Tweet<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Indie X<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Release Date:<\/b> September 17, 2013, digital download and CD<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Release Events:<\/b> Los Angeles\u2014September 12; San Francisco\u2014September 20; New York City\u2014October 5<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Reviewed by Brent D. Tharp<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The first track, “You Say I,” though sounding familiar lyrically, has a lilting, moving verse, and a catchy chorus that is brighter and more entertaining than the lyrics initially would seem to indicate, as the song is really about moving on, not suffering. It also plays well with Rao’s voice, and has the elements of a hit single (it’s available as a single on iTunes, and a video was released on ARTISTdirect and YouTube). Rao’s voice is her strength as well as her weakness\u2014her voice is distinctive, and with limited instrumental accompaniment, any departure from perfection is immediately apparent. For the most part, this works in her favor throughout the album, as she performs well on most tracks. The notable exception is “Little Blue Room,” which suffers from a mismatch of Rao’s voice with the guitar and backing vocals (or possibly excess reverb during recording). “The Greate <\/p>\n As with her first album, Calm Her<\/i>, this album was crowdfunded (by a Kickstarter campaign; Calm Her<\/i> was funded through IndieGoGo), and independently produced. Rao’s desire to identify with her listeners shines through on the record, and it should be interesting to see what she has in store for Part 2.<\/div>\n <\/p>\n![\"Sonia](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/reviewermag.com\/press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/Sonia-Rao-EP-cover-300x270.jpg?resize=300%2C270\")
<\/a>verly literal interpretation of album titles, Rao’s voice is partly an amalgam of two singers, Natalie Merchant and Alanis Morissette, exuding the former’s vocal coloring, and the latter’s distinctive tones in the higher register. Lyrically, the first cut “You Say I” is reminiscent of Orianthi’s “According to You” (Believe<\/i>, 2009). That’s the end of my direct comparisions\u2014thanks for indulging me.<\/p>\n![\"Sonia-14\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/reviewermag.com\/press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/Sonia-14-300x199.jpg?resize=300%2C199\")
<\/a>st” is a love song showcasing Rao’s strong voice and range, and is lyrically unique\u2014personally, I think this is the strongest song on the album. “Let’s Hate LA Together” is about choosing between stability, and chasing the dreams that make us who we really are, or could become. Similarly to “You Say I,” Rao manages to incorporate difficulty and sadness, while ultimately rising above that with the solidarity that comes from two people taking on the world together, or more generally, bright overcoming dark. Again, the lyrics are unique and unexpected. The closer, “Los Angeles,” is about Rao’s experience on NBC’s The Voice<\/i>. It’s a solid song, and although it deals with a specific event in her life, Rao smartly makes the lyrics about the more global experience of finding oneself in a new place\u2014alone, innocent, and exposed\u2014and uncertain about whom to trust. In contrast with “Little Blue Room,” the accompaniment on this track, particularly an intermittent and mournful slide guitar, plays especially well with Rao’s vocals. <\/p>\n