Robin English-Velvet Covered Brick

Coming out a mere six years after her debut single, Velvet-Covered Brick is

(hopefully) the final version of Robin English's debut album. Released after

torturous process that included getting bounced by a major label's Nashville

division because said debut single was lost in a corporate downsizing and the

aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, plus an earlier version of the album that was

released on Koch Entertainment's country imprint Aspirion as Robin English in

2006 with different cover art, some different mixes, and a couple of minor so

("Hello Me" and "I'm Yours") that were left off this version. So finally, goi

the self-release and indie distribution route, Robin English finally has her

debut album out. And it's...OK. English, who co-produced the album and wrote

co-wrote every song, is a pretty decent country songwriter with an eye for

textural detail; "Baby You're the Man" and several other songs make direct

reference to her east Texas roots in a fashion sure to please other Lone Star

staters. She also has a better than average voice, with a particularly

impressive low register, as she shows on the bluesy gospel tune "Mission of

Mercy" and the sultry purr of "Wake Up Loving You." But those appealing eleme

are set against some fairly average tunes given a generally disinterested

Nashville-style radio-ready gloss that tends to overpower the more unique,

personal traits of English's lyrics and vocals. Put in a more stripped-down,

live sounding setting (maybe even an actual live album!), Robin English and h

songs would come across much better than they do here. Perhaps having finally

gotten this project completed to her liking, she can move forward from here.





01 Cotton Field Girl

02 Enjoy The Ride

03 Mission Of Mercy

04 The Least I Can Do

05 Mama's Don't Let Your Cowboys Grow Up To Be

Babies

06 Wake Up Loving You

07 Yellow Rose In Me

08 Baby, You're The Man

09 I'm The One

10 Lion And The Lamb

11 Cotton Field Girl (Radio Edit)