"Ready" by Allison Tartalia

a Review by Anna Maria Stjärnell

Allison Tartalia's first CD is a very accomplished blend of styles. Pop, jazz and folk all get a look in. Vocally she might remind you of Ani DiFranco.

"Back of My Neck" is very much like early DiFranco, with a simple guitar line and a lyric of poisonous love.

"Dorothy's Reply" takes Dorothy from Oz and into the music biz with hilarious results. The song is a swinging, very catchy number.

"Tide" is a quiet ballad that shows that Tartalia can be subtle when she wants to. She plays the piano here with grace and precision.

"Ready" is frantic and has Tartalia darting back and forth between classical and jazz-inspired ways of playing the piano. The song doesn't follow traditional ways of writing songs and is all the better for it.

"Absolutely Fabulous" was inspired by the British TV-series and is utterly irresistible. It's a nice song to sing along to.

"Ready" is a record by an artist who seems ready to take on the world.

Posted on November 19, 2002