Eileen Rose’s fourth album is a re-release (originally coming out in March), now coming with a seven-track ‘live in the studio’ bonus CD to focus attention on her touring band, which contains Rich Gilbert (onetime of Frank Black & the Catholics).
Produced and engineered by people who have previously given us albums by Sheryl Crow and Kid Rock, this is smooth polished material, designed to worm its way into your head and stay there.
A pity, then, that much of the main album is too straight down the line to garner great interest. Possessed of a solid voice and fine delivery, with lyrics that veer between the banal and the rather more intriguing, Rose is nonetheless swamped by an over-smooth sound that is clearly aiming to place her as a more rootsy Sheryl Crow. Much better is the ‘live’ CD, which adds an urgency and passion that has been varnished out on the main release, and suggests your money might be rather better invested in seeing her live.