Customer Ratings & Reviews

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!

Don't let those big eyes and young look deceive you...Diane Birch sings with a maturity far beyond her years. Think Carole King, Linda Ronstadt and Stevie Nicks talent. She impresses in her debut album Bible Belt, combining a powerful voice, skillful piano playing and superb song writing. Listening to her music is like riding a retro time machine back to the music of my childhood years. Birch describes herself as an "old soul." Old soul she may be, but she's managed to make herself a new favorite as well. Birch combines many great musical styles seamlessly together, creating a sound all her own...gospel, doo-wop, country-blues, 70's pop. The music is a refreshing change from the standards on the radio today. I love so many of the songs on the album it is hard to choose my favorite. The gospel-like "Rise Up" ranks high on my list, as well as "Fire Escape," the opening song sung with such feeling.

Diane Birch has a refreshingly original voice with great versatility. The songs on this album range from the mournful "Rewind" to the gospel-influenced "Forgiveness", with the catchy, pop-ish "Fools" to lighten things up. It was very refreshing to hear a CD that seems relatively un-manipulated in an age where so many CD artists have such heavy editing that it's impossible to tell what their voice sounds like unplugged. I'm giving the album four stars instead of five because there are a couple places where Birch's voice sounds a bit strained, and it took a few listens before I really started to enjoy the CD - I didn't love it the first time through.

Diane Birch sounds like a cross between Norah Jones, Ella Fitzgerald and Stevie Nicks, and does it effortlessly. Blues isn't normally my genre of choice, but I was happy to receive this album to review. I really didn't know what to expect, as I'd never heard of Diane Birch before, but I was pleasantly surprised once I gave it a listen. The songs vary from uptempo and fun to slow and sensual. It's a nice range for every music lover out there. I do wish she sounded just a bit more current and thing the 70's sound is just a little too prominent, she definitely has one of the prettiest voices I've heard.

Diane Birch sounds like an old favorite, with all the sparkle and magic of a breakthrough talent. People says she sounds like a combination of early Carole King, Linda Ronstadt and Stevie Nicks, with a little Joss Stone and Cat Power mixed in. Bible Belt is only her first record, but it’s one of the most accomplished albums you’ll hear all year. From the opening track "Fire Escape" to the closing “Magic View,” Diane’s stunning voice is mesmerizing. Written entirely by Diane, Bible Belt was recorded in New York City and New Orleans with an impressive team of Grammy-winning producers: S-Curve Records founder Steve Greenberg, soul legend Betty Wright and Mike Mangini, in their first project together since producing Joss Stone’s first albums.

Growing up, I listened to a lot of Carol King and love her singer/songwriter vibe. It is the same kind of feel to Diane Birch's new CD, The Bible Belt. She has been compared to a whole host of musicians, but really does have a sound all her own. Her music seems to have gospel,soul, R&B, and classic rock influence. She describes herself as an old soul and her music definitely has a throw back sound, but not as overt as some of the others around like Amy Winehouse. She is far more subtle. I love just putting her on in the background and chilling. It is definitely feel good music.

I'll admit, I was a bit skeptical at first when I got this CD. I enjoy new artists, and Diana Birch is about as new for me as they come. I'm not into gospel music so the title "Bible Belt" was a bit daunting. However, rumor had it, I'd be pleasantly surprised . . . and I was! Diane Birch has a smooth, jazzy voice which is mildly hypnotic. The lyrics are not those 'churchy churchy' ones one might expect from a gospel album. She writes from the heart about anything and everything with some religious undertones thrown in here and there. She is a great up and coming artist. I can't believe this is her first album, it sounds as though she knows her stuff! This is a great album for adults/young adults who love blues and jazz like myself!

Diane Birch is a breath of fresh air. She is very soulful and charming. I get so tired of the over-produced, half naked, trendy music that is out there. She writes her own music,sings, and plays an instrument. What more could you ask for? She reminds me of Joni Mitchell a bit mixed with Nora Jones, and the like. Her worldly and life experiences definitely show through in all aspects of this album. I think there is a little something for everyone on this album. My favorite songs on the album would be Fire Escape and Fools. I hope to see more of this young lady!

I am in love with this CD by an up and coming new artist, Diane Birch. When I first received this CD, I have to admit that I was skeptical. Diane Birch had received high praise from music critics, but I just had to hear it for myself. Boy, was I glad that I was wrong. For the first time in a long time, I was able to listen to a CD all the way through, no skipping around between the tracks. The whole CD has a nice, bluesy feel to it that I enjoy, and Diane's vocals can't be beat. Her vocals remind me a lot of Natalie Merchant. I particularly love tracks #3:Fools, #4:Nothing but a Miracle, and #12: Forgiveness. All in all, if you like music with a bluesy/rock feel to it, you can't go wrong with this CD.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I first listened to Diane Birch's debut album. Her unique, soulful voice instantly pulled me in. She is exceptionally easy to listen to and the songs she's composed suit her voice perfectly. I enjoyed almost every song. The ones that I have since played over and over are “Valentino” and “Rewind”. They remind me of Carly Simon and other great female singers of the 60s and 70s. I can't say every song on the album will be on my playlist, but a couple of the them are going to be in rotation for quite a while.

Diane Birch has a very unique and original sound. Definitely bluesy and very relaxing to listen to. It's the album I turn on when I'm lounging outside as the kiddos play and it's the perfect de-stresser on a crazy day. I always love when artists write and perform their own music and Diane doesn't disappoint! I have to say that in light of the strange parental advisory (ONLY present on this site) it is an extremely family friendly album! There is absolutely not profanity or suggestiveness within any of the songs througout the album.

If you like Nora Jones or Diana Krull, you'll probably like this album. It's bluesy yet modern enough to grab today's listener. Blues isn't normally my genre of choice, but I was happy to receive this album to review. I really didn't know what to expect, as I'd never heard of Diane Birch before, but I was pleasantly surprised once I gave it a listen. The songs vary from uptempo and fun to slow and sensual. It's a nice range for every music lover out there. Give it a chance. You'll be glad you did. I know I am.

After graciously being given the opportunity to review this CD, I apprehensively played it in the car with 2 small children present. I was not disappointed! What's great about Diane Birch's sound is that it is unique. Each song is refreshingly new with a this soulful, bluesy sound. Fire Escape, the first song on the album opens with a sweet, buttery sound and you get into this mindset of how calm and mellow this music is. But, before you know it, she's belting out tones reminscent of Stevie Nicks (Rewind) and Janis Joplin! (Choo Choo) All in all, a great album worth listening to. I feel that it would please even the most fickle of listeners. Bravo!