In many ways this is an 'old fashioned' album. It is not an album that has been created purely to meet the needs of the iPod and MP3 generation for background music. Instead it is an album of songs that explore real emotions. It is an album that you have to sit down and listen to really appreciate it. And we at Bluesbunny heartily approve.
Although it would be easy to label Cathy's musical style as modern or alternative country, that description simply wouldn't do her justice. On this album she displays a much greater versatility, and at times imparts a real soulful quality to her songs. She certainly demonstrates this particular side to her singing with "Ain't No Home", which has more than a hint of southern soul to it and is arguably the highlight of the album - and frankly puts Joss Stone to shame in the blue-eyed soul stakes.
From "Making a List" that comes across very much as urban soul (even down to having a pointless remix as a 'bonus' track), to "I Don't Want Anything" where she returns to the country theme of heartbreak, and on to the quirky "Closet Cultivator", the diversity of styles she is capable of quickly becomes apparent. Nor should you overlook the slow paced gem "Things Are Different", or the anger fueled "Two Questions". And then there is "G.O.D.", which has a bit of Beatles vibe about it, a real slow burner that builds to a crescendo before fading back to silence - simply superb.
As with her previous album, "Road to Bliss", again we have to commend her on creating innovative and original packaging. The album is presented as a medieval play with the songs representing the scenes, while the album artwork folds out to depict a Globe-like theatre vista circa the 16th century. It even comes complete with a booklet of the lyrics in the guise of a theatre programme. On the evidence presented before us Cathy continues to build a fine body of work, and this is her best to date.