Jessi Alexander - Honeysuckle Sweet

Pros

• "Honeysuckle Sweet"
• "Canyon Prayer"
• "This World Is Crazy"

Cons

• Despite great songs, Jessi is having a hard time with radio airplay.

Description

• Every song is written or co-written by Jessi.
• Produced by Gary Nicholson, Jessi Alexander & Mark Wright.
• Released by Columbia Records.

Guide Review - Jessi Alexander - Honeysuckle Sweet

After a "false start" with MCA Records (she recorded a track on the Patsy Cline tribute for the label), Jessi Alexander is presenting her debut album "Honeysuckle Sweet." Written entirely by Jessi (with the help of some friends on a few tracks) the record comes off as a brilliant piece of artistry.

"Make Me Stay Or Make Me Go" finds Jessi confronting a lover while "This World Is Crazy discusses all the strange things that happen in the world (the song also features beautiful harmony vocals from co-writer Gary Louris of the Jayhawks). "I'd Run Right Back To You" is a confessional ballad that is as obvious as the title suggests while the nostalgic title track ("Honeysuckle Sweet") has the biggest potential of any song on the CD to become a hit from this record. Current single "Canyon Prayer" is a beautifully written song about the way nature can help influence one's life. The mandolin laced "Holdin' Back Your Love" (with boyfriend Jon Randall on harmony vocals) has all the ingredients that a hit requires while "Everywhere" recalls those great Tom Petty records.

While Jessi's had a bit of a hard time getting her songs on radio, she possesses a voice that's not unlike Kim Richey's (this is a good thing). Added to the superb songwriting skills and Jessi Alexander is an artist with a remarkable sense of self that is often missing in mainstream country music.