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The Alice Project - Traveling with Lady Berlin - (2000 Clown Milk Records)

http://www.thealiceproject.com
By Ellen Rawson

The Alice Project seems just a little deceptive. The album cover makes it look like it's a rock CD, but the opening track rings of light and airy girl groups or pop divas wearing tight-fitting clothes while dancing along with the music. The lyrics don't help much; they seem to be weighty at first ("We're on our way/But our destination's somewhere within/So our bags can stay/Cause we're traveling with Lady Berlin"), but the closing line, "Who the hell is Lady Berlin," negates the previous "deep meaning." On one hand, it's fun. On the other hand, what is Alice Leon
trying to say?

Alice Leon, from Princeton, leads a foursome of performers who started out playing numerous gigs throughout New Jersey. What saves her from being yet another wannabe is the fact that her clear voice is engaging; it hooks the listener despite the curious lyrics on the CD's opener and title track. As the CD progresses, the songs start to demonstrate more of what the group can do; they start to break away from a pop sound that is fun yet humdrum. The earlier songs aren't bad, but there's a déjà vu feeling to "Uncle" and "I Don't Want to be Alone," for example. They both have lyrics about serious subjects, but the light melodies and musical arrangements almost negate them.They are fun songs with great beats to dance to, but they just don't seem all that new.

"8-10 Parliament Street" is the breakaway song. It has a catchy melody, but Leon takes more risks with this composition. There's a bit of a Carole King feel to "I'm Not Afraid to Live." However, it's the closing track, "She Always Notices the Sky," inspired by John Irving's novel A Prayer for Owen Meany in which Leon lets loose and clearly makes her mark.

Traveling with Lady Berlin is a good effort. Leon has a compelling voice, and the musicians, including Leon on acoustic guitar and piano, know what they're doing. However, it would be great to see her take even more risks on subsequent recordings.