Alana Davis
Name of Album: Fortune Cookies
Ratings: Personal - 4 General - 4
Release Date: Out Now

Comments:
Davis has a voice, similar to that of Cassandra Wilson and Tracy Chapman, but without the solemn side-effects. Save the Day is an apropos and upbeat first track introducing the listener to this up-and-has-been-coming artist, who sets the mood with a terrestrial spring to flight with her gui-tar performance, which is reminiscent of Seal’s debut album (whatever happened to him?). I Want You (track 2) is also a winner, and is more likely to succeed on the pop-charts than its predecessor. However, it could have a short life as a hit single because its un-wired tambourine shake-and-acoustic guitar sound do not electrify the song enough for what i gather is sufficient rattle to sustain an adolescent audience. With that said, Alana’s cover photo surely makes her look young enough to hold the attention of a grass-roots swell amongst the college masses.

Her remake of the Whodini hit “Friends” is surprisingly fresh—and refreshing. Bye Bye, track six, has a ‘70s Superfly-cum-Charlie’s Angels guitar-riff and bass running underneath, giving it a polyesther retro sound—which actually works and was a pleasant departure fro the Lilith Fair strain I was afraid I would be subjected to throughout the album. Track 7, Fortune Cookie, has us return back to the earth from hence she came, and 8 (A Chance With You), almost throws us back into something less earthy, but merely swings us tauntingly to and fro on its folksy branches. Alana’s drift into the reggae stream...works, which is more than can be said for others who have wet their feet in this river, and failed to cross. Overall, Fortune Cookies is a pleasant summer’s end album—she would have been a great opening act for k.d. lang’s Invincible Summer tour.