David Bruce Murray
Apr 22, 2008
CD Rated
CD Rated: Steph Shaw (Days In Between)
Rating: 3 Stars
Producer: Steph Shaw
Song Titles: “Back From Here,” “Pages,” “Can’t Stop,” “Make It Better,” and “Outro”
Steph Shaw’s EP shares more than a few similarities with the music of pop artist Vanessa Carlton. She plays piano, which factors prominently into her arrangements, and her vocals resemble Carlton’s. Shaw has a straining nasal tone that is unique to a certain degree, but not particularly pleasant to the ear. She wrote all these songs including the instrumental “Outro.” Her lyrics are poetic, artistic and somewhat rambling. If she could catch the attention of the right producer, she might be molded into a quirky minimalist/singer/songwriter in the pop market. It’s easier said than done, but not entirely impossible. Because she submitted this CD to me, I wondered going in if any of these songs would be gospel. I suppose she could possibly be singing these songs to God as prayers, but there’s no lyrics that point specifically in that direction.
