CD Review
Artist: Colleen Brown
Title: Foot in Heart
Label: Independent
Released: December 19^th 2007 

4 Stars

Reviewed By: Leah Mertz (Edmonton & Calgary - Canada Correspondent) 

Having always being a cynic to the often dreary and mellow offerings a small town folk artist has to offer, Colleen Brown defies all of my sheltered expectations. Her delicate yet bold approach to music allows the audience to take a journey through the dear happenings of small town life with the inevitable confusions love can bring.

Foot in Heart is Colleen Brown's sophomore effort that sets out to infuse an array of heartfelt and uplifting tunes into the gloomy abyss of life's disappointments. This album incorporates an approachable and enjoyable instrumental selection that could easily act as backing music for a Grey's Anatomy episode or a simple drive through the prairies. The conflicting sounds of overdriven guitars and subtle piano melodies brilliantly mesh to contrive a unique balance that aids in evoking the necessary emotion to parallel the genuine lyrics Brown writes. The pulsating effect of ‘Fantastic Feeling' and the classic shoop-shoop sounds of ‘Love You Baby' and ‘Boyfriend' leave me curious as to the infinite number of influences Colleen Brown must have as an artist; she is not afraid to sample various genres within a self-made limitless sphere of folk-pop. Her voice has the raw and angelic quality with breathy lifts that makes me wonder if Sarah McLachlan ever had a hand in the voice we now know as Colleen Brown.  

‘I Can't Make You Love Me' is the only covered tune amongst a tavern of originals; the Bonnie Raitt classic is enclosed with laid back vocals that hold as a clear sentiment to the original song. As the only hiccup of lacklustre, my personal favourite song off the album ‘Fire' succeeds it with full force allowing me to forget the mishap.

I feel there are no boundaries on this album; the artistry is conducted so that her music can be enjoyed for people from all walks of life. It is difficult to mould her album into a recommendable genre when it can fit into the same category of general likeability that artists like Daniel Powter and Anna Nalick call home. This Alberta-native songstress has yet to break into mainstream recognition, but after this inspiring Foot In Heart compilation, I hope her music will hopefully be accepted into a much broader range of listeners.  I am confident this piano infused repertoire of feel-good music is just what we should be putting into our hearts, besides a foot of course.

Fantastic Feeling
Ain't Got No Man(To Have Problems With)
New Perfume
Love You Baby
Now That I've Found You
Boyfriend
Your Mother's Garden
Man, Woman & Child
Gasoline
I Can't Make You Love Me
Fire
Pursuit