OurStage

A contemporary approach to country with rock and soul inflections and a powerful and versatile vocal style. Melody Guy laid down a marker back in 1995 with the release of ONE SIDED LOVE, but it was three years later when she started to attract a lot of attention to herself with READY FOR THE SUNSHINE. Fans had to wait a further two years for her next album, SHOULDA’ LOVED ME, and in 2002 she earned herself rave reviews for SIGNS OF TROUBLE with a strong recommendation coming from the prestigious Billboard Magazine which said: ‘For tradition, spin Patty Loveless. For soul, pull out your Al Green discs. For a bit more grit, put on Delbert McClinton. Or, save time and get it all with Melody Guy….’ Listening to Melody’s latest release, coming after a six year sabbatical, one must concede that this is a fairly accurate assessment of her approach to her music. She is not a traditionalist, leaning, as she does, towards a thoroughly modern approach. Vocally, she can go from little more than a pleading whisper to a defiant roar, ensuring plenty of variety in this area. Producer, Chris Arms, who plays a big part in her backing. Employs a frenetic electric lead guitar, a more soulful slide guitar, bass, drums and B-3 organ on some of the more driving numbers, where Melody really belts out her song. She plays acoustic guitar and there are a number of extremely satisfying deliveries, which use little, more than her own accompaniment. Apart from being a competent vocalist, Melody demonstrates that she is capable of crafting literate songs, having written or co-written all thirteen featured numbers. Breaking My Own Heart, a frank admission to some of her self-inflicted failures in love. Tell Me I’m Wrong, where she demonstrates the power of her voice as she belts it out with unleashed passion. Freedom and Things You Can’t Take Back, all very much in the contemporary mould, work well for her and should prove popular with the followers of the contemporary scene, which today appears to outnumber those who favour a more traditional approach. For this reviewer, it was the more subdued, largely acoustic sounds, which held the greatest appeal. Numbers like Your Side Of Town, a cheating song, the yearning which comes across convincingly on Ghost Of You. The longing to win a somewhat indifferent lover’s heart on Your Girl (Love Me Like This). The closing and I Go There, track, a plaintive acceptance that she is No Different From The Rest. However, by far and away the hardest hitting song written by Guy must surely be the outstanding Mistakes Like Me. On this, Melody’s voice is little more than a whisper at times as she recounts the outpouring of a young boy’s anxieties as he comes to realise that through his simplicity, the fact that he is not as clever as others. That he struggles with so many things which others of his age can handle effortlessly, all of which have led adults to regard him as a ‘special case,’ leaving him to question what kind of a man he will grow to be. The subject matter is serious. There is no anger, no condemnation, and the listener is left feeling somewhat humbled and perhaps a little ashamed when they think of other little boys they perhaps know personally who suffer the same anxieties, yet whom they too often tend to overlook or ignore. A quite incredible composition delivered perfectly and one which is certain to hit home most forcefully. LK Laura Bethell Maverick AAG Publishing Limited http://www.maverick-country.com

Let’s turn the lights down and the CD player up so we can get lost in this soft but poignant expedition of vulnerability and strength. Melody Guy has out did herself yet again with “Real Freedom”, going to great lengths to take you on a journey through her mind. Every note sang and chord played tells you about the heart worn on the sleeve of this force that can’t be denied. Melody has a voice that rings like church bells calling to her congregation to stand up and praise. She can not be placed in any musical category, she has created her own blend and genre of crisp instrumentation and spot on lyrics that leaves nothing for your imagination. If you ever been a woman scorned or a child mistreated this is just the therapy you need. This album is made with threads of deceit and reconciliation entwined in a blanket of courage and honest humbleness. There is an overall mellow drone through out with a nice mixture of rockin’ angst. But that angst is shared with a childlike susceptibility to forgiveness and gratitude of experience gained through a road of hardships. She proclaims in the song, TELL ME I’M WRONG, that she hasn’t been loved in a long time, well I’m telling her, “she is wrong”, because I have had the pleasure to listen to this album and see her live and I have to say, “Melody you are definitely LOVED!”

"For tradition, spin Patty Loveless. For soul, pull out your Al Green discs. For a bit more grit, put on Delbert McClinton. Or, save time and get it all with Melody Guy…" - Billboard Magazine

"She had complete control of everyone in the house - so unbelievable. Melody's on stage performance should be seen by everyone that listens to music. People are still talking about Melody's awesome January 2005 performance at Billy Block's Western Beat! My new favorite performer!"

"Melody's ability to capture and audience is spellbinding. Powerful and well written intimate portraits in ever song. Melody is a true gem, and I look forward to her very bright future in Nashville." - Rick Allan, KXPC 103.7