Leerone

Imaginary Biographies

(Fussy Music)

Record Review by Amber Henson

Of course, if there’s an album of a woman and her piano, she’s going to get comparisons to Tori Amos and Fiona Apple, whether or not they are worthy of such.  Well, in the case of Leerone, they are, in fact, deserved in the best possible way.  Not only are some of the songs composed in an Amos-ish way, and some of the songs deal with the soul-crushing issues Apple sings about, but Leerone is talented enough to be able to make it to the same level as them someday.

The personal issues and make-you-think lyrics are too many to mention, and each song deserves a through dissecting by the listener.  Sometimes I think they went over my head, like in the second song “Happy+Homemade=?”: “I can give you homemade, it’s the next best thing since sliced bread, it’s like chicken soup without the meat.”  Maybe that’s some vegetarian things I don’t understand.  Other lyrics are simple to understand, and send a positive message amongst Leerone’s strong piano and background violins: “We are destined for great things”.  There are also the lyrics in the last song of the album, “Life Could Be”: “Life could be so beautiful, so beautiful, I could cry.”

Leerone’s voice is something intriguing all by itself.  Sometimes she sings, out and lets us hear her pipes, doing something I can only describe as the Disney princess song-style, where you let hope fill your voice as you belt it.  Other times, she whispers to us, and occasionally sings without accompaniment, something most female artists in this industry would be deeply fearful of.

 On top of being a singer-songwriter, Leerone arranges and produces her music, with help from Christopher Furdurich.  The most intriguing track on the album is called “Care For Some Whisky?”  Much of it is done with a rollicking toy piano that makes occasional appearances on the album, along with an accordion.  The song is set up in that Tori Amos fashion of fast and rocking and then it slows down to Leerone’s melancholy voice, then back to a quick up and down rhythm.  It ends with ‘ooos’ and ‘ahhhs’ from Leerone, with something that sounds like a party in the background.  Listen to this track, and you won’t be able to keep from wanting more.