lindsay’s vocal licks. The interesting thing about the title track on this disc (aside from the fact that it is stuck way out in the boonies, as it were, of the disc) is that is draws from the same infectious vocal grooves that have made some peaks out of Lindsay’s music.

This track is by far the single on the disc; lush recording and an easy-going sound ensures that this track will be on the lips of all listeners. Lindsay Mac has the talent to move alongside the titans in this section of the industry; with the commercialization of Liz Phair, there needs to be a strong an assertive voice for the oppressed in society to draw from. “Small Revolution” thus is right in its definition of itself; here’s to hoping that Lindsay comes out with other albums at this same caliber, provided that ey just stays away from the insincere r&b.

Top Tracks: Small Revolution, Lucy

Rating: 6.3/10

Lindsay Mac – Small Revolution / 2005 Red Cello / 11 Tracks / http://www.lindsaymac.com / Reviewed 22 June 2005

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