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Meghan Coffee
"Songs to Sail By"
Self-Released
www.myspace.com/meghancoffee
To be completely honest, yet totally superficial, the name Meghan Coffee does not inspire one to select her CD for a listen. It is not an especially intriguing sounding name, but rather conjures up stereotypical images of countless unsung young women armed with acoustic guitar or piano toiling away at their craft in various and sundry cafes on Main Street USA. Thankfully, Coffee is a fresh exception to this unfairly formed rule.
Though Atlanta's Meghan Coffee is a modern amalgamation of familiar sounds-her voice reminiscent at times of Kristen Hersh, Kate Bush and Tori Amos; her piano-playing offering hints of Coldplay, Keane and Suddenly, Tammy! - the combination she presents is new and intriguing. A somewhat darker sounding record, "Songs to Sail By" showcases Coffee's unsettling voice as it slowly works its voodoo on the listener.
Noteworthy tracks include opener "Nightingale," which simmers on a simple yet alluring musical refrain until just shy of boiling over. Later, "Lake Ponchartrain" plays like a haunting lullaby, never making its subject matter totally clear, which actually works in its favor. "Jericho" is a smoldering rocker fraught with enough melancholy melodies for three songs.
All told, with "Songs to Sail By," Meghan Coffee is a welcome entry to the seemingly swollen catalog of singer/songwriters who have elected to brave it alone under their given name - only she has the chops to back it up.
Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 071008
