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18 Oct 2008, 11:08 pm / Learn How To Give (Corinne Gooden)
Nashville Heartache, New York Soul
Click To Purchase At CD Baby
Strong lyrics, tight arrangements and powerful, unforgettable songs make "All My Days", the debut CD by Corinne Gooden one of the best indie/folk/rock releases of 2008. These are songs that really sneak up on you--simple, yet effective and alluring melodies that serve to reinforce the powerful, bitter truths of the masterfully written lyrics. Every cut is moving and executed with finesse. I often speak of defining moments in contemporary music, and this CD has one - the electric guitar solo on "Come This Far" which drives the song home, and the keyboard solo at the end that emphasizes the dispirited heartache of pushing a loved one away. This is pure, wistful eloquence that is both guileless and mesmerizing.
Another great song is "17th Street", a moving piece written about a man who lived on the corner of 17th Street and 5th Avenue in New York City. Said Corinne, about this song, "I walked by him every day on my way to and from work, and although I never spoke to him, he became a regular fixture in my day. So sad, he literally lived on cardboard boxes on the corner, and in the cold winter months, he would wear plastic around his hands and feet. One day he wasn't there, and for about a week I wondered if he was going to come back. He did, for about another month, but then he was gone for good. It was an especially cold winter that year, and I figured that the shelter services found him dead, and had to take care of him. He really touched my heart, first of all because he was a survivor, but secondly because it really showed me how callous we as humans become to situations and people like that, how it just becomes a normal everyday thing. We stop noticing that there are people out there that need help, and there are people much worse off than you or me. The song just kind of came out as a reality check more than anything, and it serves as a reminder to me to stop and notice how good (and bad) life can really be, and to really love the people in my life, and love what life has given me............"
Though the strength of this release is Corinne's evocative vocals, the instrumentation and production are equally strong. Some of the songs are bluesy-folk balladry, some are country or country/pop hybrid - all are outstanding. "Goodbye" is an amazing song capable of crossing over into the pop or country genres. "You've Got Me" is an instantly memorable song with a country feel; catchy lyrics, stunning vocals and a great acoustic guitar/piano combination. The title song, "All My Days" is pure heartache. "17th Street" is a moving and reflective observation of people living on the fringes of society.
"All My Days" is an intriguing assortment of songs that are instantly engaging and unforgettable. This an intensely personal effort that includes several moving pieces that recall life, loss, hope and regret, and the bittersweet reminiscences of love and the reckoning that comes with standing at a crossroads. Better yet, the CD stands out thanks to a strong melodoic appeal owing to the strength of Corinne Gooden's emotional vocal delivery and first-rate songwriting.
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