By Your Side - Becky Jane Taylor

Advantages: Lyrically Perfect, a beautiful sound, leaves you wanting more
Disadvantages: none, except its too short!

...song, with Jane singing in almost a winter crispy morning kind of way. Each note is held like a icicle, sharp and crisp and clear. Faultless and breathy and clear like the star filled sky on a frosty night. "Lay down by my side, talk with me, bring your smile. Mercury in your eyes, blue and wide, like the sky, and I might dream, you might sleep, breathe again in time with me and hold me close…." Again, Jane has lyrics that speak quite competently for themselves… Chef (3:30) This song has a very bluesy/jazzy feel, with the cello and double bass featuring as the main instruments for most of the song. Funky, breathy singing and some great moves between high notes and low ones. Perfect! Mirror Mirror(4:18) This is a weird, crazed, deep song with an undertone of deep sadness, regret, pain. It's beautiful with long haunting... Read review

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Advantages: Well crafted, unforgettable songs.
Disadvantages: Don't let your fashionable neighbour hear you listening to it!

...and John Denver – there is a darker side to his lyrics, with ‘Fire And Rain’ lamenting about ‘…Lonely times that I thought would never end’, and ‘Steamroller’ with an ‘f’ word in it. (Shock, horror!) Aside from that, songs such ‘Sweet Baby James’ and ‘Walking Man’ are shining examples of just how pleasant and inoffensive popular music can be, and ‘Mexico’ and ‘Shower The People’ are so upbeat that you’ll find yourself tapping your feet, nodding and smiling at random passers-by If you’re siting in the garden on a warm summer day, with a nice glass of chilled Chardonnay, bumblebees droning around your blooming perennials, and you feel the need for something to put the sugary sweet icing on your lovely day, then this is the album for you.... Read review

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Advantages: great vocals and songwriting
Disadvantages: a few weaker tracks in the middle, not released in the UK yet

...2007 with bonus tracks, has now been certified double platinum. She has toured with Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, George Strait and Brad Paisley. Oh, and she writes and plays her own songs. So now you've got some background, how about the CD? I wont be reviewing the reissue due to the fact that I downloaded the songs and the newer version contains a second disc featuring videos of performances and behind-the-scenes footage which I don't have. Track listing: 1. Tim McGraw Appropriately starting with her first single, this is a slower song which Taylor wrote in 15 minutes about someone she was dating who was moving away, and how she hoped he'd remember her when he thought of Tim McGraw (who sings her favourite song). 8/10 2. Picture To Burn One of my favourites, which Taylor claims she wrote because if you're going... Read review

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