Deena
Album: Rock River
Label: Life Force
Tracks: 12
Website: http://www.deenashoshkes.com

To be honest until I read the blurb that came with "Rock River" the new album from Deena(Shoshkes), I hadn't realised that she was the same Deena that was a co-founder of the New Jersey based pop rock outfit The Cucumbers, who enjoyed some exposure on MTV back in its formative years in the 80s.

"Rock River" is Deena's second solo album, following on from her 2008 debut "Somewhere In Blue", which I'm not sure got an official release on this side of the pond, if it did, apologies, but it passed me by. Whilst that may seem like an almost lethargic release schedule, a number of her songs have been picked up for use on tv and film and by artists like Jackson Brown and Dar Williams. In addition to which Deena devotes her time to a number of other music projects.

"Rock River" is an album that is rich in pop/rock sensibilities with an affectation of singer songwriter tones and a sprinkling of American touches to give a sound that, though light in nature, has a narrative that contrasts the melodic focus.

Deena has a voice/vocal style that seems to suit that pop sound. This is an album that's easy to listen to, one that you can allow to simply wash over you and cleanse away the emotional taxation of a busy working day or simply as a distraction from the mundanity of the working week. "Rock River" works very well in that capacity, something to tap along to to take the stress away, but that does sell the album a little short as well, there are also avenues to explore when the fancy takes you.

This is one of those albums that is difficult to slot into a pigeonhole, it's deeper than it seems on the surface, but if I were to file in anywhere, it would be in the box marked enjoyable, with a sticky label to mark it out for another play, soon.

Neil King