Album Review: Crystal Shawanda – Dawn of a New Day
Mix together a batch of material written by the songwriting community’s most successful writers, add in a dash of slick, radio-friendly production, and stir until the sound is smooth; this is the recipe for the typical mainstream album, one which generally yields a heaping helping of bland and indistinct music that tastes (and sounds) the same every time.
Dawn of a New Day, which features songs written by 29 people not named Crystal Shawanda (Aimee Mayo, Hillary Lindsey and John Rich among them), follows this recipe to the letter, tapping perpetual over-producer Scott Hendricks to helm the project.
But somehow the 27 year-old singer’s debut album shines in spite of itself, a satisfying concoction that blends Shawanda’s bluesy vocal stylings with a series of warm, contemporary arrangements. It may not be the most healthy food in the kitchen, sprinkled with enough confection to appeal to the palates of the masses, but this sweet treat has just enough spice to keep things interesting.
Typically straightforward and steeped in formulaic content and structure, Dawn of a New Day does not provide much in the way of artistic revelation. Debut single “You Can Let Go” follows the singer, in typical modern story-song progression, through the stages of her father’s life up until his death; the title track is a ‘leavin’ home’ number about hopefulness in the face of fear; and the Brad and Brent Warren co-penned “You Can’t Take It Back” is generally aimless–a song about the silver linings found in life’s mistakes–that strives for poignancy but stumbles over its own rushed storyline and halfhearted payoff.
On paper it all seems like a rote exercise in mediocrity. So it’s amazing that the album, in actuality, is heartily engaging.
There’s something special about the growl in Shawanda’s raspy voice. The antithesis of so many contemporary singers who allow a given song dictate their performance, focusing more on melody and technical delivery than on interpretation, Shawanda sculpts each song into her own vision, her gritty voice like a woodworker’s sandpaper that she uses to turn an ordinary slab of timber into something magnificent.
It is this fact which renders each song on Dawn of a New Day, even those which strictly adhere to an accepted formula, unique. Her voice roars with frustration on “Baby You’re Back” and purrs with passion on “Tender Side,” decent songs that are transformed in the singer’s hands.
Likewise, “You Can Let Go,” offered by any one of the genre’s capable but silky smooth-voiced blonde bombshells, simply wouldn’t carry the same emotional weight as when delivered by Shawanda, her voice vulnerable and often seemingly on the verge of breaking (though it never does). Even when the songs on this album are not particularly compelling, the singer, her voice bathed in nuance, is.
And despite the album’s shortcomings, not the least of which is its obsession with tempo (there is only one true ballad on the record), Dawn of a New Day’s bright spots far outweigh the dim. “My Roots Are Showing” is a brilliant piece of writing that blasts out a rally-cry of singalong hook, but which also finds the singer, dressed down and feeling unglamorous, forcefully declaring that she’s beautiful no matter what she’s wearing–it’s a similar message to that which can be found in a number of recent releases, but here it is delivered in a language that is powerful instead of pandering, a perfect melding of hook and message.
Shawanda bills herself as a songwriter, but she had a hand in writing only three of the tracks featured on her debut. Still, this eleven song collection feels autobiographic, and the singer’s impassioned performances bring the stories to life as if she’s lived–and written them–them herself.
Recommended Tracks: “My Roots Are Showing“, “Tender Side“, “Baby You’re Back“
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August 27, 2008 at 8:32 am Permalink
Looking forward to it! *cough* :)
August 27, 2008 at 9:36 am Permalink
Formulaic is the operative here. She sounds like the big label suits decided to cast her as the next Gretchen Wilson.
In spite of the inclusion of an overtly rocked-up cover of Hank William’s “Your Cheatin Heart.” This is Nashvegas confection at it’s most predictable.
August 27, 2008 at 9:37 am Permalink
You’re a more generous man than I, Malec.
