Search - Amanda Shaw :: I'm Not a Bubble Gum Princess

Uneven but decent.

Stefan Leigland | Seattle, WA USA | 04/21/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Bubble Gum Princess is an uneven mix of blues, pop, jazz and cajun/zydeco. Amanda Shaw's vocals are used unevenly but the guitar and fiddle work are consistently strong throughout. The highlights are a cover of the Hank Williams tune 'Long Gone Lonesome Blues', 'Sassy Miss Talullah', 'Ugly Day Stomp' and another great cover of The Ramones tune 'I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend'. Track list with comments follows:1. Should I Stay or Should I Go? - Weird and jarring. Amanda's voice sounds forced and almost exaggerates how young she is. Just because you can remake a song in a unusual genre doesn't mean that you should. Might've been better if it wasn't the first song on the CD and the other tunes could've built up to it.2. Perridon Two Step - [instrumental] A fast-paced, traditional zydeco tune.3. I'm Not a Bubble Gum Pop Princess - This one is a pop tune with a cajun backbeat. The Britney Spears crowd may enjoy it but for me it was only so so. However, I have to admit that even though I didn't care for the song that much I caught myself humming it at one point. Definitely on track for some widespread airplay.4. Long Gone Lonesome Blues - This one is a great, bluesy remake of the original Hank Williams tune. It makes much better use of Amanda's voice than other tracks (eg. 'Should I Stay or Should I Go?' and 'Dark Desires') and the cajun fiddle gives it a great twist. 5. Who Stole the Hot Sauce - Blues-rock fusion. Okay, but it's a somewhat ill-suited match between the music and Amanda's voice, with the instruments providing the strongest element.6. Dark Desires - A slower bluesy tune that's not on the same level as 'Long Gone Lonesome Blues'. Amanda feels like she's straining in parts of it.7. Adieu Rosa - Fastpaced cajun stomp that's decent but Amanda's voice is straining again. There's an odd, 'bratty kid' sound to her voice that creeps in as she sings "Adieu RoZAAAAAAA". It's almost like she's singing it against her will.8. Lover's Waltz - [instrumental] Another traditional cajun waltz. 9. I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend - This one's an entertaining cajun/pop take on the Ramone's original. The vocals and music blend much more smoothely than some of the other songs on the album. Definitely a keeper.10. Sassy Miss Talullah - Blues piano and blues-rock guitar, great vocals from Amanda and fine cajun fiddling. Another keeper.11. Ugly Day Stomp - [instrumental] Medium-paced cajun tune that is heavy on the fiddle to good effect.The album gets off to a shaky start but finds its rhythm from the fourth track on. Overall I have to give it 4 out of 5 stars. - Blootshott"

Not as good as live, but worth the purchase

Greg English | 05/22/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I just saw Amanda live at a local outdoor concert. The girl is an incredible fiddle player. She played nearly none-stop for 3 hours and ended the show with the same energy she began it with. I bought the CDs at the show and have not been disappointed. Most tracks are as good as the show, others seemed pushed. I've let my students listen to the CDs for several days now in my Louisiana history classroom and I still enjoy them. Check out her other CDs too."

Bubble pop is a winner!

Ben Amaya | new orleans,la | 12/13/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This Cd will have you dancing the minute you play it. Off Beat Magazine gave it the Best of the Beat award for Best Cajun album by a Louisiana artist. It also won the Big Easy Award for best performer. It sold out the first weekend of Jazz Fest. I would recommend it! A++++"