THE VANCOUVER SUN - LORI PAUL Vanity Press Self-released The record industry never ceases to amaze. Vancouver's Lori Paul, a versatile vocalist with a talent for songwriting, deserves to be on an established label. Yet, on the ironically titled Vanity Press - her second self-released recording - she has to go it alone without the backing of a record company. There oughta be a law. Ten of the disc's 11 tunes were co-written by Paul and multi-instrumentalist Mick Dalla-Vee, and there are some good ones. The opening Unspoken sets the tone, a mid-tempo number where Paul fills the speakers with her sensuous voice. Song for Carman has fulsome acoustic guitar work by Dalla-Vee and blues-tinted vocals by Paul. That blues feeling also inflects the rootsy Say When, Paul's powerful lead voice beautifully supported by guitar, dobro (courtesy of Russell Marsland) and backup vocals, and reappears on the closing Chaser, which has stinging guitar work from Jeff Neill. The big record companies will kick themselves when they hear Jones, a beautiful foot-tapping number which has top-30 playlist written all over it. Here, Dalla-Vee's acoustic guitar lays the foundation for Paul's searing vocal line. I'm convinced that had Nora Jones recorded this, you would hear it on commercial radio 24/7. The CD's minimalist liner notes are a tad frustrating, because they leave a few holes. For example, who's playing banjo and accordion on Fading Light? (I'm assuming it's the multi-talented Dalla-Vee, who is credited with his banjo work on Jones.) Paul will perform Saturday (March 8, 2005) at the Commodore as part of Motown Meltdown. |