Looking for news about Vanessa I came across the review below. Unlike the reviewer I quite like the album, especially the second half.
Anna Nalick, "Wreck of the Day" (Columbia) *** - Anna Nalick is one of the artists born and bred to record songs for television soundtracks such as "One Tree Hill," a feat this 20-year-old already has accomplished.
Her sound has a pop sensibility and should help her fit in comfortably with the rest of the female, generic heart-on-their-sleeves artists such as Vanessa Carlton and Avril Lavigne. Nalick's songs are confessional and from the heart, but what the heck is she trying to say? It's tough to decipher because generality tends to get in the way.
Nalick has a good voice for pop music, and in the future, she might be an artist worth following. But while she's working on her lyrical content, which only needs an intensity adjustment, her dull musical compositions could use a complete overhaul.
First single "Breathe (2 AM)" is a don't-give-up-girl cut that achieves its goal, even if the lyrics are a little obvious and the chorus a letdown. But that didn't stop the folks at "One Tree Hill" and the new film "A Lot Like Love" from grabbing it for soundtrack material.
"Citadel" finds Nalick seeking a place to fit in, and she finds solace that love one day will find her "In the Rough."
Nalick's debut isn't bad, and I wouldn't be surprised if "Breathe" becomes a hit - but she needs more seasoning before she realizes her potential.
RIYL: Vanessa Carlton, Alanis Morissette, Avril Lavigne (BK)
