Bible Belt [CD] [PA]

Love this CD!! I get more impressed with her with every new project!

I like music. Not a particular genre. Not a particular artist. Just music. Whatever moves me, whatever make me look at the world a little more differently, I am inspired to listen. Diane Birch does IT for me. Her debut album is a smash. Her mere twenty-some years of life on Earth are incompareable to the timelessness in her voice. She sounds as though she has been here before. Like she's lived a life of several decades filled with joy, heartache, and rebellion. Because of this mixture of emotion and compassion, I have several favorites on her album. Favorites: Fire Escapes ~ This song receives the most rotation on my playlist. The lyrics and melodic humming undertones bring the heat. I feel Diane's pain as she tries to make sense of love's good-bye. The intensity of the vocals is just enough. The build-up is brilliant. The fire is definitely evident in this opening track. Nothing but a Miracle ~ By the time you reach this #4 track, it's evident there is a running theme: heartache. Diane sings, "Nothing but a miracle is gonna bring you back, bring you back to me now". The situation is all so similar. A girl in love with a boy who obviously is through. However, the girl can't let go even though she is intelligent enough to realize the end has arrived. The phases Diane goes through help aid in her acceptance of the situation. Unless you believe in miracles, nothing is going to bring love back. Rise U ~ I felt empowered. I wanted to pump my fist in the air. It was the much needed boost for a girl trying to find her place in the world. Chiming in on her religious upbringing, Diane challenges everyone to be true to what they feel. As she puts it, "Second chances don't come easy", so say what you mean the first time. As the song continues, so does the confidence. Diane sings just above a settling register. It's as if her voice is stuck between a yodel and a hum. It's the perfect blend. This is one song that finishes strong. The exit is beautifully mastered. A reprise so to speak. A march of some sorts. You definitely don't want to fast forward this track. Magic View ~ It's exactly what is says...magical. The scene I envision is two lovers lying in the grass looking at the stars. Perfection. Simplicity. Love. Magic. This song belongs on the soundtrack for a great love story. It's the song that is the defining moment as you realize everything is just the way it should be. The soft touch of the piano in this song is perfect. The lyrics are spread over calming chords and wake you in all the right moments. Perfect way to end an album...wanting more, but completely satisfied at the same time. Overall, the CD is IT. The right balance of songs; 13 to be exact. The cohesiveness of themes; love, pain, heartache. The hints of religious inspirations. Diane does not need all the glitz, the over-production of the studio, the effects of complex lyrics. She is simply amazing as she is. Often compared to greats such as Carole King, Diane has a lot to live-up to. Oddly enough, she may just be enough. She is simply IT.

Diane Birch is that fresh new voice whose debut album "Bible Belt" just came out this month. Diane is in her mid-twenties, but she truly sounds like an old soul. As I listened to her cd, so many of my favorite women singers came to mind: The Indigo Girls, The Dixie Chicks, Aretha Franklin, Joss Stone, KT Tunstall, Adele, Laura Nyro, Ricki Lee Jones, even Janis Joplin and Billie Holiday. I truly questioned how someone could remind me of all these stellar women and yet be completely her own person, yet that is the paradox and the joy of Diane Birch. Now, imagine taking blues, classic rock, du wop, and combining them with jazz and gospel and you'll have a hint of what Diane's music is about. The cd opens with one of my favorites, "Fire Escape". It's a soulful sultry song about love and loss. Diane's music is the type that slowly saunters in wearing an unlikely hat. It beckons to you, seduces you, slowly charms you and soon you find yourself dancing in a familiar dream. She writes all of her own songs and is a gifted musician in the true sense of the word. She is fresh and new, yet her music hearkens back to the 60's and 70's. In short, her music is timeless, which to me, is the very best thing to be. Diane Birch's voice is heartfelt, full of soul, and completely fearless - powerful, yet nuanced. Her music is that of a true artist who needs to create to fulfill their vision and their passion. Sometimes you have to "sing the blues" - and sometimes the blues just have to sing, dance, and soar beyond the sky. This is the magic of Diane Birch.

