Steven F. Adams, Sound Wave One
There’s an amazing thing about writing music album reviews, one of those amazing things is that I get to write whatever I want, simply because I write from the heart, and it sometimes takes a little time to do so. With this being said I came across a music artist named Lori Hardman, and her self titled album. After a spin or two or more I kept trying to find the verbiage to describe what style or musical category to place Lori in. I thought Jazz??, blues?? rock?? pop??, well Lori Hardman has them all inter woven within her wonderfully beautiful musical approach. The album starts off with a song called “Dangerous” and it has a feel of rock to it and Lori has a raspy kind of sound that kind of placed her into the Joan Jett and Melissa Etheridge sound. Lori and her music have a way of including all the genres together & make a sound that arrives in your ears in a contagious fashion. The song has a rough edgy but Lori and her vocals bring it into focus and you hear her talent shine through. “Night on the Town” a song that has the sound of jazz fabric woven in between the rock and roll that is totally different in which I haven’t heard before. Quite good I might add. The next cut on this truly eclectic and amazing album with true grit and bluesy flavor, is called “Two Way Street” and Lori really can’t be locked into one music category the song selections keep you guessing and second guessing all the way through. Lori brings an almost rock influenced sound to this song where I heard hints of early, Anne & Nancy Wilson of Heart fame. The next track called “Don’t Cross That Line” Lori brings in her sound of Lita Ford, with a pop musicality to it, along with the guitars that sling a blues & rock feel to them. “Here We Go Again” a slower ballad that allows one to really feel the true pulse of Lori and her amazing vocals, that allow you to really feel the influences in her music, and this song is probably my favorite on the album. On this particular song Lori’s vocals reminded me of Nancy Wilson for sure, but Lori makes her own and brings in a sexual tone to it, and I love this song. “Night Flight” is another kick starting song that brings in Lori and her edgy and raspy vocals but is smooth sounding sound that shares a hint of reggae, and reminds you of who Lori is, a singer songwriter, and a truly amazing talent to hear. “River of Blues” brings in the blues flavor with the harp and Lori raps her way through the jungle of truly down & dirty blues. Lori has tremendous vocal diversity and is truly remarkable throughout this flavorful and enjoyably great music album. “What Is Love” is a gentle music that Lori brings her vocals to the sound of a truly outstanding vocalist that maintain her amazing resemblance of Nancy Wilson of Heart fame. The flavor that sits comfortably within her awesome lyrics and vocal style. The next song, called “Don’t Lose the Love” has a real sweet flavor to it that shares blues, rock, and fusion but the blues shines through with Lori and her outstanding vocals that combined with the harp on this song that is one made in heaven. ” I Found an Angel” has Lori doing a country flavored song that surprised my ears only after hearing the rest of the album and my ears were bent in the rock & roll direction and in comes this song a slower paced with a flavor of country folk pickin’ and Lori continues to show her musical diversity with this one, and comes through. The last song on this amazing and superbly flavorful album a song called “Time Is a Letter” a duet with Don Wilhelm a great duet that both Lori and Don bring in a song that really is written well and sung immaculate, the song title is what really got me. After hearing it made me realize how much true talent Lori has and her vocals are ones you can always remember with her amazing style and true musical diversity that the music world needs more of. I thank Lori for allowing me to hear her amazing, and truthful and beautiful style of music and her friendship along the journey of life filled with purely honest and full of feeling music that has a way and Lori to lead you there.
–Steven F. Adams, Music Publicist/Reviewer
Owner: Sound Wave One soundwaveone.wordpress.com