Cotton,Danielia - Small White Town (CD)

All Music Guide

Hopewell, NJ native Danielia Cotton called her first fulllength album Small White Town because the singer/songwriter grew up in a small town that was, in fact, largely white. But Cotton herself isn't white. She is an AfricanAmerican, and she is the type of black artist wholike Tracy Chapman, Living Colour, Joan Armadtrading, 247 Spyz, Lenny Kravitz or Sound Barrieris seldom, if ever, heard on black radio stations in the United States (either urban contemporary or classic soul). Cotton is very much a rocker; while there are RB and blues elements in her vocals, she is a rocker first and foremost. Much of Cotton's inspiration comes from classic rock; Bonnie Raitt, Tina Turner and Janis Joplin are major influences, as are the Rolling Stones. And on some of her harder material (most notably, "JC I Try" and "Devil in Disguise") a healthy appreciation of Led Zeppelin asserts itself. But for all her ‘60s and ‘70s influences, Cotton isn't oblivious to alternative rock. P.J. Harvey is also an in...fluence, and there are some Nirvanaisms on the grungy "Today." Small White Town won't go down in history as the most groundbreaking release of 2005, but in terms of craftsmanship and quality, this CD is a winner. Cotton (who wrote or cowrote almost all of the material) is the type of vocalist who sings lyrics like she really means themshe brings a great deal of conviction to her performancesand all of the songs on Small White Town are memorable. From the moody "Take My Heart" and the reflective "It's Only Life" to the aggressive "Devil in Disguise," there are no weak moments on this highly promising, if somewhat derivative, effort. - Alex Henderson, All Music Guide Read more Less