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Serena Ryder
Is It O.K.
Review By Andy Argyrakis
She may already be a superstar in Canada where 2006’s If Your Memory Serves You Well went gold, but Serena Ryder is just starting to crack the American landscape thanks to a preview EP release and touring with Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers. Add in additional dates with Marc Broussard, Xavier Rudd and Paolo Nutini, plus festival appearances at Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza, and anticipation is steadily building towards this soulful singer-songwriter’s U.S. debut.
Though she cites Aretha Franklin as a primary influence, Ryder’s voice is more accurately compared to K.T. Tunstall, Joan Osborne or Melissa Etheridge, evoking a rich R&B quality, but still possessing a rock edge at the heart. Take the opening cut “Sweeping the Ashes,” an instantly engaging cut that pits the heart-on-sleeve songwriting of Tracy Chapman across a series of gritty howls, acoustic centering and organ accompaniment. The self-explanatory “Brand New Love” may cover a topic tackled by countless other performers but between a chilling vocal quiver and circular guitar line, it also jumps off the disc with compelling originality. “Weak In the Knees” is slightly clichéd by comparison, shifting towards a down-tempo troubadour approach that does aptly showcase Ryder’s undeniable singing chops, but fails to possess any true sonic magnetism. Thankfully, its follow-up, “Stumbling Over You,” is a brisk jazz rocker with more meaningful lyrics. Though it remains to be seen just how much wind will catch her artistic sails here in the States, Ryder is obviously on the right track thanks especially to her vivacious vocals that refuse to be confined in either the rock or soul scenes.
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