Posted on: January 1, 2012 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Shedaisy plays a brand of country meets pop music that individuals would be confused to hear coming out of CMT or the like. Songs like “23 Days” could conceivably be on the adult contemporary radio stations, or it could conceivably be on the Christian station; there is nothing that really marks the track as a country song. Still, this does not change the fact that Shedaisy comes up with a great brand of music that will get individuals singing along after the first or second listen.

This is not just that there are one or two radio-friendly tracks on “Fortuneteller’s Melody”, but rather that the entire album is like a new greatest hits for the band. Something that distinguishes Shedaisy from the rest of pop artists during songs like “I’m Taking The Wheel” is the density of the track; there are three or four things happening during the track that individuals would be hard pressed to hear unless they are giving the disc their full attention. However schmaltz the song may seem, “God Bless The American Housewife” is a quaint song that will hit it big while still moving against the typical, patriarchal grain in music. Even more interesting, the vocal inflection on the track is closer to rap during the stanzas than anything remotely associated with country music.

The first time that individuals get into the country groove on this Shedaisy album happens during “Kickin’ In”; the guitar work seems to have a little bit of the bluegrass feel that Flatt and Scruggs first put to vinyl all those years ago. Even though the track eventually turns into something that seems like a blend of Bon Jovi and Alanis Morrisette, there is no denying that a little bit of country music flitters through this track. The first slow ballad on “Fortuneteller’s Melody” happens in “Healing Side”, and while it is easily half the speed of the rest of the tracks on the disc, Shedaisy knows exactly how to craft this track so it doesn’t feel as if the momentum has been killed. Even though individuals usually avoid country like the plague (at least in my circle of friends), there is a good chance that someone could put on this disc and even the most anti-country person will find something that they like on “Fortuneteller’s Melody”. All I know is that Shedaisy has another fan at the end of this disc.

Top Tracks: Healing Side, God Bless the American Housewife

Rating: 7.0/10

[JMcQ]

Shedaisy – Fortuneteller’s Melody / 2005 Universal / 11 Tracks / http://www.shedaisy.com / http://www.umusic.com / Reviewed 03 May 2006

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