Stephanie Smith - Not Afraid

Producer:  Jamie Moore & Chris Stevens
Record Label:  Gotee Records
Website:  http://www.stephanieisagirl.com

Due to Gotee Records’ recent foray into adulthood (the popular label become fully independent of EMI earlier this year), many of the label’s upcoming titles got pushed back to indefinite release dates.  One of those casualties was Stephanie Smith’s debut album, Not Afraid.  However, due to a healthy response from fans, the label is releasing Smith’s national release through digital outlets with a release to stores at a later date.  With the signing of Smith, Gotee is now re-entering the area of chick-rock (anyone remember Gotee’s original chick-rocker - Jennifer Knapp?).  Smith offers up a healthy does of pop with a strong rock bent on Not Afraid.  This debut is a rollicking effort to an ever-increasingly crowded arena - however there’s not a lot here to really set Smith apart from the likes of acts like Superchick, BarlowGirl, Fireflight, Addison Road, Kelly Clarkson, or others.  Smith has shades of all those artists in her music, as well as moments of pop pureness like what you would hear from Britt Nicole or Krystal Meyers.  Smith rocks with the best of them - specifically tracks like “Superstar”, “Not Afraid”, and “Renew Me”.  However, Smith really loses her steam on the more soft moments - such as “You Alone” and “What If I Made a Mistake” (where it feels like Smith is trying to channel Natalie Grant).  Lyrically, Smith touches on typical topics for a female rocker - such as self-esteem ("Beauty", “Superstar"), familial relations ("First Words"), relationships and love ("Over It"), and well as spiritual moments ("Renew Me”, “What If I Made a Mistake”, “You Alone").  Overall, Stephanie Smith’s Not Afraid is a strong enough debut, but it really lacks any kind of element that may separate Smith from the pack.  She does what she does well enough, but is it good enough?  Perhaps time will tell.

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