Kerri Edelman’s debut CD Leave It All Behind plays out with a similar power pop princess approach of Avril Lavigne. Edelman has a solid pop rock band behind her, edgy, compressed guitars, drum programming, sonic synths, and her songs are polished to perfection. Her vocals are silky smooth and she brings a lot of youthful passion to her message.
Opening with title track “Leave It All Behind” Edelman sails her vocal chops over power chords and whistling lead guitar phrases.
“Overcast” brings Edelman’s susurant vocal over quiet sounds capes as well as thick clusters of guitars and drums. Her control over dynamics makes her one of those singers who stands out with the power of her voice. She is also unique in her timbre and tone, possessing a distinct voice that could lead to greater success.
She has much to say in her songs. “Vanilla Skies,” a tune in which her subtle sweet timbre glides at a brisk pace over her driving rhythm section to make you feel she is whispering into your ear. “Vanilla Skies,” with its youthful anthem of eat my dust, could become a radio hit for Edelman.
“Another Life” becomes less of the love song it lyrics make it seem. Starting off mellow, Edelman soon shifts her pleasant, melodic intro into another pop rocker. She certainly shoots for a radio-friendly sound throughout this CD, and she usually achieves it. The question is whether her songs are hooky and melodic enough to stand out. The answer is resoundingly “Yes!”
Music fans wanting something less aggressive than Avril Lavigne but more rocking than the fluff that’s on today’s charts will have all their needs and wants met here. “Echo” finds Edelman using subtle vocal brush strokes to fill the swirling melodic textures. Keyboard programming and incisive lead guitar phrases are icing on the cake. Edelman’s gentle but firm forward march pulls the listener in and gives him a focus in the midst of many colors and all the oomph of her feisty backing band.
“Sinking In” finds Edelman wrapping her svelte vocal around yet another radio friendly power pop ditty. She has a fluid motion in her vocal approach that suggests she could tackle other kinds of material than what is represented. Spoken word parts, cooing, backing vocals, and multiple approaches to the lead vocal melodies suggests there is more sophistication to this singer than what she is aiming for commercially. But, hey, she has to start somewhere.
Edelman sings her tune “Goodbye” with a lush, sweeping voice that wraps the song up like wrapping up a precious gift for a loved one. A sense of largeness engulfs this song. Edelman has this uncanny ability for making each song fit the size and scope of her message. “Run” also makes for a large sound. Assertive guitar pulls back in just enough time for Edelman’s voice to make a dramatic entrance. This enhances the power of the sound as well as the message, illustrating Edelman knows how to write songs that function on multiple levels.
By day, Edelman is a clinical psychologist at a maximum security prison. She earned a doctorate in clinical psychology and supervises a 200 bed unit. Her petite size would not indicate she works with dangerous people. Yet, insight into human nature usually works in a singer-songwriter’s favor. With unusual flexibility her in vocal approaches, keen insight into the human heart, and much above average songwriting skills, Edelman could likely become an important voice in modern rock radio.
www.kerriedelman.com