I was quite apprehensive when I started listening to Diane Birch's album "Bible Belt." Luckily for me, "Fire Escape," the first track on the cd drew me right in. Once I started listening, I couldn't turn back even if I wanted. "Fire Escape" was a great song to start the album with and from there, it just got better and better. I absolutely adore "Valentino" and "Ariel." Diane has an exceptional voice, it mixes a little Norah Jones, Sarah Mclachlan, Ella Fitzgerald and a few other soulful singers. It brings you back in time to when soul, blues and jazz where much more prominent. If you are a little nervous about listening based on the title of the cd, DON'T BE! While there are some religious undertones in a few of the songs, it is not forceful or preachy. In fact, unless you listen carefully, you probably won't even notice it. Diane's magical voice just takes you away and her soulful sound makes you feel warm inside. So, what are you waiting for, go get her cd and be taken away! The price is right, so what's stopping you?

I was pleasantly surprised by Diane's voice from the moment the CD started. She reminds me a bit of a little Amy Winehouse, Joss Stone and even a touch of Aretha Franklin thrown in for good measure. The songs have a fairly common sound to them, but a couple of the standout tracks in my mind were Valentino, which had a fun, upbeat, peppy sound to it and had me tapping my toes; Fools, which is the one that reminds me a bit of Aretha; and Rise Up, which gave me a visual of having good conversation over a drink in a nice bar with friends. Don't Wait Up was a fun, sassy song that I thought had a lot of "spunk" to it. I also enjoyed Mirror Mirror, which sounded like a musical fairytale. It was thoughtful and soft. Overall, a good CD and I'd probably check her out again in the future.

Diane Birch sings with a great deal of soul and passion. I can hear gospel, jazz and blues influences, but her style is all her own. She composes her own songs, sings lead and plays keyboards. She's accompanied by a great band, including saxophone and trombone, plus a rousing chorus of back-up singers on several songs. Many of the songs are upbeat and high energy, but what I like most is that they don't all sound alike. Some artists are still finding their way when they release their first album, and their tunes aren't always distinctive and different from each other. Birch may be new to the recording scene, but she's clearly been honing her musical skills and sensibility for a while. Her voice is strong and confident. My favourite cuts include Don't Wait Up, Ariel and Rise Up. I'm not always sure of the meaning of her lyrics, but I quickly find I'm singing along and feeling good. This woman has a lot of talent, and I'm looking forward to hearing more.

I really enjoyed the songs on Bible Belt, many of which have obvious gospel, jazz, blues, and soul influences, which is evident on such tracks as Fire Escape and Rise Up. I found myself constantly singing along to Nothing But a Miracle, grooving along to the mellow beat of Mirror Mirror, and crooning to Photograph, a bittersweet ballad. My favorite track is Valentino, a fun, upbeat, and whimsical song. Many of Birch’s songs are reminiscent of tunes of the 70s, and her raspy, powerful voice is simply beautiful, reminding me of other female vocal superstars such as Joss Stone and Norah Jones. Bible Belt is a fantastic debut CD that showcases Birch’s vocal and song-writing talent, featuring many songs that you’ll never tire of.

Wow! This is her first CD but you cannot tell. To me, she sounds like an old favorite! Diane wrote the music herself, and she writes like a pro. The music is very relatable and some of the songs are haunting. Her music stays with you for a long time, but in a good way! There are several ways to describe her music-smooth, soulful, easy listening, raw, stripped, earthy, simple, and unique. You can really feel her energy, and feel what she was thinking when she wrote her lyrics. Among other things, this CD would be perfect for a day at the beach with a good book. My favorite song is Ariel-it just stays with me! Her sound is similar to Carly Simon, but a modern version. I foresee a long and successful music career for Diane!