Categories : Music Reviews, Rock + Pop.
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Rating: 2.5/5 Released: December 31st, 2005 Reviewer: Connor Turner |
Stages of the Sun is a window into the heart of a 15 year old teenager. Well, maybe not just any teenager girl. We are talking about a 15 year old with an established modeling career, a 12 track debut record, and a full-scholarship to University. So saying Adrianne Lenker is a simple teenager is an understatement. Saying she is a blossoming talent is just stating the obvious.
On Stages, we get the opportunity to watch a young talent attempt to fashion her identity. As a singer/songwriter Adrianne Lenker is still trying to develop a sound, but tends to display many similarities to a younger Mandy Moore, Leanne Rhymes, and Michelle Branch. Songs like ‘Graduation Day’ are reminiscent of a mature Mandy Moore, while the upbeat single ‘Dig Down’ is eerily similar to a very early Sheryl Crow track. Lenker does a great job of capturing the country/pop sound of many of today’s female singers. With more maturity and life experience Lenker will be climbing the modern radio charts in no time.
Unfortunately the problem with Stages lies not with Lenker’s voice or guitar work, but rather in the cliché nature of the record. The record never truly deviates from its conservative safety net or takes a chance to proclaim Lenker as a standout talent. It continuously relies heavily on all the tired clichés of the pop-country-modern rock genre. It is a shame because it fails to showcase Lenker’s blossoming talents, eventually fading into obscurity. Probably the opposite reaction you want from a début record.
Buy Stages of the Sun from iTunes >> 
