Breathe
Amber Jade
(Watergirl Music)
Grade: B+
Tucson has yet again thrust a local artist into the spotlight - this time, 23-year-old Amber Jade with the release of her new album, Breathe.
Despite its somewhat ordinary title, Breathe is actually a praiseworthy CD. Amber Jade, more formally known as Amber Jade Cummings, possesses a voice reminiscent of other accomplished female artists such as Natalie Merchant, Ani DiFranco and Alanis Morissette.
Her distinctive female vibrato, in combination with soulful lyrics, makes this album worthwhile. Too often, it seems, contemporary female artists are singing with rage and anger about hating some man or another. Amber Jade's nature-inspired album is a refreshing break from the standard.
Amber Jade's achievements not only include Breathe, but also a published collection of more than 60 poems called "Being" that she wrote about her interpretation of the human experience and the world around her.
The biography on her website (www.amberjade.com) states that summers spent at a little cabin off a secluded lake in Minnesota provided the greatest opportunity for Amber Jade's growth as both a poet and a musician. Her ethereal music reflects the nature-centered sentiment her tutelage has provided her.
Though her voice - and poetry connection - is most similar to Jewel's, those seeking a CD of leisurely-paced music, appropriate for lounging lakeside, will not find that on Breathe.
Tracks such as "Your Front Porch" and "Hold You Down," although not full-on rock tracks, attempt a more upbeat rhythm than the rest of the CD - and do so with only limited success. The remaining tracks, however, are melodious and intertwined with beautiful instrumentation.
-Maggie Burnett
