Bottom Line:Katie Armiger's self-titled debut album, produced by Mark Oliverius, contains eleven tracks and includes the singles "17 In Abilene" and "Make Me Believe." Whatever you do, don't let Katie's age fool you - she could stand alongside anyone and blow them away with her voice.
Never in a million years would I believe this album was made by a sixteen-year-old. I'm amazed by the emotional depth and maturity Katie Armiger is able to convey in her music, not only in her vocal performance but her songwriting as well. What I like is the fact she's not afraid to tackle heavier topics or ones that make listeners think more than usual when it comes to subject matter. I'll definitely be listening to this album for quite some time.
"Make Me Believe" is the second single from the album and has a dramatic video (directed by Kristin Barlowe) to go along with the equally dramatic lyrics. It's quite the departure from the fun sound and look of the first single, "17 In Abilene," but it works. Having this as the album's opener is perfect because right off the bat you know you are in for some fine music and this girl isn't kidding around.
A woman's breath was taken away when she received a wedding invitation in the mail from a man who thought of their previous relationship as "friends forever." Now that the invitation has arrived, she finds herself thinking about how the truth inside her was locked away and she really yearns for love whenever she looks into his eyes. Now what needs to be done is to "let go of a love that never was."
Katie's very first single was
"17 In Abilene" and I wish it would have done better for her because I really like it. It's young and has an adventurous spirit that people like to experience while listening to a song. It tells the story of a young woman who dreams of taking a road trip down to the Gulf of Mexico with her boyfriend, making her Mom crazy with worry.
"We jump in my Daddy's beat-up truck, drive all night and don't look back" is how the song starts off. She knows there's more to the world than her little town, so why not share the fun with the love of her life. Though she is certain they'll have enough money to get there, her plan is to not have enough to ever make it back home.
"Insanity" is about the need to break free from tight reigns and strike out on your own to learn from the different decisions you make. It can be interpreted in two different ways it as a daughter telling her parents she knows they will always be there for her, yet they need to let go. Yet it could also take on more of a relationship aspect, where a woman feels like she is being held down by the man in her life and she needs to break free for a while as long as she knows he will be there when all the craziness is over and done.
The first song on the album that wasn't co-written by Katie is
"Still." Tiffany Goss, Jennifer Kimball, and Mary beth Maziarz penned the song telling the first-hand story about a girl who wants to
"take the time to go deep into the moment" and let herself find exactly what it is that she's searching and hoping for. Katie does a wonderful job on this song and it really stands out out on the album. Another song that stands out and showcases Katie's vocals is
"Love Of A Lifetime," a pretty song written by Bill Leverty and C.J. Snare. It must be a difficult task writing a new song about finding true love without it sounding like every other composition, but they've managed to do it. My favorite lines are:
"With you I never wonder - will you be there for me. With you I never wonder - you're the right one for me." This album starts and ends on a strong note and the momentum lasts throughout each of the eleven tracks, which is all you could ever ask for.
Release date: August 21, 2007 - Cold River Records
Song List:
- Make Me Believe
- Let Him Go
- 17 In Abilene
- Hard Road
- Just Can't Say Goodbye
- Insanity
- Now You Do
- Still
- Love Without Fear
- Beautiful In Me
- Love Of A Lifetime
