Holly Palmer - Holly Palmer (1996)

Holly Palmer's eponymous debut album falls halfway between the introspective, meandering folk-jazz of late '70s singer/songwriters and the soulful, steady pulse of early '70s soul. Palmer's ambitions are grand and, at times, she fulfills her ambitions by seamlessly blurring the borders between arty songwriting and soulful deliver. At her worst, her pretentions just come across as intolerably precious. Still, there's enough highlights on Holly Palmer to suggest that she may develop into a insightful and valuable songwriter with a distinctive voice. She's just not quite there yet. by Thom Owens


1. Five Little Birds
2. Scandinavian Ladies
3. Different Languages
4. Come Lie With Me
5. Lickerish Man
6. Wide Open Spaces
7. Sal The Gardener
8. The Three Of Us
9. Fourteen Year Old Moment
10. Oxblood 2x4s
11. Safety Belt