GINA CATALINO - SWEPT IN SOUND:
Gina Catalino is a hot new talent who's debut CD, Swept In Sound, was released in early 2007. Gina is a fresh-faced beauty with an equal amount of talent as a singer-songwriter that it's easy to be swept away by the whole package and that bodes well for her future because she'll hook you and reel you in one way or the other. Originally hailing from New Hampshire Gina brought her natural style and aspiration first to L.A. and then to the Big Apple where a lot of top level musicians would eventually join her on her first full-length release. The disc opens up with a jazzy one-two punch of "11:32 p.m." which tells the tale of her struggles in Los Angeles and "Foolish" which bops along on a hooky chorus. This record jumps around and delves into many genres from jazz, folk, blues and pop but it's all tied together nicely by Gina's plaintive and, at times, vulnerable vocals which are always soulful and sultry and delivered with a refined clarity that jumps out of the speakers. The best tracks are the numbers featuring the understated production which lets Gina shine on vox and acoustic guitar but there is tasty accompaniment on piano, lead guitar and horns that is threaded throughout the CD providing a uniformly cohesive sonic experience. Gina's lyrics are wise beyond her years, intelligent and insightful and her compositions offer a real personal glimpse into the life of this rising star. "Move Me" is a song about love and rejection that is the most moving moment on the album. "Nobody's to Blame" finds Gina excelling at the moody up-tempo rocker which has a Jewell meets Edie Brickell meets Nelly Furtado vibe that proves Gina Catalino is a force to be reckoned with. Check out Gina Catalino's debut today and you'll be swept up in the sound - and vision. You'll have no one to blame but yourself if you don't!
• Recommended Tracks:
(5,7,10) [USA/NY 2007 - web] (Reviewed by Richard J. Lynch for Kweevak.com - 2007/03/15)
