Colleen Brown’s big, broad voice rolls right over the vogue for wispy, wiry, whimsical vocals. Sure, she sings mostly about that universal theme, love, and she does so with robust romanticism—belief in an ideal—but this idealist’s way of phrasing lyrics and vocals set this Edmontonian apart. Listen to her talk back to “the woman on the talk show” in “Ain’t Got No Man (To Have Problems With)” or “Love You Baby,” with its “hoo-hoos.” Behind Brown’s classic soul-pop piano, her band blends horns, strings, guitar and pedal steel, folk, country and rock. Brown commits and deserves committed listeners.
This article appears in Mar 4-10, 2010.