Lanae’ Hale - Back & Forth

Producer:  Allen Salmon
Record Label:  Centricity Records
Website:  http://www.lanaehale.com

Centricity Music isn’t your grandpa’s kind of record label.  The indie label, which is also home to acts like Downhere, Andrew Peterson, Jason Gray, and Daniel Kirkley, is less about album sales and commercial success and more about artist development and education.  Because of that, most of their artists seem to be at the top of their game.  The label introduced the Christian music public to Lanae’ Hale last year with The Lanae’ Hale EP.  That snippet of an album had people talking, and now the company is ready to release Lanae’s debut solo record, Back & Forth.  The first thing that draws the listener in with Hale is her striking voice.  Hale’s vocals come off as a combination of Plumb, Leigh Nash (Sixpence None the Richer), or Sarah MacIntosh (Chasing Furies) - and she’s got the chops that could compete with any of these ladies.  Musically, Hale also recalls those ladies with hints of Nichole Nordeman or Ginny Owens.  “Back & Forth” is a catchy pop number that could do exceptionally well at radio - and “Beautiful Things” and “Here’s My Heart” continue down that same path.  Hale’s acoustic side is probably where she shines brightest - particularly on cuts like “Burning Heartbeats,” “Don’t Cry,” and album highlight “Let’s Grow Old Together.”  “Here’s to the Girls” is a power-anthem for girls that sounds not unlike what we’d hear from Superchick or BarlowGirl - and Hale does a fantastic job on the song.  Lyrically is where Back & Forth really shines as Lanae’ writes the kind of songs that you’d expect to hear from Nordeman or Owens - asking the right questions but providing the hope that asking those kinds of questions can bring.  “If I’m Broken,” “Don’t Cry,” and “Headed Home” are three lyrical highlights.  Overall, Centricity has done it again by releasing another fine debut record from the label.  Hale is a singer’s singer and a songwriter’s songwriter making Back & Forth one of the best debut records we’ve heard this year.