Listening to Melissa Chester’s self released debut album Honeybee has taken me back to my university days. With a warm heart, naughty twinkle in my eye and big grin I remember sitting, on a Friday or Saturday night, in “The Pie” pizzeria – in my hometown, Salt Lake City – listening to live music, drinking beer and laughing with my friends. Free, careless and always, ambitiously, looking for a good lay.
It’s not the style of music – although, at that time, I would have been listening Paula Cole and Alanis Morissette, both strong influences on Honeybee - that has taken me back. No it’s the raw enthusiasm, artless lyrics and occasional wrong note that remind me of my colligate ambitions. But I love this album for more than its unsophisticated charms.
In Honeybee Melissa Chester has allowed us a rare glimpse of an artist in the midst’s of growth. In many tracks you can hear all that is yet to come from this talented and interesting artist. Her voice is powerful and unpretentious and very like Alanis Morissette’s as is her lyrical style. However as much as she does sound like Morissette, she is no imitator, far from it. Chester has managed to make an album that doesn’t sound like all the rest. She has created a sound that is original, skilful and fresh.
The first track on the album is her best and most charismatic. “My Calling” is almost indie rock style with a good guitar riff and raw vocals. In “G” Chester seems to be considering the probability of a higher power. The feel of the song is appropriately slower in keeping with the metaphysical theme.
“Blood” is an angry rail against family and the unfair way they can treat other family members. It examines the old philosophy “Blood is thicker than water”. Why should it be, asks Chester, if family treat you so badly?
This whole album is a glimpse of a young woman searching for answers to those questions we all eventually ask ourselves. Her lyrical style lends itself to this examination and contributes to the honesty of her vocals. Her strong quirky voice, including the occasional missed note, is charming and sincere. Honeybee is guileless, uninhibited and a lot of fun to listen to. I recommend this truly indie (self released) album from the bottom of my beer mug.
If you would like to listen to Melissa Chester you can visit her MySpace webpage.
Honeybee can be purchased from CD Baby.
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