CD: Solid Ground

Home: North Carolina

Style: Country/Folk

Quote: "She does all this through a voice combining the qualities of k d lang and Natalie Merchant (yes, that's right, and it works!)”

Sincere, straight ahead and mostly up-tempo country/folk music. That's Christy Snow. Heartfelt lyrics, dealing with relationships and self-disclosure, shared honestly through music. That, too, is Christy Snow.

She's good. Really good. And she does all this through a voice combining the qualities of k d lang and Natalie Merchant (yes, that's right, and it works!) This North Carolina singer-songwriter is one you could listen to all day -- and that's nearly accomplished since one play-through is 17 songs.

Instrumentally, Christy's second CD in 5 years is solid and accoustic driven. The band is mostly female. She seems very comfortable with her voice and her effortless guitar playing.

Lyrically, it's excellent. "Empty Halls," about the fear of breaking out of a comfortable yet limiting existence:

"What is it that keeps me here
alone inside this flame of fear
closed fist and guarded walls
alone inside these hollow halls
closed fist and guarded walls
alone and fighting for my cause
closed fist and guarded walls alone
all alone, walking empty halls..."

And while most of the tunes are good (many do sound similar, though), perhaps one of the best (if not the number one pick) is "Dream Flyer," which combines all the best elements -- lyrics, emotion, passion, instrumental sound and vocals: (liner notes say "Dedicated to Grannie -- Vena Scott Snow...'there are souls waiting for me that i love'..may our journey continue")

"Moon looking over my shoulder
wind looking me in the eye
I'm looking forward to my dreams
it's where I go to fly
feet bare fleshed against the earth
arms embracing the night
I close my eyes release my breath
feel the surge of flight...
There are souls waiting for me that I love
and some I've yet to know
pointing me to where I've been
and where I've yet to go..."

Apparently, for Christy, that call was music.