This article was originally published on beingtheremag.com, an independent music and film magazine that ran from 2004 to 2007. It is presented here as part of the Being There Magazine archive.
By Adam Anklewicz | Being There Magazine, November/December 2006
Artist: Melissa McLelland | Label: The Orange Record Label/Universal Music Canada
When I received this CD, I didn’t expect to like it. I had previously seen Melissa McClelland performing solo and was rather unimpressed. Her songs were boring and her performance did nothing to enhance them. After listening to her album however, I quickly changed my mind on this artist. McClelland has a great soulful energy to her songs. They have a lot of subtleties that one has to rely on multiple listens to get the full experience of Thumbelina’s One Night Stand.
McClelland and her band fill Thumbelina’s One Night Stand with thirteen good songs that are performed very well. Able to easily jump from pop-rock to country with hints of blues and soul thrown in for good measure, McClelland proves herself as a songwriter. Showing off her country ability, she sings, “I don’t love anyone but you, this is the only lie, it’s true” in the twang-filled “The Taxi Ride.” Here she is backed by a honky tonk piano and pedal steel to punctuate the song.
The band is also able to take the listener to a southern blues bar with the soulful “ Go Down Matthew.” Accentuated by producer Luke Doucet’s guitar playing, “Go Down Matthew” displays both of their talents along with Sarah McLachlan who provides backup vocals. McLachlan’s and McClelland’s voices fit perfectly together as if they were meant to sing together, and Doucet proves that guitar playing is what he does best.
McClelland’s voice conjures images of Neko Case, Kathleen Edwards and Sheryl Crow, and in songs like “Solitary Life” is sombre and sweet. “A Price To Pay” follows and is the song that really stands out on this album. An extremely strong song, “A Price To Pay” is extremely catchy and wonderfully highlights McClelland’s ability to write a good melody.
Running in at nearly 70 minutes, Thumbelina’s One Night Stand is an album filled with 16 tracks usually coming in at over five minutes. These aren’t radio friendly pop songs, but for a fan of modern pop-country, this album is a treasure.