"Feel Good" by MJ Bishop

a Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

Judging from the CD cover, I was not expecting Bluegrass, but that is certainly what the first track sounds like to me. In fact, I couldn't help being reminded of the film, "A Mighty Wind". (That's not an insult; I actually liked the songs in that movie!)

I am not what you would call a Bluegrass fan. I don't dislike it, I just don't know much about it. I have not had much exposure to it. But I like MJ Bishop's stuff. It kind of feels like it transports the listener to a different place and time. But it's not all Bluegrass, it's also Alt.Country/Americana, Folk, Rock and more.

Bishop's voice is well suited to this style and genre. It flows over the music and makes the songs whole. The songs are interesting both lyrically and melodically.

"Kiss Like You Mean It" is a fun snappy number (I mean that literally, there is actual finger snapping). "Kiss Like You Mean It/I'm Not Your Grandma." Very cute.

"Feel Good Song" is indeed. I feel like getting up and dancing.

"Like a big warm smile when you're down in the dumps"

In fact, that is a good description of the entire CD, which is probably why she named it as such.

Posted on Dcember 18, 2003

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