Modern music, as we all know, is not in a good state, but Sonya Kitchell’s new album This Storm is a welcome respite from all the paltrier stuff currently on offer. The alternative indie rocker’s latest offering is a breath of fresh air for those who are sick of wading through the numerous extremely stale and contrived contributions of other artists of the genre.

It certainly helps that at 18 years-old Kitchell somehow has the voice of … of whom?

Throaty and smoky and completely unique, its sound makes comparison very difficult, and shines on most of the songs, even if it is lacking on some of the tracks. It is backed by generally beautiful instrumental arrangements, which are better on some tracks than on others, but are ultimately well-done as a whole.

The overall effect in the first two tracks is reminiscent of K.T. Tunstall’s “The Black Horse and the Cherry Tree”. Her lyricism is to be commended as well, particularly on the starting track “Every Drop”, on which she sings “There you go down again / To that place you say you’ve often been / There you go with all of your woes and your demons”.

Some songs are certainly stronger than others. “Every Drop” is probably one of the strongest on the album, and “Fire” is really fun, while “Running” and “Here to There” are a bit less original than most of the other tracks, although they still are okay to listen to. In sum, however, This Storm is an extremely impressive sophomore attempt by a talented young singer.

This Reviewer's Rating: 3.5 / 5

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