Stacy Rock will inevitably draw comparisons to Tori Amos in that both are talented female songwriters for whom piano is the central instrument to their music. But Stacy Rock tends more towards a lighter, more pop sound than Amos, and has a vocal character which is, fortunately, nothing like most artists (Sarah McLachlan, Chantal Kreviazuk, etc) who also fit into the “woman playing piano” category. Her voice has hints of Feist, Stevie Nicks, and Emmylou Harris to it–which is to say, her voice is her own, and she doesn’t really sound like any of the popular female vocalists. The musical style has hints of Ben Folds, Paul McCartney, and Tin-Pan Alley to it.
In short, she writes really bouncy, jangly pop songs which have a way of getting stuck in your head for hours.
Lyrically, her music tends towards honest examinations of how life is in this world. “You Boys Lie”, the opening track, is about how men will lie to get what they want. “Anne” is about overcoming heartache. “Don’t Change” is a bit of a lament on how time changes people. The album as a whole has material which is rather darker than the sound of the music, leading to a bit of a comparison with Canadian folk group Nathan or Tom Waits, as well.
As a pianist, Rock is quite talented. She creates a rich texture for her sultry mezzo-soprano through the arrangements as well. The arrangements stay fairly simple–piano, bass, drums, and guitar, primarily, though not all in every track. It sounds like something you might hear in a piano bar or a good-quality night club. For the most part, she stays in the lower end of her vocal range during the album, but when she does sing in the upper end of her range, as in “The Human Court,” her voice takes on an ethereal tone. The effect is other-worldly, and quite haunting.
The album as a whole has a very organic groove to it, yet a finished sound to the production. Kudos to producer Duane Lundy. It sounds professional without sounding overproduced. For an independent album, it is easily one of the best produced I have heard in a long time. It reminds me of Sarah Jahn’s only album, but without the overtly
spiritual content. My hope is that Ms. Rock’s career continues to bloom and flourish. She is a musician with a unique voice and some very interesting stories to tell.