Maura O`Connell
A Real Life Story (Warner) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
Irish singer Maura O`Connell combines a gorgeous, supple voice with an impeccable taste in material on ”A Real Life Story.” And with tunes from the likes of Lennon and McCartney, John Hiatt, Tom Waits and Janis Ian, it`s hard to go wrong. O`Connell got her start singing traditional Irish music before moving on to a solo career partly based in Nashville. But while the songs largely feature acoustic instruments, this is by no means your standard country album. O`Connell`s forte is singing songs with adult themes, most notably Hugh Priestwood`s ”A Family Tie” and Hiatt`s ”When We Ran.” Two of the more pop-oriented tunes are among the album`s most appealing: Peter Kingsberry`s ”When Your Heart Is Weak” and Larry Tagg`s ”Burning My Rowboat.” This is genre-crossing music at its best.
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