MOTORBABY
Rise (Ten Wings Music)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

---

It's prejudice, of course, not fair and not comfortable to admit, but the prospect of an album fronted by a "model/actress" isn't always the most encouraging prospect for a reviewer. Motorbaby frontwoman Sharon Middendorf is, in fact, a successful model and actress, but she's also a pretty damn fine guitarist, singer and songwriter. Just goes to show that as usual, my model/actress prejudice is as wrong as most any prejudice you might choose.

Bottom line - Middendorf rocks. With assists from the likes of Tony Visconti (David Bowie) and Kathy Valentine (Go-Go's), Middendorf leads her band through 14 original tracks (she wrote or co-wrote each of them), and there's not a bad one in the bunch. She mixes mood and tempo capably and her vocals move from sweet to scorching as the song requires. This is a case of a model/ actress sounding just as good as she looks, and being as smart as she sounds. Not a bad combination, and the result is a very good album.

Track List:

You Can't Download Me * Rise * So Surprised * Fly Away * Motorbaby * I Can't Wait * She Said * Skin On Skin * Pretty Idiot * Dear Timothy * So High * Impulsive * Submerged * Love Is A Shadow

[Pick this up at CDBaby.]

© 2002 - Shaun Dale