Lorraine Devon Wilke
Somewhere on the Way
by Karla Ash
There is a quality in singer/songwriter Lorraine Devon Wilke’s voice that is hard to find in these artificial, studio-glossed times: character. Like Bonnie Raitt or Chrissie Hynde, Wilke sings from the deepest recesses of her soul. There is a kick, a punch, or a wallop, in her vocals that comes from human experience but also astounding talent. Once you hear her, the once striking voices of youngsters such as Tori Amos and Fiona Apple lose their strength to really move us. They sound flat in comparison. Musically speaking, Wilke’s brew of blues and country is rich with passion and fire; this is a woman who’s "been there, done that," and "isn’t going to take anymore crap." However, her frustrations are expressed in more subtle ways.
For years men have had a monopoly on the blues, forgetting that women have their bad days – and bad lives – too. On Somewhere on the Way, Wilke struggles with the kind of men many of us have dated in the past. Nearly every girl my age will be able to relate to "Comfort Me" and its indecisive man. Nevertheless, it’s not all Dear John letters here; there are moments of joy, such as on "My Good Good Man," which will probably be my theme song if the science fiction of finding Mr. Right does become a reality.
For more information on Lorraine Devon Wilke, visit her website at http://www.lorrainedevonwilke.com |
