Maria Taylor - Lynn Teeter Flower

as sweetly pleasant as chocolate, but ultimately as sickly

Album Review by Gareth K Vile | 12 Mar 2007
Album title: Lynn Teeter Flower
Artist: Maria Taylor
Label: Saddle Creek
Maria Taylor occupies a clearly defined niche: world-weary vocals and lyrics, folksy acoustic guitar and warm production. She is undoubtedly at her best when stripped back to minimal accompaniment: Clean Getaway is a maudlin whisper, Lost Time has a light backing which allows her to keen and swoon and the title track fades away on an eerie unaccompanied voice. On the rest of the album, she struggles to rise above MOR ballads - as sweetly pleasant as chocolate, but ultimately as sickly. The ill-advised electronics of Irish Goodbye finds her out of her depth, and the rap, by Rig of Team Rigge, sounds like a desperate after-thought. Clocking in at less than forty minutes, Lynn Teeter Flower doesn't outstay its welcome, and is pleasant without being gripping. A little more abrasion would set her apart from the rash of singer-songwriters: as it is, this is a polite dinner party soundtrack. [Gareth K Vile]
Release Date: 12 March. http://www.saddle-creek.com