NW Noise Reviews
Debra Arlyn - Tomorrow Another Day
MP3 of Debra Arlyn - Forever
“Breakup songs, it’s what I do,” Corvallis, Oregon native Debra Arlyn stated at her inaugural Doug Fir Lounge performance last December 13th, 2007 for the Northwest Girls Make Noise event. That particular live performance, along with the hundreds of other appearances she makes at a variety of clubs, bars, record stores, competitions, and more set her apart from other artists of her ilk because of the raw emotion, energy and genuine fan interaction on display each and every gig she and her band tear the stage up.
There’s no doubt that Arlyn’s musical bread and butter is on the stage in front of an audience where her vocal range, passion and story telling continuously cast a spell over audiences around the Northwest. Even with her tales of heartache and her playful on stage banter, it’s her latest studio release, Tomorrow Another Day that has captured the ear drums of Northwest Noise.
This third studio release from Arlyn contains 12 tracks that were produced in Portland by Arlyn and the ever talented Rob Stroup. Upon listening specifically to the production quality and stylistic approach Arlyn and company took with this effort, I could not help but immediately (and wrongfully so) compare it to her live performances, which we at Northwest Noise have been a part of for a year and half on some level as fans or business partners. Admittedly, I’m a music fan who more so appreciates a live show or album based on the on stage creativity of the performers in set list, musical improvisation and fan interaction from the stage.
Having listened to Tomorrow Another Day at least 15 times since receiving it in the mail, I must say this studio release is Arlyn’s finest achievement in not only production value but also songwriting. The usual Pop/R&B elements to Arlyn’s arsenal of music are present and she even adds in some soft rock and disco elements on certain tracks. Her duet with Intervision’s lead singer Paul Creighton is a special treat that gives me a glimpse of what it would have been like had Lionel Richie and Mariah Carey duetted Endless Love together. The track Through To Me has a little musical number in the latter part of the song that, for about ten seconds, makes me think I’m listening to the soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever. No, John Travolta does NOT make an appearance on this track or the record, for the record.
Some heavy hitters in the music world collaborated with Arlyn with a couple of the tracks from Tomorrow Another Day such as Mariah Carey’s first producer, Ben Margulies on Does It Really Matter, hip hop/jazz producer and artist Dapo Torimiro on Worth the Wait and former Portland Prince of Producing, Steve Sundholm on New Favorite Song.
Debra Arlyn is quickly becoming a known and sought after commodity in the music world. Her seemingly tireless effort in making music connects with those who cross her path by offering a ‘happiness and heartache’ reality check within loving and hurting those we love. Arlyn’s pain and passion through song is evident, and will challenge you to reflect, react and respond within the happiness and heart ache in your own life. All I can say is that John Travolta’s music never did that for me, and I’m truly grateful for that!
Tomorrow Another Day will be officially released April 15th, but you can order a pre-release copy of the record at CD Baby.
Make sure you also listen to a special interview NW Noise did with Debra Arlyn in early April 2008.
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