REVIEW: Terry Radigan, Radigan (Vanguard)
- Jon Steltenpohl
Part of the Terry Radigan story is the same as every other story of the stereotypical Nashville songwriter. You move to Nashville with your guitar after getting great press in a local group. You sign a contract, and some record company teases you with a few recording sessions. They never deliver what they promised you. You slave until one or two of the new country flavors of the month puts one of your songs on an album. And then you put those songs on your bio and hope for the best.
Well, Radigan has done that part so far. With a resume spot of the guitarist who replaced Shawn Colvin, a failed deal with Asylum records, and songs recorded by Trisha Yearwood and Patty Loveless, Radigan is a bonafide Nashville songwriter success story. And that's where most artists stay. Burned by the record companies in the past, and unwilling to sell their souls to the new country establishment, they languish in royalty fueled obscurity and release self funded CD's they sell at coffeehouse shows.
But, Terry Radigan is taking a different route. Her debut album, Radigan, is well produced and a few steps away from country without completely severing the ties. Think of k. d. lang and Sheryl Crow's country roots, and you'll get an idea of how Radigan plays it. She flirts effortlessly from the torchlight sounds of a Patsy Cline to the loose disco feel of Sheryl Crow. "So What" is fun, spunky, and genre agnostic. There's a little bit of everything in the song, and Radigan has fun with it. She even flirts with a bit of a tango on "50 Kisses". It's the most playful song on the album, and possibly even best track of the whole album.
There are a few songs that do sound a bit new country. "When I Get Around You" you is probably the best. It's light and poppy and has a nice chorus to it. "G-O-O-D-B-Y-E" also has an instant association with "D-I-V-O-R-C-E", yet it manages to back away from the cliches and be a decent song. But, for the most part, Radigan likes going for the smooth and mellow approach. One of the best songs of the mellow genre is "The Things You'll Do". It's heavily k. d. lang influenced, but the mellower songs lack the passion of lang's work. In fact, some of the more mellow songs come out a bit forced and, on some of the sadder songs, her voice is downright pleading.
Terry Radigan's self titled debut is a nice effort. She successfully breaks away from the stifling new country sound without completely turning her back on it. She gives the listener a wide range of styles and influences which would be great for a country fan who likes a little pop or a pop fan who likes a little country. Although Radigan falters in a few places, it is an enjoyable, relaxed album that is very well produced. Overall, a nice debut.
