Carrie Akre
Country of origin:
U.S.
Type of music generally:
Fierce evocative/eclectic alternative pop
Status:
Most recent release, ...last the evening (2007)
See also:
Wikipedia's entry for Carrie AkreCarrie Akre was formerly in Seattle bands Hammerbox and Goodness.
Comparisons:
Other impassioned, strong-voiced crooners
Covers/own material:
Own
General comments:
Carrie Akre has a strong, versatile voice and uses it to great emotional effect on a wide range of musical styles. (sophiagurley@hotmail.com)i finally realized why this name sounded familiar—carrie used to front the seattle-based band hammerbox! what i've heard so far seems to indicate that she's changed directions a bit as hammerbox were fairly grungey, albeit on the cleaner side of the grunge plate than, say, mudhoney. anyways, she seems to have discovered a rootsier side to herself since the tracks from home i've heard are quite bluesy, something her voice is well-suited for. personally, though, i'm a bit neutral on her new direction. some of it sounds promising but a few songs seem boringly too straightforward for me. i will have to cogitate more. ;) (woj@smoe.org)
Recommended first album:
Live from Cafe Venus/Mars is the first we've heard
Recordings:
- Home (2000)
- Invitation (2002)
- Live @ The EMP SkyChurch 8/9/02 (live, 2002)
- Live @ The EMP SkyChurch 11/15/02 (live, 2002)
- Live from Cafe Venus/Mars (live ep, 2003)
- ...last the evening (2007)
Live from Cafe Venus/Mars
Release info:
2003—Kufala Recordings—KUF0044
Availability:
Unknown
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended for fans of emotive vocals
Group members:
Carrie Akre—vocals, guitar
Guest artists:
Sean Bates—keys
Amy Stolzenbach—guitar
Jason Parker—horn
Comments:
Carrie Akre has a crooning, wailing torch song feel on this ep. All of the songs here (mostly from her first solo album, Home) are powerful, particularly the opening song, "Hum Drum," which is anything but. That one and "For Awhile" is probably my favourites here: For Awhile" seems a prototypical yearning, urgent love song and shows off Carrie strong songwriting, and of course her vocals. She's clearly a powerful live performer (well, a powerful performer live or in studio). Highly recommended for fans of emotional music. (sophiagurley@hotmail.com)
Thanks to Sophia Gurley for work on this entry.
