Kate Voegele has come a long way since her debut in 2007. When she first came out she sounded too much like Michelle Branch. She did not made a real mark. Now here comes her second album, A Fine Mess, which really stands out. The two years that passed since her first outing has made her more mature as a musician and songwriter. Probably we can give some credit to Mike Elizondo ( the one who produced the works of Fiona Apple and Maroon 5) for the very good production that made A Fine Mess a real fine pop-rock album. Probably Voegele’s acting gig in the TV show One Tree Hill also helped in upgrading her charisma.
What makes Kate Voegele really appealing is the fact that she is among the few who writes and performs her own music. In A Fine Mess, she has emphasized the electric guitar, which gives the album the crispness and edge of rock. And she really can play her instruments!
There are many gems to watch out for in this album. I love the album’s leadoff single, 99 Times, which is a graceful mesh work of disco, bubblegum pop, and grunge. Manhattan from the Sky is one such jewel floating on Voegele’s excellent piano work. The song was written after Voegele got a view of New York City from 30,000 feet up in the sky. “I was just thinking about how Manhattan looks like a little piece of Lego,” Voegele recalls, “but once you’ re inside, it’s totally crazy and messy and there’s a wonderful chaos going on all around the city.”
Just a few hours after the album came out, many people searched the web for the lyrics of Sweet Silver Lining, a song about finding hope during the worst of situations. This song is magical, it inspires. No wonder why people want to read the words of the song.
But Kate Voegele is not really how you perceive her– the girl who’ll be an angel forever. In the song Angel, she shows us that she’s just like other girls and not the “untouchable perfect girl on a pedestal.”
