Exposé Online banner

Exposé Online

Not just outside the box, but denying the existence of boxes.
Covering music from the fringes since 1993.

Reviews

Laura Meade — The Most Dangerous Woman in America
(Bandcamp no#, 2021, CD / LP / DL)

by Jon Davis, Published 2021-07-02

The Most Dangerous Woman in America Cover art

For her second solo outing, singer Laura Meade presents another set of sophisticated and artistic songs that defy easy categorization, with elements drawn from electronic pop, theater, and progressive rock. She is supported by three fellow members of IZZ: Tom Galgano (keyboards, production), John Galgano (bass, guitar, keyboards), and Brian Coralian (electronic drums). Meade herself provides vocals and keyboards. The Most Dangerous Woman in America is an album with a theme, though I’d stop short of calling it a concept album. All of the songs deal with women who have suffered for their willingness to stand up for what they believe in regardless of social conventions — rather than telling a single story, a variety of scenarios are laid out. Musically, a variety of moods play out. There’s the catchy, upbeat pop rock of “End of the Road in Hollywood,” which reminds me of an 80s synth-pop song produced in a more organic way than was common at the time. “Iconoclast” starts as a lovely piano piece, then adds synthesizers to end as a dramatic proggy song. “Burned at the Stake” sounds like a techno rearrangement of a Broadway musical song that finishes with a big flurry of prog-rock synthesizer. Most of the songs are built around Meade’s piano and voice, and I suspect that they’d sound good even without all the enhancements brought by the other musicians. But I’m very happy with the arrangements, which heighten the drama and mood while providing many creative and unexpected touches, like the harpsichord that shows up near the end of “Doesn’t Change a Thing.” As always, Meade’s voice is beautiful and expressive, and she has the rare ability to enunciate clearly without sounding stiff — so many of today’s popular singers twist their syllables in ways that make them hard to understand, but Meade definitely follows a different path in her singing. There’s not a weak moment on The Most Dangerous Woman in America, and every song has charms to delight the ear.

Filed under: New releases, 2021 releases

Related artist(s): Laura Meade

More info
http://izzmusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-most-dangerous-woman-in-america

 

What's new

These are the most recent changes made to artists, releases, and articles.