From the very first track on Days Like These, listeners can feel the passion and excitement in Cathy Young’s vocals. Performing as a solo acoustic act since 1997, the New York-based singer-songwriter has appeared on numerous local TV and radio shows. Additionally, Young keeps busy hosting an open mike that draws both amateur and professional musicians on a weekly basis.
Fast tempo throughout first track, “Mission,” is just an introduction for what’s to come – an album of spirited, summer-friendly songs. While at times Young’s voice is reminiscent to that of a classical singer, the musical accompaniment throughout her album, Days Like These is more of a relaxed, pop rock feel.
Title track, “Days Like These” is a softer ballad with a classic 80s feel. “Well, life can be so cruel/but I have learned to/Keep my eyes open wide/And not take for granted a moment enchanted/I’ll treasure it deep inside,” Young sings with fitting horn and bell features. It’s one of those tracks that the listener can escape to, while at the same time Young manages to put life into perspective.
“The Wire” is an emotional track that tells the story of a woman walking away from everything she knows, battling the loneliness and fear of the unknown. Though it’s a struggle, through her perseverance she “feels the warmth of the sun” which keeps her trekking on her journey. If music could only tell the story, the electric guitar feature at the end of the song seems to close the tale and her success of finding what she has been looking for. “Don’t look down,” Young sings, seemingly uplifted, at the song’s close.
While there is little variation from Young’s vocals track to track, it is the story behind each song that keeps the listener intrigued. Whether she’s singing about love, hardship, or hope, Young manages to captivate the listener with her moving tales woven throughout each song. Emotional tracks like “Bethany’s Garden” are full of vivid imagery as the music only helps accentuate the story within the tale. The yearning of the character within “Bethany’s Garden” is heartfelt with moving violin, organ and guitar interludes. Coincidently, the eerie tale of a woman in search for a garden, only to find what she discovers is not what she was looking for once she enters this garden surprises the listener at the climax of the story.
Ballads encompass much of Days Like These, but Young manages to keep each song fresh. “Hey Baby” is an edgier track with fitting percussion and electric guitar sections. “Come out of the darkness, into a better place/Out of the darkness, into the light/Out of the darkness, into tomorrow/Tell yourself it’ll be all right,” Young sings.
Stand out track “Into the Wilderness” takes listeners back to the Jazz Age with solid saxophone interludes and Young’s seductive vocals. The most varied track on the album, Young proves that she can step out of her comfort zone and showcase her talent outside the realm of slower ballads. A few more varied tracks like “Into the Wilderness” would have benefited and influenced the diversity of the album immensely.
Reviewed By Annie Reuter
