LINDA DRAPER
One, Two, Three Four (Planting Seeds Records)
Reviewed by Erick Mertz

---

My girlfriend got a hold of One, Two, Three, Four and loved Linda Draper. Listening to her now, I can clearly hear why. Draper is a woman full of whimsy, a splendid tonic on the verge of that proverbial something more. She has a graceful, untimid voice, uncomplicated, so unsullied by production techniques it is almost a contradictory statement to say it's been captured. There is just so much about Linda Draper that is set free on One, Two, Three, Four the thought of restraint is crushing.

Of course, I might say in spite of my girlfriend's enthusiasm, Draper comes off as being almost too uncomplicated, too much a known musical commodity. We've seen the likes of her before, and no matter how great One, Two, Three, Four is, it still stands out like a tree hidden amid the trees.

The doubters cannot be many, and I wouldn't be so hasty to count myself as one of those. The arch of this New York City singer/songwriter is board and sure to land nicely in a pot of gold; just how much, will be up to Linda Draper's continued diversification.

© 2005 - Erick Mertz