Melissa Ferrick Massive Blur (Atlantic) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)
A pop belter from Boston, this singer-songwriter’s first album delivers the same kind of jolt that came in first hearing Melissa Etheridge’s debut disc. Ferrick has rocking good sense and a fine, chameleon-like voice that will have casual listeners wondering if they’re hearing Joan Armatrading (“Honest Eyes”), Natalie Merchant (“Wonder Why”) or Chrissie Hynde (“The Meaning of Love”). Solid guitar work is provided by Peter Holsapple and Alain Johannes, but it’s Ferrick’s punchy vocals that push the tempo. “Happy Song” is radio-ready and very happy, while “Hello Dad” effectively takes the opposite tack (“Hello daddy/are you drunk again?/I’ve been waiting on the back porch/waiting to come in”) in its sad story of parental neglect.
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