Sharon Lewis - Roses at the Top

  by John Clarkson

published: 4 / 12 / 2013

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Review

Sharon Lewis was one half of Pooka, a duo who attracted a cult status and much critical acclaim. Now the Brighton-based songstress has gone solo, and has just released her second album under her own name. Lewis has a crystal, pure voice, and she uses it to enchanting effect on 'Roses at the Top'. 'In That Way', the opening song, sets a template for what follows across much of the rest of the ten tracks on the album. It is piano-led and slow-burning. 'Sweetheart', however, mixes things up by throwing in instead acoustic guitar, trumpet and bass clarinet, and 'These Blues' is a raw blues song. Lyrically Lewis also proves strong. The foresaid 'in That Way' tells of a couple who have got together in a quick heat of passion, but find that otherwise they have little in common ("And when I think of you/I think of you that way/Of something fading/Something that came my way."). 'Waiting Game' is a torch song to a potential love, but also has Lewis poking fun at herself with sudden laugh out loud cynicism ("Falling into your lap/I think it is a load of crap"). The title track meanwhile finds her looking with unflinching honesty at her family’s long dynasty of under-confidence (“I didn’t love myself/that was my downfall/But it can take lifetimes to stand that tall.”). A fine album.

Track Listing:-

1 In That Way
2 Kings and Queens
3 Morning Song
4 Sweetheart
5 Waiting Game
6 Those Blues
7 Sweet Little Lie
8 You Heal Me
9 Roses At The Top
10 Birds Of Prey

Band Links:-

https://www.facebook.com/SharonLewisMu
http://www.sharonlewis.net/
https://twitter.com/misscherryqueen
https://vimeo.com/sharonlewismusic
https://www.youtube.com/user/SharonLew