Samantha Fish - Runaway

Just a few months ago, very few people outside Kansas City, Missouri knew there was a young, dynamic musician named Samantha Fish getting ready to take the world by storm. In fact, it's not all that long ago that the 22-year-old singer/guitarist first discovered the blues and started paying her dues on that city's local scene. With 'Runaway', her solo debut, she now breaks out big time, announcing herself as a newcomer to be reckoned with. The album's nine original songs and pair of covers incorporate all the sounds I grew up with, with my own spin, says Fish, who seems to have spent her formative years in the Midwest soaking up a vast array of musical styles. Runaway features sharp-edged, riff-driven blues Down in the Swamp, breakneck boogies Runaway, smoky, late-night jazz Feeling Alright as well as hints of the sultry 70s hard rock of Ann and Nancy Wilson and the 4/4 ruggedness of the Rolling Stones. Throughout, Fish demonstrates astonishing range and depth as a songwriter. Her vocals are cool, confident and nothing less than beguiling.