Review - Vicci Martinez - Come Along

To be perfectly honest, I went into this album kind of in the wrong way. First of all, I barely knew who Vicci Martinez was. I knew she was on one of the singing reality tv shows, but that she didn’t win. I knew she had been around for a little bit before that, but I knew nothing of that. I had heard that she was releasing her single, but hadn’t heard it, nor could I tell you what it was called.

Vicci Martinez came in third on this past season (the second) of The Voice. I haven’t heard the two that beat her (I should really stop writing things about all these people and assuming things about them when I actually know nothing), but I am just going to go ahead and say that she probably should have won. Vicci has everything, and I mean everything. She is beautiful and stylish without trying too hard. She has a fantastic and versatile voice that is completely her own. She has songwriting and production talent, but seems to do equally well (if not better) when paired with industry pros. Vicci Martinez has all the makings of a star, or if Hollywood doesn’t like her, than that of a musician with a promising career ahead of her.

Her EP ‘Come Along’ is far from her first. She put out her debut album in 2003, and since then has (in one format or another) released about eight other albums. She once tried out for American Idol and made it through, but declined the offer to go on any further because the contracts that they make you sign for shows like that are unbelievably restrictive. She was doing alright on her own, and it was clear that there was something else in the future.

‘Come Along’ is her big major label debut though. Out on Universal, the 4-song EP features her single with Cee-Lo Green which bears the same name as the album. The song is radio-ready but still very unique – as is the entire collection of songs. All of them are well-written, perfectly-sung, and unapologetically pop. Vicci is now one of many artists who are showing the world that ‘pop’ is no longer a term that needs to carry with it thoughts of producers and songwriters doing everything for a pretty face and body just to sell music. Vicci’s art is everything that music should be, and it gives pop a good name.

‘Come Along’ shows that she can work with others and take their input and advice (if Cee-Lo was on it, you better believe he was a big part of making this song). “Run Run Run” is a bit of an 80’s throwback, but not obnoxiously so. Martinez just seems to know how to make a good album track (a lost art), and she isn’t afraid to let you know her influences and where she came from. “I Can Love” puts her almost unexpectedly powerful vocals on display and proves she can rock a powerpop single and puts her in line with Pink and Kelly Clarkson. “Hold Me Darlin’” slows things down a bit, but it doesn’t wreck the pace of the album (another lost art). The song also has Vicci bringing soul into a voice that has otherwise been singing us pop tunes so far. I told you, versatile.

The EP is already on my list of favorite albums of the year, and I may have to put some of the songs there too. Not that I’m the hottest shit or anything, but that may say something about the quality of the pop on here. I have heard that this is just a sampler, and that the full album (which may or may not include some or all of these songs) will be out later this year. I’m going to bet it will be equally as great.

Listen to: Every song. It’s only four songs long.