[.ca] Honey From The Tombs

Amazon.ca:
Honey From The Tombs may be Montreal artist Amy Millan's solo debut, but any Canadian indie rock aficionado will already have heard her voice on a number of recordings from Broken Social Scene and Stars. Knowing that, if edgy alt-rock is what you are seeking from this release, be prepared to look elsewhere; contrary to the gothic-looking cover, this is primarily a collection of bluegrass-affected music, though there are some wonderfully languid alt-country melodies to be found within these grooves. The disc is divided into two basic sounds; the first is a straight-up yee-haw hoedown that comes too easily and leaves the memory just as quickly ("Blue in Yr Eye" "Ruby ll"). The second style, however, is where the CD truly shines; a Cat Power-meets-Mazzy-Star mash-up of tracks that are perfect to watch shooting stars by. "All The Miles" contains some stellar accompaniment to Millan's sweet voice, (largely performed by Ian Blurton of Blurtonia/Change of Heart fame) while "Wayward and Parliament" is equally breathy and beautiful. The one exception to the two-style pattern is "Headsfull," a Veruca Salt-esque number that shakes you awake, but frustratingly leaves you longing for more. All in all, an admirable first effort, but one which would raise up a notch from good to gorgeous if she followed more of her original ideas and spent less time performing predictable old-school country licks. --Denise Sheppard

• Losin’ You
• Skinny Boy
• Ruby II
• Baby I
• Headsfull
• Wayward and Parliament
• Hard Hearted (ode to Thoreau)
• Blue In Yr Eye
• Come Home Loaded Roadie
• All The Miles
• He Brings Out The Whiskey In Me
• Pour Me Up Another