When an artist creates an album, there’s an important goal he or she has to achieve right off the bat: grabbing the listener’s attention.
With her album In the Dust, Brandy Lynn Confer accomplishes this, but not really through any effort of her own. What catches the listener most is the striking similarity between Confer’s voice and Sheryl Crow’s.
Confer’s voice has the same raspy, throaty quality as Crow’s, and even Confer’s tone and inflection very closely match the superstar’s. This is so evident on the first track, “Heartbreaker,” that it keeps you listening to find out if Confer’s voice really sounds that much like Crow’s, or if it just happens to be on that song.
Add into the equation the fact that Confer’s musical style falls closely within the same genre as Sheryl Crow’s, and you’re left with an album that feels almost like a tribute or imitation album.
Luckily, despite having an overall vibe that resembles an already well-established artist, there are a few ways that Confer stands out as her own artist. Her voice has a natural raspiness to it, but Confer consistently remains in control of that trait. It never turns harsh or gruff, but possesses an unexpected gentleness. Additionally, there is a sincerity and vulnerability to Confer’s singing that sets her apart.
In the Dust consists of only a few up-tempo, hard-hitting tracks, and for this album that’s a good thing. Those few tracks, such as “Tarantula” and “I Need Light,” come across as slightly amateur, while Confer’s slower songs feel like the listener is hearing Confer in her element. They’re fluid and give off the sense that Confer is comfortable performing them.
While Confer may still need to do some tweaking with her style in order to avoid comparisons to Sheryl Crow, In the Dust is a solid first effort. The talent is there, Confer just needs to experience a bit more growth as an artist to develop. Confer is currently working on a new record, and hopefully we’ll see that progression on the next album.
Hot Tracks: What If?, Freight Train, In the Dust
July 9, 2010
