Considering that she’s armed with a piano, a good set of pop rock tunes, and two X chromosomes, Kristin Errett is absolutely bound to be flooded with Sara Bareilles comparisons. Confessions Of A Songbird, thankfully, is vying to be relatable rather than revolutionary. It’s an unmistakably and unapologetically girly album, from the soft pink cover photo to the lyrical personality. The fact that Confessions Of A Songbird doesn’t shy away from its femininity gives it a unique edge in a world where girliness is often equated with a lack of quality.
The disc is filled with a steady pop sensibility. From “Don’t Call Me Sweetheart,” an anthem for anyone tired of being patronized, to the optimism of “Little Pieces,” jaunty piano pieces with bright string parts and driving rhythms abound. The lyrics are not always as good, incorporating plain clichés or the occasional Willy Wonka reference (“All I Want Is Everything”). Nevertheless, Errett’s simple brand of cleverness is usually pleasant.
However, the slower ballads like “Finding Second Best” and “Mirror Mirror,” though not outwardly irritating, are considerably less engaging. The other drawback lies with the vocals—her voice itself has just the right amount of texture to blend smoothly, but the layered vocal tracks are often handled in a way that makes them sound heavy-handed and synthetic. This trend is only broken on “Little Pieces” and “All I Want Is Everything,” which feature a more varied interaction of backing and lead vocals.
To top it all off, Confessions Of A Songbird is short and sweet. The half of it that is not so memorable does nothing to weigh down the half that is. Though it may be no more than another chapter in an already popular style, it is refreshing by virtue of its cleanness and directness.
In A Word: Rosy
