The singer/songwriter vibe that Shannon Gaye (http://www.shannongaye.com) initially gives off has one expecting something more along the lines of Suzanne Vega or Lisa Loeb. Boy, was that prediction off the mark! Even the title of the album suggests a record that is quaint and mellow. While Gaye is about as far from a hard rocker as it gets, this is no wallflower piece.
Gaye is possessed by the rhythmic pulse of the '70s, when pop had a funky and soulful punch to it. Those days seem to be gone now as artists fall into either white or black camps, often afraid to slide both into the menu. Yes, she has the same last name as Marvin, and you can hear the influence, especially on "Stone" and "Willing & Able."
There are times when Gaye sings like a man, which is meant to be a compliment. "Stone" has funky flavors and smooth R&B vocal work within its sunshine '70s Adult Contemporary framework. The lyrics are edgy on the surface - "I'm staring down a loaded gun/Spit-polished to a shine/There's a finger on the trigger/And my back's to the wall" - but this is not the gangsta diary it may seem to be. Rather, Gaye is trying to break free from the boxed-in pressures of everyday living, the slo-mo boredom and frustation of a 9-to-5 life.
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Although Gaye throws in contemporary concessions, such as the hip-hop surprises in "Work It Out," much of the record sounds out of time, which is good.
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