Melissa Greener - Transistor Corazon

  by Malcolm Carter

published: 9 / 5 / 2013

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Review

‘Transistor Corazon’ is apparently Nashville-based Melissa Greener’s third studio album, which means that the bank balance is going to take another bashing once those other albums have been tracked down. The music world seems to be blessed just now with talented female singer/songwriters from just about every genre. 2013 in particular has already seen excellent albums from a number of new female artists. Each and every one it seems has something new to offer, and Melissa Greener is no exception. Not knowing at the time of writing what ground Greener covered on her previous albums or even very much about her makes this discovery even more special. It appears that the talent displayed on ‘Transistor Corazon’ has been noticed and explored by those who know. ‘Dwelling’, Greener’s sophomore album from 2010, was produced by none other than John Jennings, best known for his sterling work with Mary Chapin Carpenter, and this latest collection was produced by Brad Jones who has worked with an impressive list of artists including Jill Sobule, Josh Rouse and Matthew Sweet. There is a feeling spread across the nine original songs on Greener’s latest offering that even without those noted producers Greener has a certain magical quality about her music. Greener has a unique sound. That’s for sure. While there are small vocal touches spread throughout these songs that recall Joni Mitchell at times (and Janis Ian also comes to mind occasionally), Greener displays a toughness, an edge to her vocals, that make everything she sings believable. She really does make the listener part of the songs. It would appear that there is nothing fake about Greener or the music she makes. It is telling that the covers on ‘Transistor Corazon’ don’t stand out as the strongest songs on the album. Given that a stripped-down, emotional version of Lennon and McCartney’s ‘If I Fell’ doesn’t distract from the flow of the album, that in this context it could well come from the same source as the rest of the songs here is proof of just how strong Greener’s writing is. Sadness hangs heavily over not only the lyrics, but over the way the songs have been produced and played. ‘Why’ is easily on a par with Dar Williams’ ‘February’, articulating the loneliness and alienation felt from a couple still sharing living space while at the end of their relationship perfectly. Greener brings her own unique sound to her cover of Jesse Winchester’s ‘That’s What Makes You Strong’ turning it into a soul classic. With a stark backing despite the warmth of the keyboards glowing in the background, Greener and Jones turn it into a smouldering slice of Penn/Oldham southern soul. That’s one of the things that sets Greener apart from many of her contemporaries. Every word that Greener sings is dripping with soul. Not like these new so-called soul divas who are forcing the emotion out, Greener so obviously, without once reverting to shouting, sings from her soul. Every word is heartfelt. The other part of Greener’s music that makes her so special is the sound she has already developed. Obviously a musician who cares about the type of guitar she plays and the sound she achieves, from the very first notes played on the opening song, ‘Everybody Wants Some’, it is obvious that here is a girl who likes and has produced a full-bodied sound from her chosen instrument and one that suits her equally powerful yet emotive voice perfectly. The combination of Greener’s distinctive vocals and the Greenfield Guitars she plays is a winning one. There are those artists who are adept at setting poetry to music, while others excel at telling complete stories within the confines of a three minute song, Greener, in many ways, is a combination of the two. Her lyrics are never less than intriguing. The title song, a co-write with David Rodriguez, is the centerpiece of the whole album. The transistor heart theme can be interpreted in so many ways and when coupled with the attractive melodies Greener wraps her lyrics in, along with touches like the Tex-Mex vibe of that particular song complete with Mariachi trumpets, the resulting sound is irresistible. Good to see a BettySoo co-write in there too in the shape of the brooding, bluesy ‘Jackson’. With ‘Why’ shaping up to be one of the most heartbreaking songs heard in some time when it’s not even the strongest track on ‘Transistor Corazon’, this album must surely be the one to introduce Melissa Greener to the wider audience her music really deserves. Greener really is an exceptional talent.

Track Listing:-

1 Everybody Wants Some
2 The Mess Love Made
3 With the Weather
4 Ghost in the Van
5 Transistor Corazon
6 Jackson
7 Why
8 That's What Makes You Strong
9 If I Fell
10 Always
11 Inisheer

Band Links:-

http://www.melissagreener.com/
https://www.facebook.com/melissagreene
https://twitter.com/melissagreener
https://www.instagram.com/melissagreen
https://www.youtube.com/user/MelissaGr