The music industry is littered with female singer-songwriters, but Shannon Corey is far more talented than her more well-known coworkers such as Sara Barellies and Vanessa Carlton.
Corey's album Unsaid is a beautiful collection of melodies and lyrics that blend together to put her on the level of classic singers like Fiona Apple, who she lists as an influence along with Ben Folds. Corey has been playing piano since the age of three, and it shows. Her songs are well-written, but don't seem to be lacking anything, even though most of them consist of her playing the keys; drummers and guitars come in every now and then, but the songs are so focused on Corey's playing that you hardly notice.
Corey's lyrics are simple, yet eloquent. “What face should I paint?” she asks in “Fate”, followed by “Is it wrong to always want to be right?/Or should I give up this fight?”. Some of her lyrics could be cheesy, but because of the beautiful way she sings, it doesn't really matter. Her voice seems effortless, as though she's not even really trying at all, or like she could sing twice as high or low as she is but chooses not to. The entire CD could come off arrogant, but because of Corey's delicious DIY attitude (the CD is packaged adorably in a brown paper lunch bag), she comes off humble and meek.
Corey is beautiful, talented, and deserves more than most of the females out there making music. Her music is refreshing, even in a world full of women who try to be like her.
November 29, 2009
