Jenna McDaniel, recently named the Music Association of Central Texas Groovy Awards Entertainer of the Year, is a force. Not even 20, and she has opened for country music superstars like Gloriana, Phil Vassar, Cory Morrow, and Jason Boland. She has the songwriting chops, the vocals, and the unique sound to make it big in Nashville. This seven song record displays her lyrical ability, her powerhouse vocals and her sound that is unlike anyone else in the country music industry, or trying to make it in the industry like she is.
The whole story of this record is about a man who broke McDaniel's heart. Unlike many albums by young artists, this album does tell a story. The record begins with "I Can't Stop," a fiddle driven ode to love that is bad for you. It sets up the album by introducing the idea of hurtful love, and then the album continues to elaborate on that idea. The track also introduces the image that McDaniel had of this man originally: a man who would "talk to [her] about politics, the weather, anything to hold [her] hand." Production-wise, this song is one of the best on the record, with the prominent fiddle, as well as McDaniel's sweet vocals portraying the idea of this kind of love perfectly.
"Train Wreck" sounds like a track that could be at home on Miranda Lambert's Platinum, and McDaniel's vocals actually sound similar to Lambert's at some points during the song. The slight bluesy influence along with McDaniel's vocals create an interesting listen. This song continues the story of the record more, by elaborating on the guy even more, and showing that he really is bad news that she needs to get away from.
The next track is the happy point of the album. The joyful "Let Your Love Run Away" is an airy track, one that would be at home on a Colbie Callait record. The folk pop undertones along with the Taylor Swift-esqe lyrics are a nice breath of fresh air from the heavy tracks on the rest of the album.
"Train Wreck" sounds like a track that could be at home on Miranda Lambert's Platinum, and McDaniel's vocals actually sound similar to Lambert's at some points during the song. The slight bluesy influence along with McDaniel's vocals create an interesting listen. This song continues the story of the record more, by elaborating on the guy even more, and showing that he really is bad news that she needs to get away from.
The next track is the happy point of the album. The joyful "Let Your Love Run Away" is an airy track, one that would be at home on a Colbie Callait record. The folk pop undertones along with the Taylor Swift-esqe lyrics are a nice breath of fresh air from the heavy tracks on the rest of the album.
A highlight of this album is the sassy "Walkin' Away." This is a track that many young girls need to listen to. The track speaks of breaking up with someone who tries to make you go farther than you want to. In the vein of Avril Lavigne's "Don't Tell Me," McDaniel approaches a tricky subject in an open and no-nonsense way. Just like Lavigne's song was inspiring to so many girls, this song could be the country version of that. There are many songs in country music about breakups, but not many songs openly address the problems of the man like this one does. The main point of the song comes in the lyric at the end of the chorus:
"Sure like to stay
but I think it's time to go.
Cause i know I am so worth the wait."
Because McDaniel is able to sing such important songs like this so early in her career, it speaks well for her future career as a musician, and as a role model.
The album closes with the title track. The play on words that make up the album title, and the title track is genius. No matter how you hear it: "Little Misunderstanding" or "Little Miss Understanding," it works both ways. The best songs are the ones where there are more than one way to interpret the song. This is a track like that. Ending the album on a sassy note, "Little Miss Understanding" is a country-rock song that an artist like Maggie Rose could sing. The fiddle comes back in this track, and honestly makes the song, with just the little bit of sweetness injected into the fiery track.
McDaniel is another young country singer-songwriter that was drawn into country music because of now-pop star Taylor Swift. There are so many young female artists like this, and the key is to be influenced by her, but not try to be her. McDaniel understands this. She inserts a soulful quality, and a more country element into her music that Swift never had, and proves with this album, that she is more than a Swift-wannabe. She has her own, unique sound and a potentially long career in country music ahead of her.
Best tracks: I Can't Stop, Walkin' Away, Little Miss Understanding
Throwaway tracks: none
Overall rating: 4 crowns
"Sure like to stay
but I think it's time to go.
Cause i know I am so worth the wait."
Because McDaniel is able to sing such important songs like this so early in her career, it speaks well for her future career as a musician, and as a role model.
The album closes with the title track. The play on words that make up the album title, and the title track is genius. No matter how you hear it: "Little Misunderstanding" or "Little Miss Understanding," it works both ways. The best songs are the ones where there are more than one way to interpret the song. This is a track like that. Ending the album on a sassy note, "Little Miss Understanding" is a country-rock song that an artist like Maggie Rose could sing. The fiddle comes back in this track, and honestly makes the song, with just the little bit of sweetness injected into the fiery track.
McDaniel is another young country singer-songwriter that was drawn into country music because of now-pop star Taylor Swift. There are so many young female artists like this, and the key is to be influenced by her, but not try to be her. McDaniel understands this. She inserts a soulful quality, and a more country element into her music that Swift never had, and proves with this album, that she is more than a Swift-wannabe. She has her own, unique sound and a potentially long career in country music ahead of her.
Best tracks: I Can't Stop, Walkin' Away, Little Miss Understanding
Throwaway tracks: none
Overall rating: 4 crowns
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