Carolyn Dawn Johnson - Room With a View
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Free Music Notes for Room With a View
Free Music Review: Strong Writer, Strong Voice, Great CD
Hit: 5 Stars
Having heard two of Carolyn Dawn Johnson's singles on the radio, I was intrigued with another 3-named singer songwriter (I'm an MCC fan from way back). I had a gift certificate to spend and was considering several possibilities, so I listened to their streamed clips from Amazon. I liked several, but I found that CDJ was strong and consistent across all tracks, so I bought it and was delighted. Her lyrics are well crafted and inventive. Consider the emotion of "I could keep pointin' fingers, I could stay mad as hell, just let my anger linger, but as far as I can tell, I've just got to let it go, if I want to move on" from I'll Think of You That Way. Kristyn Osborn of SHeDaisy gets a lot of (deservedly) good press for her writing abilities, but I think Johnson is better - *and* she co-wrote Punishment with Osborn, which I consider to be the best song on SHeDaisy's The Whole Shebang.In addition to her writing skills, CDJ's voice is dynamic and controlled - she nails the bridges and adds just enough vocal gymnastics to be interesting without being irritating. On her slower stuff (particularly Masterpiece) there is a definite hint of Martina McBride in her voice - not a bad thing. She does most of the harmonies, too. Paul Worley's production highlights her voice while filling in behind nicely, resulting in a full sound.
I prefer her up-tempo songs to the more introspective ballads. Her two slowest songs, Masterpiece and Room With A View, are exceptionally well written, but the music and orchestration makes them a bit too sweet for my taste. But those are minor nits - this is a consistent, enjoyable, and entertaining collection that has been accompanying me on my various trips recently and getting a lot of playing time. Definitely worth buying!
Free Music Review: The Best CD To Come Out Of Nashville In Years!
Hit: 5 Stars
"Room With A View" is a journey more than an album. Each song stands on it's own, but together they tell the story of a woman searching for love. For those of you who may not know who Carolyn Dawn Johnson is, she started her career as a songwriter, writing such hits as the #1 smash "Single White Female" for Chely Wright, and "Downtime" for JoDee Messina. On this, her debut release, Carolyn shows that she has the vocals to match the songwriting skills!This is such a refreshing CD that it shows me that there is more to Nashville than 3 minute cookie cutter songs. CDJ (as her fans call her) has been blessed with the ability to make a song mean something, and at the same time make it friendly for radio. This has been proven in her native Canada where she is nominated for an astonishing 10 CCMA awards for her first release!
I'd like to say there is a standout track here, but they all hit their marks, from the uptempo numbers like "Complicated", "Little Bit of This, Little Bit of That" and "Just Another Girl" to the touching ballads "Room With A View" and "Masterpiece".
If there is one CD you add to your collection this year, this is the one to get. And, if you get a chance to catch CDJ live, do so! I had the opportunity to see her play the Bluebird in Nashville, and it was a mesmerizing experience.
In an industry that has been plagued with a lot of average songs in the past few years, CDJ has an edge over the rest being that she is one of the best writers around right now. Add that to her singing ability and the way she interacts with fans and without a doubt in my mind, Carolyn Dawn Johnson has the goods to be country's next superstar.
-Darren O'Neill
Free Music Review: The Best CD To Come Out Of Nashville In Years!
Hit: 5 Stars
"Room With A View" is a journey more than an album. Each song stands on it's own, but together they tell the story of a woman searching for love. For those of you who may not know who Carolyn Dawn Johnson is, she started her career as a songwriter, writing such hits as the #1 smash "Single White Female" for Chely Wright, and "Downtime" for JoDee Messina. On this, her debut release, Carolyn shows that she has the vocals to match the songwriting skills!This is such a refreshing CD that it shows me that there is more to Nashville than 3 minute cookie cutter songs. CDJ (as her fans call her) has been blessed with the ability to make a song mean something, and at the same time make it friendly for radio. This has been proven in her native Canada where she is nominated for an astonishing 10 CCMA awards for her first release!
I'd like to say there is a standout track here, but they all hit their marks, from the uptempo numbers like "Complicated", "Little Bit of This, Little Bit of That" and "Just Another Girl" to the touching ballads "Room With A View" and "Masterpiece".
If there is one CD you add to your collection this year, this is the one to get. And, if you get a chance to catch CDJ live, do so! I had the opportunity to see her play the Bluebird in Nashville, and it was a mesmerizing experience.
In an industry that has been plagued with a lot of average songs in the past few years, CDJ has an edge over the rest being that she is one of the best writers around right now. Add that to her singing ability and the way she interacts with fans and without a doubt in my mind, Carolyn Dawn Johnson has the goods to be country's next superstar.
-Darren O'Neill
Free Music Review: A Nice "View"
Hit: 5 Stars
Carolyn Dawn Johnson's debut album is one of the more exciting albums to come from a newcomer in recent years. She is no stranger to Nashville though, writing hit songs for Mindy McCready, Martina McBride, Chely Wright, to name a few. ROOM WITH A VIEW is an excellent CD filled with great music from start to finish.The first single Georgia is one of those songs that sweeps over you like a cool rain. Johnson conveys enough emotion without taking away from the songs simplistic nature. The impressive thing is Johnson wrote all 13 songs here (note: I have the Canadian version with two extra tracks). The two extra tracks are Tumble and Roll and Not Enough To Stay.
Complicated weighs the pros and cons of taking a friendship to another level by becoming lovers, and the frustration it can bring along. I Don't Want You To Go (which along with Tumble and Roll, appears on the UK import of Mindy McCready's I'm Not So Tough, TAR is on the US version too though) is a really fun upbeat song about enjoying being in someone else's arms and spending time with them. Songs like One Day Closer To You and Love Is Always Worth The Ache weigh in on the positive side of being single, while remaining hopeful at the very same time for finding true love in time. Masterpiece is a beautiful song with beautiful lyrics about love as a masterpiece. And Room With A View is remembering someone's death, and their spirit.
Overall this is an excellent country debut album, one of many reasons why Carolyn is one of the hottest stars in country these days, her music is very personal and appeals to people, through songs we can all relate to. Very accessible album and I would highly reccomend it.
Free Music Review: Debut album shines
Hit: 5 Stars
Carolyn Dawn Johnson is now a household name in Canada, where she has picked up various industry awards, and had many hit singles from this album. The songs are personal and ring true for many people like me. Previously she wrote a hit song for Chely Wright, her breakthorough 1999 hit "Single White Female". The album's first single was "Georgia", a nice ballad with strong vocals and a memorable hook. "Complicated" was one of the biggest hits from the album, a song that explained the complication of love and relationships so well. "I Don't Want You To Go" was also a considerably big hit, with its catchy chorus and immediately recognizable hook. "You Are" was a single in Canada, the song I did not care for at first but its a nice pleasant ballad. "One Day Closer To You" was also a single, a nice uptempo song about being one day closer to finding love and that special person. There's some really beautiful songs here, like the title track which is sad, dedicated to her brother who passed on. "Masterpiece" is a song about a family that Carolyn knew who faced adversity and conquered love. There's some other reflective songs about relationships like "Love Is Always Worth The Ache" and "Just Another Girl". Overall a very strong debut, I can't wait for her second album!