Reviewed by Karl Allison

These days, the American CCM scene seems to discover so many talented ladies that you've got to be pretty special to stand out from the crowd. And when I heard the first couple of tracks from Karthi, I doubted her ability to do just that. It sounded like just one more female vocalist backed by the kitchen sink production style (check Lisa Beville, Cindy Morgan, etc). There was so much going on that it became quite exhausting to listen to. But soon the album settles down into its more mellow dance grooves and gentle ballads and the lady's individualism comes through. Indeed, the album is at it's peak when songs like the title track and "Good Times" allow her to express herself across a more simple arrangement. Sadly, these are the exceptions and the lack of decent material leaves you more interested in Karthi herself than in the music she's made. An interlude entitled "What Is She?" has a group of voices asking, "What kind of a name is Karthi? Where is she from?" Various opinions are given, including Puerto Rico and Indonesia, but it's left a mystery as the group decides, "What difference does it make?" Karthi may well have a significant contribution to make, but her second album will need to be a good deal stronger than her first.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.