Album Review: Charissa, Love and Be Loved
Two decades ago guitarist Colin Cripps helped a promising young Ottawa-area singer release her debut album. The album was Failer. The artist was Kathleen Edwards. Now while newcomer Charissa might not be asking for flowers anytime soon her debut EP, produced by Cripps, has a lot of the strengths and qualities Edwards had in spades starting out: an earnest-soaked earthy voice that should make for a long and successful road ahead. A perfect example is "People Like You" which, if you don't enjoy dear reader and listener, I've lost all respect for you already!
The five-song effort opens with the blissfully delivered "Scars and All" that builds into a mid-tempo roots pop nugget in the vein of Sarah Harmer's "Basement Apartment." Meanwhile the gentle heart-felt execution of "Starlit Sky" shines over its simple, barren framework, letting Charissa work her never-forced magic.
Fans of Aimee Mann and Sheryl Crow would be wise to see out this EP as "The Last Time" is a confident piece of work minus any production gloss or theatrics. The only drawback might be it's just five songs with the title track wrapping up this stellar effort. I guess I'll have to hit repeat. Again and again!
Love and Be Loved was released March 25, 2022.
Listen to it here.
The album features two songs in Omushkegowuk Cree, marking the first time Sutherland is making music in his mother tongue.