As a singer, Melua has a distinct instrument, though at times her callowness is a little too evident: when she sings about "feeling 22, acting 17" in "The Closest Thing to Crazy," us geezers in the audience might be forgiven for asking "there's a difference?" since her voice neither communicates maturity nor impulsiveness. She's much more effective playing the provoca-tease, a familiar role in this brand of jazz-pop. If Jessica Rabbit had a kid sister, Melua could do the singin' voice in the nightclub scenes.
On the basis of her debut, I'm hoping that the girl hooks up with someone with a trace more grit than Batt for her next release, digs a bit deeper into the bluesy torchiness - and maybe rethinks her wardrobe, too? (Just kiddin' on that last 'un, Katie. . . honestly!) In the meantime, Search provides a soothing slice of late-nite listening. May not replace your copy of Cry Me A River, if you have it, but, hey, the kid's still young. . .
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