Pretty faces are never in short supply in today’s version of country music, but one has to wonder how much of the current country talent have a hand in their songs other than singing them? In perusing the press kit and CD packaging for the young Houston talent Breelan Angel, it’s apparent that they’re playing off her looks. Included are several model-esque pictures, though I guess you can’t really fault anyone for this. I’m sure Shania Twain CDs took a similar route in her heyday. The one thing Angel has in her favor is that she’s at least a co-writer on all the tracks here, which is probably more than most young talent in her industry.
Angel starts off with a bang and a loud introduction with the barnyard rocker “Walk Of Shame” which has all the hallmarks of a country anthem: attitude, energy and rollicking instrumentation. “Halfway To Wasted” follows and isn’t as rowdy as the title suggests; Angel instead goes the route of the warm, radio friendly pop.
You can’t deny that Angel can sing and has an impressive range. Songs like the quieter “It Ain’t Easy Loving Me” and the breezy “Can’t Tell A Heart” allow her pipes to shine, while the rustic, hoedown instrumentation of “Dirty Little Secrets” and “Double Standards” will make you want to dig out your cowboy boots and find your nearest country bar. The token ballad ends the album with mournful strings, while Angel builds “One More Song” into a fuller, lush tune before ending as reflective as it started.
Though Dirty Little Secrets doesn’t push any boundaries musically or aesthetically, it’s clear this youngster has found her niche and fills it well. Though my knowledge of likeminded artists is relegated to what I occasionally hear on the FM dial, Angel appears to take on more mature subject matter than her peers and is much more graceful. Here’s to hoping that someday these thoughtful songs replace people’s fascination with music about cheerleaders stealing boyfriends or posting pictures online.
