Athena Masci- Athena Masci

ARTIST: Athena Masci
ALBUM: Athena Masci
LABEL: Deity Records
REVIEWER: Matthew J.
DATE: 4-28-08

Singer, guitarist and songwriter Athena Masci's debut offers hints of folk and blues songwriting, much in the vein of such artists as Sheryl Crow, Bonnie Raitt, and Melissa Etheridge and equally burdened by occasional moments of overproduction. "Rain" opens things up with acoustic-heavy blues rock and a hint of electric twang. "Ice Cream Blues" is similar but slower, and though organs provide a nice gritty touch, they're not quite enough to cut down the sweetness of the vocal production. A bit better is "Time to Cry," a bittersweet break-up song sure to appeal to fans of Meredith Brooks and Alanis Morrissette, and "Alone," a sparser folk offering that brings a bit more soulfulness to the mix. "In My Room" is burdened with affected vocal flourishes and a somewhat overdone sense of sincerity, but the songwriting is solid enough, slightly reminiscent of Suzanne Vega. If the production here is sometimes too glossy for its own good, "Long Long Way" takes the opposite approach. The last and best song on this EP, it uses an extremely stripped-down arrangement of gently played acoustic guitar to create a real sense of intimacy that highlights how gorgeous Masci's voice really is. With more of this and less of the radio-friendly classic rock, Masci has a real shot at proving herself as an artist with genuine talent.

Visit www.athenamasci.com for more information.