Although Tristan Prettyman may be more famous for her prior career (as a model for Roxy surf clothing) or her previous boyfriend and touring partner (Jason Mraz), the singer-songwriter looks to find success behind her musical talent with her latest album, Hello.
Prettyman’s style is a cross between the soft-voiced female crooner, such as Sara Bareilles or Ingrid Michaelson; the passionate vocals of Fiona Apple; and a more intense rock sensibility. Though Prettyman is no hard rocker, her album surely isn’t just another collection of light piano and breathy vocals (not that there’s anything wrong with that).
Hello sounds as if Prettyman flipped through her record collection, took note of songs she liked and mimicked them. This is not to say Prettyman just copies other artists – instead, she seems to find a style she likes and then puts her own spin on it.
The album’s title track is also in the leadoff spot. In this capacity, it’s excellent – introducing listeners, who may be new to Prettyman’s music, to her particular style of soft rock.
The song also finds success as a bouncy pop track. While the repeated “uh” chorus gets tedious in the later stages of the song, the upbeat drums and guitar combine to form a perfect background for Prettyman’s vocals.
“California Girl” has the driving beat and light snarl of a Joan Jett track. Prettyman lulls listeners with a breathy and light intro, but the song steadily builds into a marching tune. Its repeated chorus of “Never gonna fall/ I’m never gonna fall/ For that old trick again” brings angry feelings forward and displays the kind of passionate writing she is capable of.
In contrast, “Madly” sounds like a song Counting Crows or The Goo Goo Dolls might have recorded in the ’90s but with enough of a modern twist to avoid a dated feeling. This love song is backed by digital claps and quirky drumbeats, but it doesn’t have the overproduced feel many songs fall prey to when relying on these studio additions.
Production value isn’t necessary for Prettyman to find success, however. “God Gave Me Patience” is basically just her, her guitar and a microphone, but doesn’t lack anything that can be found in the more produced tracks found throughout Hello. It seems stripped down works just as well for her.
Though an album with a variety of styles can sometimes become a disappointing hodgepodge, Hello manages to avoid becoming a styleless collection and is a great way of showcasing Prettyman’s range of musical abilities.
That said, the frequently changing style does detract from the overall feel of the complete album. It’s clear Prettyman is talented, and her songs display a wide range of emotions. However, the lack of a clear direction hurts Hello more than it helps it.
Prettyman seems bound for success, even if Hello may be doomed by its unclear focus. Perhaps the best thing for her would be to catch on in the world of commercials – it seems to have worked out pretty well for her female singer-songwriter cohorts.
tripp.laino@yahoo.com
RATING: 3.5 STARS OUT OF 5
