While You Can

Atlantic debut from the adorable Lucy Woodward, produced by John Shanks (Michelle Branch, The Corrs, Sheryl Crow). Sexy vocals with a delightfully melodic modern sound. 2003.

Lucy Woodward isn't just a blonde pop princess trying to jump onto the tale end of a dying medium. Oh no, this 26-year-old chanteuse has grit in her honeyed voice and scores to settle on her debut album. All 11 tracks were written or co-written by Woodward, who also had the foresight to brings in a bevy of studio ringers like Who bassist Pino Pallindo and Bob Dylan drummer Kenny Aronoff to give her fierce songs of love and willfulness the proper send-off. But Woodward ably holds her own in such elevated company: "Dumb Girls," is a self-deprecating, no holes barred look at about getting hoodwinked in the romantic wars. With lines like, "You bring out the blonde in me," you just know this man isn't ever getting a second chance. On "Trouble With Me," Woodward ponders why she's alone, while on "What's Good For Me" she knows, deciding to quit picking on herself and trust her own intuition. The daughter of an opera singer and a BBC musicologist, Woodward is bristling with talent and canny rhythmic timing, but stylistically she's still all over the map, veering between the ire of Missy Elliot and the sweet soulfulness of Sheryl Crow. Once she hones in on her own voice, she's going to be unstoppable. --Jaan Uhelszki