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Reneé McCrary - Wide Awake (2001 MamaLike Records)

Southern Louisiana native Reneé McCrary captures her audience immediately with her full, natural voice and intimate subject matter. Her debut album, Wide Awake, was years in the making and details a challenging period in her life. The passion and experience comes through in her voice and lyrics like, "If I could just hold you for one moment, then I would feel as if I held the world. But you're always one step ahead" in "Sunday Song," written with husband Tim.
The first song, "Got to Be," is honest rock and roll in the vein of Alison Pipitone or Michelle Malone. The second track, "Song for Gina," begins with a Latin lullaby on the acoustic and proceeds as a pretty but mournful dirge.
Title track "Wide Awake" borders on country, while "Don't Hold it Inside" shows her jazzy side. "Pretty All the Time" finally suggests a bit of Cajun influence with its reggae beat and tongue-in-cheek content. She closes the album with "Wash Over Me," a gospel song where she opens up and lets her voice wail and slide kd lang-style.
The depth and quality of these recordings suggests an untapped talent. Do not be surprised to see more of Reneé in the near future. For more information please see www.reneemccrary.com