August 27, 2008 at 9:54 am Permalink
Marc–do we have your address, yet? We’re still awaiting fulfillment from the label.
Baron–I agree with you to a point. I think that there are a lot of hindering factors at play on this record, and I’m actually surprised that I like the record as much as I do.
Chris–well that doesn’t happen very often, now does it? You know how much I love being snarky.
August 27, 2008 at 10:00 am Permalink
Jim – Was still waiting for the e-mail request.
Baron, I definitely see the potential for another “pretty face/blah singer/blah songs” from the tracks I’ve given a quick listen to so far. That said, my assesments for female artists at least, tend to fall mostly in-line with Mr. Malec’s. We’ll see after some time, of course.
August 27, 2008 at 10:09 am Permalink
Her stuff reminds me of Lady A. Not in a direct musical sense, but in the sense of it being VERY slick and “mainstream” and finding myself wanting to like it probably more than I should, and definitely more than I actually did.
August 27, 2008 at 10:18 am Permalink
I’m just amused that the CW review of something is going to be less positive than the 9513 review for once.
August 27, 2008 at 10:19 am Permalink
Don’t get used to it ;-)
August 27, 2008 at 10:31 am Permalink
I also enjoy Shawanda’s singing. She has a refreshing vocal power. But although there are highlights on the album, I felt that a fair share of the songs were unremarkable beyond the vocals, and I felt like the song quality just never quite measured up to the rest of the package.
August 27, 2008 at 10:37 am Permalink
Unremarkable compared to? I actually think this is one of the stronger collections, material wise, from a recent mainstream female release.
August 27, 2008 at 10:50 am Permalink
I cant comment specifically on this since I havent heard one note from it — but Jim, if you’re comparing it to recent mainstream female releases, you’re not really setting very high standards for it are you?
August 27, 2008 at 10:50 am Permalink
Well, I hate to compare. :)
But actually, I would pick on the same songs that you had mentioned in your review (and also applaud the tracks that you highlighted). I agree with 95% of the review actually. I just didn’t appreciate the album quite as much because I feel that her vocal talents don’t significantly help a few of the songs rise above your average, run-of-the-mill material.
August 27, 2008 at 11:00 am Permalink
it ain’t a four star album but your review hits the mark. no doubt, there’s something special about her vocals.
August 27, 2008 at 11:51 am Permalink
I like the vocals (female Gary Allan), but haven’t really liked the clips that I’ve heard. The songs really just haven’t interested me much. Maybe next time around for me. I think I’d describe my feelings about her the way Kelly did. I’ve downloaded the Williams cover though and am diggin it.
August 27, 2008 at 11:54 am Permalink
I really like her voice, no doubt. I’m rooting for raspy-voiced women to come back in a big way.
August 27, 2008 at 11:55 am Permalink
As usual I differ on which tracks are the real standouts on the album, but agree that it’s a solid 4-star effort. I think the second single (in Canada at least, not yet released in US), “What Do I Have To Do”, is a really strong vocal performance which gives the best glimpse into Shawanda as an artist.
August 27, 2008 at 12:14 pm Permalink
After all the hubbub about this great new artist who idolizes Loretta Lynn and whatnot, I really expected to like the album. I listened once at CMT and basically agree with Kelly and Leeann: very slick and by-the-numbers. Her voice has a nice edge to it, but the songs just don’t do much for me.
August 27, 2008 at 12:21 pm Permalink
I’m with the majority on this one. She could really do something with that voice of hers, and though it does elevate the album slightly, I don’t think it’s enough for four.
August 27, 2008 at 12:38 pm Permalink
Female Gary Allan? Wow, now that’s a statement. I do like the raspy women too (Kasey) though I’m not sure why that is. I’ll have to listen close to see if I agree or not, Leeann. :)
August 27, 2008 at 12:39 pm Permalink
I think I am along the lines with Jim on this one. Then again, I REALLY like her as a person after meeting with her and that could’ve swayed my ‘opinion’ if only slightly.
