Miriam Clancy; Lucky One (Rhythmethod) BEST OF ELSEWHERE 2006

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Miriam Clancy: Lucky One
Miriam Clancy; Lucky One (Rhythmethod) BEST OF ELSEWHERE 2006

I was sent an early copy of this album and invited to write the bio for Clancy -- an Auckland-based singer-songwriter I had not met or seen live.

I had no hesitation: this 11 song debut of originals was so full of lyrical maturity, sophisticated song writing, heartfelt songs and raw emotions (I'm now quoting from the bio, obviously) that I happily agreed to go in to bat for her.

The album subsequently went on to win critical praise all over the place and appeared in the Herald's best of the year list. She played an acoustic tour, opened for Ron Sexsmith and Wilco, and went out with her band too.

Located somewhere on the folk-rock/alt.country axis and honed by time in Los Angeles this album is uniformly impressive. There's a bit of soul in the mix too.

As the guy who wrote the bio says, "If intelligent singer-songwriters and Americana alt.country artists just off the edge of the mainstream appeal to you, then you'll need no further invitation to listen up to Miriam Clancy".

He's right.

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