The album picks up a little bit with Tiger In The Night. The song is still mostly a sappy love song, but it has a bit of passion the the previous tracks lacked. In an effort at redemption Melua ends the album on a strong note. Faraway Voice and Lilac Wine are also sentimental and melancholy songs about lost loves but they showcase Melua's voice which is her strength. Once again, in these songs you feel her personality and her passion come through and it lifts the song above the ordinary.
All in all Call Off the Search reveals the potential of this young singer. She has a beautiful voice and the ability to give personality to a range of music from jazz and blues to showtunes and plaintive love songs. But her voice is not enough by itself. The music and the songs themselves are important. When the songs lack creativity and oomph Melua gets bogged down and becomes rather ordinary. When the songs have an edge, or when she really puts her passion into them, they can be impressive. Only time will tell if she can parley her talent into a full blown popular music career. Given what she has accomplished on this album, it seems to me that Broadway and Vegas might be appropriate venues in the near future.
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