August 27, 2008 at 12:47 pm Permalink
Well, I just found “You Can Let Go” online to listen to and I have to say while it’s good, I didnt find anything about it that stood out to me. I do hear something in her voice that maybe I could like, but I dont think it’s really lived up to it’s potential yet. (Maybe if I get to hear a different song).
August 27, 2008 at 1:54 pm Permalink
Similar in voice, not song caliber, Marc.
Ha, Matt! I know what you meant, but a nice person doesn’t equal a good artist. Like we tell the Phil Phans, just because an artist is nice, it doesn’t necessarily mean that he/she outputs good music. Just messin’ with you though.:)
August 27, 2008 at 3:05 pm Permalink
Its a shame Crystal got run through the full “Nashville Major Label Music Machine” processing cycle with all of the committee songs. I would like to know what Crystal’s debut would have sounded like if she were signed instead to UMG and had received similar treatment to Ashton Shepherd. Crystal may be an artist with great musical potential, but with a formulaic commercial assembly line album like this who could know?
I was planning on buying this CD when it came out on Tuesday but it was not discounted. I’ve gotten so spoiled with major Nashville labels offering debut week prices of $ 6.99 to 9.99 that anything above that seems high. My local Target had not ordered any and at Best Buy they were priced at $ 13.99 so I took a pass. I still plan on buying one eventually though….
As for “My Roots Are Showing”, that song is on Shannon Mock’s excellent self-titled debut CD. Unfortunately that song is not on Shannon’s MySpace, but there is a YouTube music video from a performance at The Rutledge! The camcorder quality sound doesn’t really let you grasp Shannon’s vocal abilities, but its better than nothing:
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8y_PSoWAxs
MySpace: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=52895664
August 27, 2008 at 3:29 pm Permalink
Rick, I’ve gotten the same way about buying albums. If it’s not $9.99 or less, I tend to pass on it until it is.
August 27, 2008 at 3:49 pm Permalink
I tend to wait til it’s been out a while and my “record club” runs a sale. I just got TROUBADOUR for $6.48 including shipping. I’m CHEAP!!
August 27, 2008 at 8:43 pm Permalink
Leeann and Paula, we can start a “Music Cheapskates Club!”. (lol)
Have you gals given Shannon Mock a listen(?) as I’d really like to hear your opinions. You gals and I have similar tastes in music (well a nice overlap at least) so I think you’d really like her. Her self-titled indie debut album is one of the best indie artist albums I’ve ever encountered. Shannon deserves some promotion because she’s a great singer and she’s really cute! (Perfect for a “girl crush”! lol)
August 27, 2008 at 10:06 pm Permalink
Rick – MySpace and/or my internet arent playing nice tonight so I cant get Shannon’s music to play at the moment. Call me an old fogie, but she’s already got one strike against her for trying to sell her boobs instead of her music. Of course, if the music career fails she can always be an underwear model. (Then again if enough guys buy her album covers it wont really matter what I think will it?) ;-)
I will at least give her a listen tomorrow sometime though. Just to be fair.
August 28, 2008 at 10:46 am Permalink
Yeah, I wasn’t thrilled with this album. I like her voice, and I absolutely loved You Can Let Go, for all the reasons stated in the review. But I just found the whole album really generic. Nothing bad, but just nothing to thrill me at all.
August 29, 2008 at 10:15 am Permalink
Rick, I’m with Paula on this one. I’ll try her out though when I’m not at work.
September 19, 2008 at 3:15 pm Permalink
I’m disappointed with this one. I do really like Crystal’s voice, but the songs are mediocre and the production overdone. I like What Do I Have To Do and You Can’t Take It Back the best (the latter rather more than teh reviewer, but overall I’m underwhelmed.
September 22, 2008 at 1:02 pm Permalink
Jim, it’s *Brett* Warren, not Brent. Just thought I’d let you know.
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