When the One2One Network asked if I would like to review a copy of Diane Birch’s debut album, “Bible Belt”, I was happy to take them up on the offer. Not only do I love hearing new music, but I was intrigued by her biography:
Official Bio:
“For singer-songwriter Diane Birch, music was a refuge. Although Diane was born in Michigan, her childhood was spent on the move as the daughter of a preacher, living between Zimbabwe, South Africa and Australia, before her parents finally settled in Portland, Oregon. When she was in her early teens, Diane absorbed a unique and cosmopolitan perspective on life that shines through her music and makes a simple categorization of it impossible.
The result? Diane Birch sounds like an old favorite, with all the sparkle and magic of a breakthrough talent. People says she sounds like a combination of early Carole King, Linda Ronstadt and Stevie Nicks, with a little Joss Stone and Cat Power mixed in. Bible Belt is only her first record, but it’s one of the most accomplished albums you’ll hear all year. From the opening track “Fire Escape†to the closing “Magic View,†Diane’s stunning voice is mesmerizing.
Written entirely by Diane, Bible Belt was recorded in New York City and New Orleans with an impressive team of Grammy-winning producers: S-Curve Records founder Steve Greenberg, soul legend Betty Wright and Mike Mangini, in their first project together since producing Joss Stone’s first albums.”
Early Carole King? I knew I had to have a listen. And “Bible Belt” makes good on its promises – Birch’s voice is rich and soulful, a perfect counterpart to the warm, nostalgic sonics. The record truly has a retro flavor to it, with its classic arrangements and timeless feel. My favorite track on here is “Don’t Wait Up”, a fun, upbeat song that I put on constant loop after hearing. Other standout cuts include the lush “Fire Escape”, the highly catchy “Fools”, and the delightfuly cheeky “Choo Choo”. If you’d like to check out Birch’s music for yourself, you can download an MP3 of “Fire Escape” by clicking here. You can also hear more tunes on her official MySpace page.
So what’s better than discovering new music? Discovering new music and helping others in the process. “Bible Belt” is currently involved in a project called “Discover and Donate”. For every sale of the album made through “Discover and Donate” widgets, $1 will be donated to one of six charities. My widget is below – I chose to support “Keep a Child Alive”, who provide life-saving medication, support, and orphan care to AIDS victims in Africa. You can click below to go directly to the iTunes and Amazon pages for “Bible Belt”, and you can also click “Share” to learn more & grab the banner code for your own website.
