Okay. So any record that arrives in the post with a press release mentioning tours with the bastard spawn of Satan's Hell pit James Blunt and familial relations with Kris Kristofferson is automatically ruining its chances; I'm sorry, it just is. However, I decided to give Sierra Swan's debut record a chance, mainly given the superb cover that they've put on this record, and the general hotness of Swan on the cover. Shallow? Yes. Yes, I am. (Isn't that dress great?)
Anyway; Ladyland is a really excellent record, evident right from the quirky opener "Copper Red", which sets the mood for the rest of the L.P.; moody, melodic, introspective (though not so much that you want to throw up) and honest. For the most part, these are piano led ballads, although they have a spikey quality that grabs your attention and doesn't quite let go; Swan's voice is certainly sensual, and conveys an element of vulnerability while at the same time avoiding sounding too vulnerable.
It's the self-penned material that's strongest; the collaborative material on Ladyland left me feeling somewhat underwhelmed to be honest, especially producer Linda Perry's "The Ladder" which seems a little out of keeping with the rest of the record; Aimee Mann cowrite "Get Down to It" is much more successful, however. Neither of these tracks match up to album standouts "Copper Red", "Dr. Love Boy", "Ladyland" and "Trouble is".
You can stream tracks from the album on her webpage (recommended: copper red)
Sierra Swan on myspace
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