Amie Miriello - I Came Around

One can definitely hear angry grrrl echoes of Alanis Morrissette on  I Came Around (Jive), the debut recording of this Connecticut-based newcomer, whose voice sounds strangely familiar at times. When spinning her record, you feel a comfortable feeling that you've known her since the late nineties, when many female artists hit the spotlight at around the same time (think Sheryl Crow and Tori Amos as examples).

However, if you think Amie Miriello is just an imitator rehashing old influences, think again: she comfortably uses them  to make a sound of her own. One good example of this is her taking ownership of  The Smashing Pumpkins' “Disarm” with a daring countrified arrangement that is miles away from the original version.

Also worth mentioning  is the title track, an upbeat number about bouncing back from a bad breakup, while  “The Beauty of Goodbye”  reflects on the need of moving on even though one feels lonely in retrospect. By hearing to this disc, one hopes that she will not only be another face in the crowd of newcomers to the business –  the lady deserves to be heard. Let's just hope she sounds as good on stage.

Amie Miriello performs with Bob Schneider on Saturday, November 15 at 8 PM at the Bowery Ballroom, 6 Delancey Street; Tickets are $ 20. For tickets, call 212-260-4700 or visit http://www.boweryballroom.com

Label: Zomba Recording LLC
Release Date: 9-02-08 

-Ernest Barteldes