But so many people are looking to me
To be strong and to fight.
But I’m just surviving.
I may be weak but I’m never defeated
And I’ll keep believing
In clouds with that sweet silver lining.
- Sweet Silver Lining

As I am totally disappointed with Mandy Moore’s Amanda Leigh, I turned to one of my anticipated albums – Kate Voegele’s A Fine Mess (Interscope Records), released May 19th. In contrary to the obscurity of the melodies in the first album I mentioned, Kate’s truly a very, very fine one and very enjoyable to listen to. The nine tracks (it should have been made to 12 or 13) sound very pleasing and are infectious. The title of the album is so apt since each of the tracks contained therein are unique in terms of sound thereby creating a “fine mess”. I totally enjoyed listening to her sophomore album, with matching wiggling of my head.

The lyrics are simple yet witty and some might pass up as cheesy. But if they are taken together with the beautiful and toe-thumping melodies, the songs just glow on you and there’s no way you will not love it or like it at the least. Kate’s voice came in strong in Inside Out and 99 Times where she sounded like a subdued Kelly Clarkson but with the quirkiness of Michelle Branch. The most beautiful pop-rock ballad in this album is Sweet Silver Lining which is about strength and faith in times of adversity and I have quoted the best lines (for me) above. But I was not quite right since there’s an equally beautiful acoustic ballad included as a bonus track to the deluxe edition – Unfair. Manhattan From The Sky is quite witty and very pop.

The talented 22-year old Kate Voegele has once again impressed me after her Don’t Look Away debut album. She also appears in the TV series One Tree Hill as an aspiring singer.

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