Shelley Short - Then Came the After

by Maarten Schiethart

published: 14 / 8 / 2012

Label: Africantape
Format: CD

Competent and sweet-voiced, but uninspiring fifth album from Portland, Oregon-based singer-songwriter Shelley Short

Review

The songs on 'Then Came The After' are rather like angelic narratives, accompanied by sparkling sounds, and lead by a deep bass guitar as if waltzes are being played at a much slower pace. The competent performance and the big sound tend to bury Shelley Short's wee girly vocals yet this juxtaposition can also render a few moments of magic. Short is not the world's current greatest songwriter, but there is never a dull moment. Well, the snappy two to three minute songs prevent there being any unwanted extra time. The first genuine great track is 'Caravan' where she performs on her own. Like a trickling little stream without truly striking characteristics the album manages, however, to keep you in tune. The general tone is sweet and lovely, the instrumentation can at times be imaginative, but I can't help thinking that, if she would work on her craftwomanship as a composer, the future may shine brighter for Shelley Short.