Posted by Titan Magazine on 1/25/2002, 1:35 pm
Link: http://www.titanmagazine.com
At the tender age of five, Kristin Plater and her dad, Bob, recorded a cute ditty entitled Kristin Wants to Play. This song, tagged onto the end of Platers new CD, 24, served as reinforcement of the feeling that I had after hearing grown-up Kristin I was listening to a natural talent. Little Kristin hit most of her notes, adjusted her delivery and tempo from verse to verse, and displayed the showmanship that will serve her well in years to come. On 24, grown-up Kristin still hits the notesand takes them to the moon for that matterwhile easily shifting between country-tinged ballads, programmed grooves, and straight-up rock n roll. In short, she has made the kind of album that never wears you out. Dancing Stars starts off the proceedings as uncomplicated as an interesting song can be. Simple, yet effective, much like a fine Lucinda Williams song, it is bolstered by a warm guitar sound and a Hammond organ to provide the atmosphere. Her band provides a canvas for the artistry that comes from the pipes of Plater, who sings with enough emotion to make you feel as if you are living through her visions of complicated love and character study, her trials and tribulations. Many of the songs on 24 have to do with what is on the minds of a lot of young women at that age: how to find love and, more importantly, how to keep it. To this end Platers attitude shifts between supreme confidence and self-doubt throughout the album. While Dancing Stars tells the story of a woman that cannot love the one man who treats her like an absolute princess, Wonder Woman, full of programmed beats and radio friendliness, turns that situation completely on its head. In it, Wonder Woman is the one that feels unloved and unwanted, claiming Ive given you everything Ive got and asking Why did you leave?/Did it have anything to do with me? Musically, 24 provides enough variety to keep one wondering what is around the next corner. Certain songs, such as Convince Me and Plutocracy consist of little more than Platers band locking into a simple repetition of chords over which she seemingly free forms lyrics into the rhythms, much like a great bass player plays off of the drums. On the other end of the spectrum, there is an absolutely perfectly crafted song entitled Someone Elses Arms that displays pop songwriting at its very best. This song tugs at the heartstrings without being cheesy and it has hit written all over it. Plater knows how to kick ass too, as evidenced by the raucous Liar, although its Jason & The Scorchers-style stomp and infectious hook remind me of something very similar. Cant put my finger on it though, so I will say no more. Lets just say that Ms. Plater has come of age, and like a fine wine, she will no doubt grow more delicious as the years go by. Oh God, did I really say that? -Rod Moody, Titan Magazine.
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