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Genre: indie folk/country Rating:  Check Out: “He Brings Out The Whiskey In Me,” “Baby I,” and “Losin’ You.”  myspace |
As one of the singers from the Stars and a distinctive voice in her own right, it’s amazing how disappointing Amy Millan’s solo effort is in comparison to her previous work. I have no issue with the country-tinged acoustic songs on this album, nor do I take issue with the lyrics, which are mostly concerned with loneliness and alcohol. Yet, acoustic music is often the best way to showcase a vocalist; instead of doing what Dallas Green’s solo effort Sometimes did, this album only serves to highlight her limitation as a vocalist.
Millan’s quiet and understated alto is a wonderful foil to Torquil Campbell’s voice in the Stars, but Honey From the Tombs proves to be her undoing. Throughout the album, her almost-monotone sounds as though she’s subconsciously attempting to channel Johnny Cash. As a result, her voice is more sleep-inducing than it is smooth. The vocal layers help but don’t save this album from its doldrums. If she really wanted to make this album successful, she should have adjusted her vocals accordingly. A little bit more ingenuity in the lyrics wouldn’t have hurt, either.
