Allison Moorer
Album: Down To Believing
Label: Proper
Tracks: 13
Website: http://allisonmoorer.com

I can sum this album up in one word, "FABULOUS." It is right up my street and is just about the best Country album by a female singer that I have heard in a very long time. Calling it a "Country" album does not really do it credit though. It is much more than that. Reminiscent at times of Trisha Yearwood, Allison has a superb voice, emotive, sultry, gritty and at times just downright raunchy. Sounding like Trisha cannot be a bad thing either!

Albums for me can generally be divided into three categories of appreciation. Firstly, those that you grow to like after a few listens, secondly those that you never really come to like and finally those that you instantly like on the very first listen. Allison's album definitely comes into the third of these categories. The album contains Country, Rock and Blues numbers all sung with the backing of superb musicians and recorded in Nashville.

This is a very personal album for Academy and Grammy nominated artist Allison Moorer which has taken over two years to complete. It is her first album for over five years during which period she has endured many heartaches, some of which are sung about on the album. Possibly the most moving of these is the song about the birth of her son and his confirmed diagnosis with Autism. Not the usual subject for a song and the music itself is very upbeat, but this is a song about a parent blaming themselves for what has happened to their child. All parents try to protect their children but there are times when it is totally out of your own control. This is one of those times but every parent will understand Allison's pain here.

Other notable songs are about her divorce and her family. Take a listen to "Down to believing" in particular. This is one of the stand out songs on the album.

Allison writes with a passion which few writers can match. The emotions and sensitivity remind me of Beth Nielsen Chapman who also has the ability to drag you into her world and spit you out again drained but somehow feeling better for the experience.

Most of the songs on this album are written by Allison. One that is not is John Fogerty's (Credence Clearwater Revival) "Have you ever seen the rain." If you recall the original, then this is nothing like it. Softer but retaining the grit of the original and much the better for that.

"Like it used to be" is the selected single to be released soon, the album being released on the 17th March. "If I were stronger" is a fine example of Allison's passionate writing. "Blood" is written about her sister Shelby Lynn and is all about unconditional love.

As I said at the beginning of this review, the album is fabulous. It should appeal to lovers of almost all genres of music with its expanse of sounds, emotions and vision. It is sung by a woman who really cares about life and love. Take a look at her website and some of the videos of earlier stuff on there and be prepared to be both amazed and engrossed.

Rory Stanbridge