Laura Roppe is a performer that defies convention. Where it is easy to provide broad comparisons to artists or other influences for many discs, I found myself sitting down and really focusing in to what she attempts to do on “I’m Still Here”. The album begins with “Bail Yourself Out” an effort that blends together country, gospel, rockabilly, and soul into a catchy and splashy introduction to Roppe. Continuing to build up momentum, Roppe brings fans into a different head space with “Heart Inside Your Palm”. The bouncy, fun track has a little bit of slinkiness present in the periphery, as Roppe creates another track that will not easily be forgotten.
“Woobie” will continue making listeners guess, as the track comes across as a skillful expansion upon the styles of artists like Tracy Chapman and even Janis Joplin. “Daddy’s Little Angels” further fleshes out “I’m Still Here” in its stripped-down, rock meets country glory. Of particular note during “Daddy’s Little Angels” has to be the differing time signatures used by Roppe in her narrative. Where the instrumentation keeps up with her vocals, the resulting aural assault represents a bold new path for country and pop to take. Rather than petering out towards the end of the album, Roppe provides her listeners with a set of efforts that rival even the first few cuts in terms of overall quality and expansiveness. “No Place I’d Rather Be” is a perfect example of this.
Starting off with a slow, meandering guitar, the track quickly picks up steam with Roppe’s rich vocals. Add a second set of vocals and a more focused guitar/drum dynamic, and listeners are given another fulfilling and feisty song. Extremely emotional but inexorably linked to mature arrangements, “I’m Still Here” is the best example of an intelligent pop album that we’ve heard in a number of years. Check out the linked site, pick up a copy of this CD, and see exactly what the fuss is all about.
Top Tracks: Heart Inside Your Palm, Making A Living
Rating: 8.1/10
Laura Roppe – I’m Still Here / 2011 Self / 13 Tracks / http://www.lauraroppe.com
Check out Roppe’s new video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzO0yhekPQE .
Roppe’s George Clooney video has drawn 71,000+ views in just over a week, and garnered the following Youtube Honors, among others:
#1 – Most Viewed Music – India
#1 – Most Viewed Music – Spain
#4 – Most Viewed Music – Poland
#4 – Most Viewed Music – Mexico
#6 – Most Viewed Music – France
#6 – Most Viewed Germany
#8 – Most Viewed Music South Africa
#8 – Most Viewed Music Czech Republic
#13 – Most Viewed Music
#14 – Most Viewed Music – Russia
#17 – Most Viewed Music – Argentina
#20 – Most Viewed Spain
#29 – Most Viewed Music – Japan
#30 – Most Viewed Poland
#30 – Most Viewed Music Australia