The Background:
In 2001, Tammy enjoyed her first Top 10 single, "Angels in Waiting." The inspirational ballad was written as a tribute to her two older brothers, both of who succumbed to Cystic Fibrosis early in their lives. Though not initially intended to be a single release to radio, the song touched many hearts and continues to resonate with fans to this day. Other hit singles ("I Cry" and "Like Happened") followed from her self-titled debut album and Life Happened, respectively. The few years that followed found Tammy gradually transitioning from being an artist who held a major label record deal to becoming an independent artist. In 2007, she released Where I Am. Having now released two albums independently, Tammy candidly shares her perspective on the matter. "I believe there are good and bad things to being an indie artist. The positives are that you get to be yourself and create music that you believe in and feel passionate about."
The Review:
Tammy Cochran reminds us on 30 Something And Single why we are missing the shrinking subgenre of country music that is the more mature female voice. Not that being 30-something is old by any means, but it isn’t Carrie Underwood or Taylor Swift either. Like Hollywood, maturity- at any age- seems to be something not necessarily celebrated. Not Tammy Cochran. She takes life experience and sings songs that alternate between celebrating her age and longing for youth and times gone by. Each song is fantastically emotive and she proves that she’s got the pipes to belt out any range she wishes. The first track is “The One That Got Away,” a semblance of Brad Paisley’s “The Fishing Song”, that talks about it from the other sex’s perspective. It’s cute, sassy, fun and upbeat and uses every angling analogy and reference under the sun. “30 Something And Single” hits the 30’s straight on the chin with eloquent and melancholy lyrics about entering this part of her life where marriage is expected. The falsetto singing is beautiful. Cochran shows her witty side on “He’s Found Jesus” and “He Really Thinks He’s Got It”- making fun of the middle aged single guys out there. Her take on Tammy Wynette’s “Stand By Your Man” is damn-near perfect. She didn’t mess around with the production, just letting the great vocals shine through- traits that only someone who has been around the world a little will understand. Says Cochran, “"In a way, I believe as a child listening to all these strong women of country music taught me not only how to sing, but how to sing with emotion." She’s right. She also cuts a reissue of her big hit, “Angels In Waiting”, a dedication honoring her two brothers. Cochran plays the seductress on “Closer,” a pop-infused sultry little number that pleads “if it’s over, baby, don’t come any closer.” But she holds the most emotional song for last with the piano ballad dedicated to her new adopted son who is named for those same brothers who have passed. Called “Half The World Away (Shawn’s Song),” it was written during a time when she wasn’t sure her adoption would go through. Tammy shares, "This song is so personal to me. I wrote this song while I waiting for my son to come home to me from Guatemala. The adoption took two years to complete when it should have only taken about 10 months. I guess I've always poured my heart and feelings into my music as a form of therapy, and this song is the product of what I was feeling at the time." Life experience. When drawn on, it can make a powerful pen in songwriting.
Sounds Like:
Jamie O’Neal
Track Highlights (suggested iPod adds):
The One That Got Away
Closer
Angels In Waiting
Stand By Your Man
30 Something and Single
The Verdict:
Three & A Half Stars Out Of Five
In 2001, Tammy enjoyed her first Top 10 single, "Angels in Waiting." The inspirational ballad was written as a tribute to her two older brothers, both of who succumbed to Cystic Fibrosis early in their lives. Though not initially intended to be a single release to radio, the song touched many hearts and continues to resonate with fans to this day. Other hit singles ("I Cry" and "Like Happened") followed from her self-titled debut album and Life Happened, respectively. The few years that followed found Tammy gradually transitioning from being an artist who held a major label record deal to becoming an independent artist. In 2007, she released Where I Am. Having now released two albums independently, Tammy candidly shares her perspective on the matter. "I believe there are good and bad things to being an indie artist. The positives are that you get to be yourself and create music that you believe in and feel passionate about."
The Review:
Tammy Cochran reminds us on 30 Something And Single why we are missing the shrinking subgenre of country music that is the more mature female voice. Not that being 30-something is old by any means, but it isn’t Carrie Underwood or Taylor Swift either. Like Hollywood, maturity- at any age- seems to be something not necessarily celebrated. Not Tammy Cochran. She takes life experience and sings songs that alternate between celebrating her age and longing for youth and times gone by. Each song is fantastically emotive and she proves that she’s got the pipes to belt out any range she wishes. The first track is “The One That Got Away,” a semblance of Brad Paisley’s “The Fishing Song”, that talks about it from the other sex’s perspective. It’s cute, sassy, fun and upbeat and uses every angling analogy and reference under the sun. “30 Something And Single” hits the 30’s straight on the chin with eloquent and melancholy lyrics about entering this part of her life where marriage is expected. The falsetto singing is beautiful. Cochran shows her witty side on “He’s Found Jesus” and “He Really Thinks He’s Got It”- making fun of the middle aged single guys out there. Her take on Tammy Wynette’s “Stand By Your Man” is damn-near perfect. She didn’t mess around with the production, just letting the great vocals shine through- traits that only someone who has been around the world a little will understand. Says Cochran, “"In a way, I believe as a child listening to all these strong women of country music taught me not only how to sing, but how to sing with emotion." She’s right. She also cuts a reissue of her big hit, “Angels In Waiting”, a dedication honoring her two brothers. Cochran plays the seductress on “Closer,” a pop-infused sultry little number that pleads “if it’s over, baby, don’t come any closer.” But she holds the most emotional song for last with the piano ballad dedicated to her new adopted son who is named for those same brothers who have passed. Called “Half The World Away (Shawn’s Song),” it was written during a time when she wasn’t sure her adoption would go through. Tammy shares, "This song is so personal to me. I wrote this song while I waiting for my son to come home to me from Guatemala. The adoption took two years to complete when it should have only taken about 10 months. I guess I've always poured my heart and feelings into my music as a form of therapy, and this song is the product of what I was feeling at the time." Life experience. When drawn on, it can make a powerful pen in songwriting.
Sounds Like:
Jamie O’Neal
Track Highlights (suggested iPod adds):
The One That Got Away
Closer
Angels In Waiting
Stand By Your Man
30 Something and Single
The Verdict:
Three & A Half Stars Out Of Five
No comments:
Post a Comment