Piece by Piece by Katie Melua (CD, Jun-2006, Dramatico USA)

I first heard Katie Melua perform on the Graham Norton show on BBC America, and was immediately curious to hear more.

Piece by Piece is a lovely album. Katie Melua has a voice like the smoothest, silkiest dark chocolate: sweet, fluid, without being cloying.

The first two songs, Shy Boy and 9 Million Bicycles are catchy and easy to listen to over and over.

On Piece by Piece, she uses her voice like an elegant instrument.

Halfway up the Hindukush is so tuneful, my teenage daughter and I were singing the chorus together in line at Publix last night while we waited on our deli sandwiches. To find an album that we BOTH enjoy together is a special treat, since she typically leans towards something completely different. She tells me it's got drug references in it, but if it does, it's something akin to Puff the Magic dragon- great tune, regrettable content.

Blues in the Night....well, I am a drum corps fan from way back, and that's a classic, so no complaints there. Katie does a clear, crisp, pleasing job of it. She's created her own style with it.

The backup musicians are on Piece by Piece are excellent, and I would like to hear more of them. I understand it's a solo album, but's a waste of good horns not to use them, especially for an album that has such a jazzy flavor. The harmonica player was notably good.

Blue Shoes is relaxing to the point of, well, boring. But it's the only cut that strikes me that way.

Thank You, Stars is a nice tune, and for some reason, reminds me of Petula Clark, which makes me think, I would LOVE to hear Katie Melua sing the upbeat classic Downtown.

In fact, I would like her to record an album with more upbeat songs, less minor key, bluesy stuff. Not to throw down on this album, it's great, but I would sincerely like to hear her effortless voice in a wider range of genres.

There's a reason Katie Melua is the #1 selling artist in Europe. Piece by Piece is well on it's way to being on our "most played" list on both my daughter's and my Ipods. We will be buying all her other releases to add to our CD collection, as well as looking forward to her new releases.