Ragged Dreams

Emi Sunshine

2017 - Little Blackbird Records.  The scuttlebutt in the music industry is that Emi Sunshine is the new entertainer to watch.  Personally, I wonder why?  Here are the problems that I have with her music… first and foremost she maintains the shaky vocal syndrome, which never ever sounds good! On top of that she sounds like she is screaming! I will give her credit for writing all fifteen songs on this album, however, every song has a basic duplicated baseline melody that is complimented by lyrics that have more rhyme than legitimate meaning.  Case in point “Sinner’s Serenade,” it starts out strong with a great storyline, but heads south into the dumpster when it comes upon the chorus.  Emi lack enunciation as she sings with more of a speaking voice with absolutely no flow.  She has a sort of country flare to her vocals, but she is more of a mini—Miranda Lambert in all the wrong ways.  In other words, it will take many years with many vocal coaches and many writing partners to bring this singer out of the gawky mentality she is currently in. Some of the songs on this album have minor potential, nonetheless they really need lots of work—especially when it comes to the vocals.  Case in point “Porter Wagoner Blue” and “Strong Armed Robbery.” It’s the screeching and unpleasant vocals that really turn this reviewer off! All I can say is—never believe the hype around an entertainer, especially when the hype comes from Nashville!

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(This review was printed in the November / December 2017 issue of Strictly Country Magazine.)

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