Muse's Muse
Melissa Gibson - Singer/Songwriter
Album Title - Lighthouse Point
Genre: Folk-Country Rock
Record Label-Java Joe Records
By: Ben Ohmart (Assistant Editor)
When the opening 'Ocean View' breaks its waves, it's easy to hear that Melissa
did indeed grow up listening to John Denver. It's in the way she holds a note.
But she's also quick to point out her greatest influence - Mary Chapin
Carpenter (with a little Joni Mitchell thrown in there). But it is with the 2nd
'City Lights' tune that MG finally shows her country colors. Not just the story
song elements, but the way the guitars inflect, and the tenderness she puts
into the nuances that might not come out on the 1st listen, but on the 2nd and
3rd listens? Oh yes. 'She drove aimlessly out of the city To find the person
she once knew Then she found she wound upon a Small town avenue Where nobody
wants a piece of her Slipping anonymously into the night No judging eyes that
scorn No one to catch her off guard She holds on tight.'
I've no idea what song she's pushing as the single, but my vote - without
question - goes to 'Just Breathe.' At first I thought she was covering a famous
song by Faith Hill or something, but no, this is all MG. And beautiful it is. A
lovely acoustic world with, really, the standout melody. Honest and natural,
and worth buying the whole disc for. 'Just breathe Although the world feels
colder Just breathe Feel the weight off your shoulders You make me whole And I
won't let you go Hold on to me And just breathe You spent your whole life
Mending fences Stone by stone You built the wall You kept a keen eye On all of
your defenses Chart your course So you'll never fall.'
Melissa has that zest and charm of 70s heroines like Carole King and Helen
Reddy, never losing site of her folk roots that challenge the singer-songwriter
to go naked to the audience and not lie when the lyrics start passing from
brain to strumming fingers. Add a fine, serious voice to that thoughtfulness
and up comes a winner.