Album: A Little Happiness / Artist: Aimee Allen / Acoustic Pop - Rock, with a splash of Reggae

 

Aimee Allen belongs to an ever increasing number of artists whose music cannot be categorized or contained or kept in a box, whereas a few years ago those in the music industry might simply have referred to her music as alternative, that term in itself has become a vague and often misapplied label used to describe an artist or band’s music.  Let us simply say that Aimee Allen’s music especially that which music fans will hear on her album A Little Happiness is acoustic guitar, accompanied by her own, very good vocals and that it incorporates elements of pop, rock and reggae.

 

The album opens with “Change In Weather,” a song which begins with hand slaps to the body of Allen’s guitar and clapping. Written in the first person, the lyrics can easily be interpreted as describing an individual, who until now has been trapped in a physically violent or emotionally abusive relationship, or both.  The words “black and blue / slapped and shot him / got him black and blue / came back swinging / didn’t know I was dealing with the devil / in the things I do,” point to a situation that needs to be changed, just for the survival of the person depicted in the song. She realizes that she needs to live alone, and that today is going to be a better day. The clear and emotive vocals of Aimee Allen are showcased, primarily because the music is very organic and uncluttered.

 

Allen uses her words, in songs such as “Save Me,” and “Calling The Maker,” as her palette of colorful paints, while her voice becomes the brush that breathes life into the scenes, as they unfold before, not only our ears, but our eyes.  With grit and a deep growl, Aimee Allen opens the haunting “Calling The Maker,” as we find her again writing in the first person, this time from the perspective of one who is spending time in a county jail and we can surmise from the lyrics that it is not for a white collar crime. Both the beat and the theme of this song are hypnotic. Devon Golder and Ryan Adkins provide the background vocals which create a tribal aura about them, and later in the song there is a reference to a witch, a voodoo doll and in the chorus the depiction of the dirty soul of the undertaker. All of those images are juxtaposed to the scenes of hearing the voice of John the Revelator (John the Baptist), hearing Jesus calling and of mamma in the kitchen dancing and singing. Throughout the song, the singer maintains her innocence. “Calling The Maker,” is the most emotionally riveting song that this reviewer has heard this year.

 

“On Vacation,” might be considered the epilogue to “Change In Weather,” as it is an airy, upbeat song, while the singer rejoices in her freedom and in being single again.  She imagines her former lover thinking that she is blue and sad without him, but now instead of crying over him, she dances to the music as her records spin.  Two-thirds of the way through “On Vacation,” Allen engages in a gospel influenced call and response chorus, which celebrates her new found freedom.

 

During the introduction to the song "Crazy," the singer's state of being horney, finds full expression in her deliciously seductive laugh and her words "If you want me / just take me." Despite the conclusions one might draw from the song’s opening, it is neither vulgar, nor does it conjure up sexual images á la Madonna or Alanis Morissette, but it is simply a statement of raw feelings and the wish to be desired.  If your teenager happens upon this song, you have nothing to worry about, as Allen is very tasteful in her expression of her sexuality.

 

Ryan Adkins, who produced, engineered and mixed the album (Ben Rosen also produced and mixed some tracks) A Little Happiness accompanies Allen, playing his baritone ukulele on “Santeria,” a slower tempo and quieter song that is a journey of self discovery and a quest for love.

 

The title track “A Little Happiness,” consists of simple guitar strumming, light percussion, which sounds like it might be a triangle, and again the beautiful phrasing of Aimee Allen. Although, the listener becomes party to the singer’s struggle whether or not to allow her former love back into her life again, the instrumental and vocal melodies are kept light, which helps balance the anguish and the image of mascara running down her face, no doubt from the tears that flow.

 

Aimee Allen is a singer / songwriter who holds your attention, because although the majority of songs appear to be introspective and are written in the first person, she varies the themes enough that she avoids the trap of becoming redundant. Unlike Suzanne Vega whose take on the same subjects can often leave one depressed and sad, Aimee Allen’s music instead points forward to new beginnings and the words reflect hope.  The album ends with that sense of hope in the song “God Talks,” which borrows its chorus from an old hymn and runs counterpoint to brick and mortar churches. There is a very telling line, “I’m no devil, but it depends who you ask.” There is the exclamation that nothing ever happens when she is down on her knees, but there is also the continual refrain “God talks to me / And God walks with me.” As the song moves to a conclusion the words change slightly as Allen has a gospel accompaniment, the word “me” is changed to “us.”  The missive is, God cannot be stereotyped, so do not stereotype me and how I relate to God.

 

Aimee Allen’s A Little Happiness, certainly belongs in my top ten list when I look back over 2009.

 

Please visit the Aimee Allen website

 

 

Reviewed November 2009

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