ANNY
Strange & Beautiful (Uncommon Sound)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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Daughter of one of America's most prominent corporate families (Florsheim. The shoe people.) and graduate of the exclusive Phillips Andover Academy and Harvard University, Anny Rusk might well have ended up running the US State Department, where she did a post-graduate internship. It's to her credit that she opted for inspiration over opportunity and set a different course. Strange & Beautiful is the fruition of that decision, and it's a credible start.

Anny combines progressive social concern, new-agey spirituality and frank sensuality in her lyrics, which are delivered in a ready-for-the-dancefloor package. A bit too ready, at times, I'm afraid. Producer Craig Snider, a veteran of sessions with pop divas like Madonna, Mariah Carey and Gloria Estefan, may be the responsible party, and Anny's music would probably benefit if he'd taken a somewhat lighter hand with the synths and programming he's credited with on every cut. Sometimes the song is more important than the mix, and Anny has some important things to say here. Maybe next time out she'll have the benefit of production that makes that a bit more obvious.

The other downside to the diva level density of the arrangements is that it keeps her singing at the top of her range more frequently than serves the songs. But they really are terrific songs, and she really does have a top range, so all isn't lost. In fact, if highly produced diva pop is your thing, this could well become one of your favorite records. I'd really like to hear what she could do in a more restrained setting, but Strange & Beautiful is well worth hearing, nonetheless.

Track List:

White Lipstick Girl * Purple God * Slowly * Soulmate * Gonna Get Mine * The Saint Louis * Angels Fly * Is This What You Died For? * Medusa * Love Is The Water * Monsters And Magical Sticks * At The End Of The Road

© 2001 - Shaun Dale