Arts
OUT Standing Indie Rock-Folk
by Lluvia Mulvaney-Stanak
Single
Bullet Theory |
In
an age with so many songwriters and hip folk gals with guitars, it is
rare to find a musician who stands out from the crowd. With her new album
Single Bullet Theory, Pamela Means steps out from her indie peeps
with a sound that is so original you would think she invented rock-folk.
It's fresh. It's mellow. And it's even got that political punch that makes
it truly folky, with songs ranging from covers of the jazz classic "Strange
Fruit" to original pieces like "O.D." that lyrically chronicle
Dick Cheney's oily-capitalist past.
The true essence of Pamela Means is her
intense guitar playing. If you have caught her live in the typical little
coffee joint in some metro-college-coffee shop New England town, you know
how hard this woman plays - there is a hole in her guitar from how hard
she strums! You get treated to an instrumental track halfway through this
album with "Mother's Day" which clearly displays her true gift
for the guitar.
Despite its heavy title, Single Bullet
Theory displays her mellow side. Each track flows to the next to
create that rare, true album experience. The tracks will teach you history
and current events and how to respect the crazy ways of the heart.
Pamela Means is every bit an independent
musician. She has the passion, the guts and the dedication to do it on
her own. Just skimming the liner notes reveals she has some of the best
company in the indie artist world: Alix Olson, Doria Roberts, and Ember
Swift - just to name a few.
Constantly on tour, constantly "playing
it" how it is, and constantly addressing topics ranging from racism
to heterosexism, Pamela Means and her new record are well worth your pennies.