Kate Voegele: A Fine Mess
Review by Amanda

Kate Voegele’s newest album has been eagerly awaited by her fans, especially since she has been appearing on television screens everywhere as Mia on “One Tree Hill.” The album was released in conjunction with the release of her character’s album on the series, and I wonder why studio executives thought the marketing ploy was needed. She has a great voice, and I cannot see why they did not think that would sell her music on its own.

“Inside Out” is probably one of my favorites on the album. It is catchy and the lyrics are clever. “In your riptide; now I’m inside out” is a great way to describe the whirlwind of emotions the singer appears to be going through. She loses all control of herself because of the way she feels, and this is reflected in the pacing and the structure of the song. Very well done.

“99 Times” is the most “rocker chick” of the songs on the album. It’s much grittier than anything else, and I would be happy if she recorded a few more songs in this vein. It is an interesting departure from her usual style, and I would love to see what she could do if she played around with this kind of music more often.

“Who You are Without Me.” I love this song. I think it is fantastic to hear a song where someone is willing to admit that a person has to learn who they are as an individual and not be dependent on a relationship to define themselves. It reminds me a lot of the plot line from the Julia Robert’s film “Runaway Bride” in which she has to learn how she likes her eggs and what kind of wedding she wants, rather than relying on her fiancé to make her a suitable bride. Most love songs focus on the need to be with someone, not the need to identify yourself, and this is a nice change.

“Angel” is a direct response to those who believe you have to be tortured or troubled in some way to be an artist. It is also a response to those who have noticed her “good girl” image and have questioned it, some saying she is too good to be true. The world of pop rock is not known for its angelic behavior, but Kate Voegele has proven you can be good and still get ahead. She does make note in the song that gray areas do exist though, and even a so called angel is human.

“Sweet Silver Lining” is a song about finding the good in the bad. It uses the old adage that every rain cloud has a silver lining. It is beautifully sung and it fits in well with Kate’s style, and I don’t really think there is anything else can be said about it. It is a pretty song, but it does not really stand out.

“Playing With My Heart” is the opposite of a love song. It features a warning to anyone who would try to mess with the young woman’s emotions. Although the song sounds fun with its tambourine in the background, the lyrics are definitely less upbeat and more serious. She goes as far to let the would be suitor know he “put himself in danger” with his scheming and lying. I actually find myself preferring the acoustic version of the song to the version on the regular CD. I think the acoustic sound meshes better with the content of the song, but that is just my preference.

“Manhattan from the Sky” sounded a little strange to me the first time I heard it. I was not actively listening to the song, but when the chorus came around, I was trying to decipher the lyrics, and found myself repeating the song three times just to get the words right. It is an interesting way to describe the way the singer feels about someone. They are her “Manhattan from the sky” and I really enjoy the comparison. It is such a unique way to say that someone is so much more than how they first appear. Even if it was not a great song, which it is, I would still give it points for having such an awesome metaphor.

“Talkin’ Smooth” has a very soulful sound to it. Kate’s voice has a particularly soulful sound on its own, but it is showcased very well on this song. The song is aimed at a guy who needs to prove his love. Though he seems to have some great lines, the girl wants to be sure he is not simply playing with her emotions to get what he wants. I have to admit, not really one of my favorite songs lyrically, but I really enjoy the way she sounds on the track.

“Lift Me Up” was technically the first single to be released for the album. It was released as part of the “Olympic Soundtrack” for the USA in 2008. It is an inspirational track, but it almost seems out of place on the album. I feel like it was added on just because someone in charge at the studio thought it should be there. I love the song, don’t get me wrong, I just think it would have been best left as part of the soundtrack for the summer games and not put in here with the other tracks. It could have easily been replaced by one of the extra tracks available with he deluxe addition.

Speaking of, if you are going to buy the album, I would have to recommend going ahead and getting the deluxe edition. It features (depending on which version you buy and who you buy it from) five or six additional tracks, two of which are acoustic versions of songs already on the disc: “Playing with my Heart” and “Sweet Silver Lining.” My favorite of the additional tracks is “We the Dreamers.” The demo version, not the cleaned up studio version, is what you will find as a bonus track. It alone is worth the additional dollar or two you would pay.

Over all, I like the album, but I do not think I love it. I loved her first album, and I think I was looking for more in this one. Her voice is perfection as usual, and the song lyrics are fantastic. I was expecting more of a stretch musically though, something different from Kate Voegele’s debut CD. I think almost any of the tracks could have easily been slipped in with songs from the first album, even though they have been touted by critics as being more mature than her first venture. I do, however, believe that if she chooses to follow up this album in another year or two, that stretch will come. If you like the artist, you will like this CD. It is undeniably Kate Voegele’s style, and I know I can be at least partially satisfied with that.