The Whole Shebang - Shedaisy (CD 1999)

When I first heard all the hoopla surrounding SheDaisy, I immediately thought to myself, Great. Here come all the wannabe sister acts riding the success wave of the Dixie Chicks. It took awhile for SheDaisy s first single Little Good-Byes to grow on me, but I must admit to now being completely converted. And they don t sound a bit like the Dixie Chicks.

The Whole SheBang, SheDaisy s debut album, is one of those CD s you can play the whole way through without skipping a single song. From the attitude and spunk of Grammy nominated Little Good-Byes and I Will But to the soulful plea for understanding in This Woman Needs, The Whole SheBang has a song to pacify every mood. You might say it's got, well, "the whole shebang."

Anyone who is happily in love (or ever has been, for that matter) will grin at the message in Before Me And You, my favorite track on the album (at least for the moment). This song is just happy, happy, happy. The idealistic lyrics mixed with the toe-tapping beat and echoing harmonies are enough to make even the most jaded listener crack a smile.

Perhaps you'd rather wallow? Anyone who has ever suffered a broken heart can relate to the painful hope of reconciliation in Still Holding Out For You. The gentle tinkling of the piano and the wrenching vocal styling will help you cry into your carton of Ben and Jerry's, if you so desire.

Need a good laugh? Listen to the lyrics of Lucky 4 You (Tonight I m Just Me), a song about someone who has "multiple personalities" about a recent breakup:
. . . Number five just cries a river a minute
Seven wants to tie you up and drown you in it
Fourteen just wants to say so long, bygones
Thirty-two wants to do things to you that'll make you blush
Ten will key the El Camino that you love so much
And there ain't nobody wants to mess with twenty-three . . .

Those feeling jilted (or slightly psychotic) should probably stay away from A Night To Remember since it will probably just fuel your fire. Please try not to drive your husband over the side of a cliff. That can be bad for your health. Stick to Lucky 4 You (Tonight I m Just Me) instead.

SheDaisy produced a real winner for their debut effort; this album is actually my favorite of all time in any genre. Even people who can't normally stomach country music will love this fresh new talent.