Published on Dec 1, 2001
I’m not 100 percent sure what to make of Alyssa Cooper’s style
of music. On one hand, the five songs that make up her debut EP
Alyssa occasionally suggest that the influx of world music
beats into popular music is more far-reaching than I had imagined
to this point, and that Cooper sometimes knows exactly what to do
with the rhythms. On the other hand, I found myself wishing that
she would pick a musical style and stay with it for more than one
or two songs.
Alyssa, admittedly, is not the kind of CD you’re going to
grasp on the first listen, even if you find something about it that
you like. Even after repeat listens, chances are you still might be
confused at times over just what Cooper is aiming for with this
eclectic (and admittedly too brief) collection. But there’s enough
in the 22 minutes this CD takes up to suggest that Cooper does
indeed have what it takes to make a major noise out there.
This is not the impression I got after hearing the disc’s
opening tune, “No White Dove”. With a chorus that needlessly
repeats through a good portion of the song, and a combination of
underdeveloped lyrics and a melody you can’t get hooked into, I
admit my hopes in this disc began to fade quickly.
Ah, but this is where Cooper’s talent does show through.
“Endless Search” is a track that shows Cooper can mix the African
and Indian rhythms and drums with pop sensibility. The harmony
vocals that Cooper layers on this particular track also help to
make the overall sale – and one does have to admit that Cooper has
a beautiful singing voice.
This leads me to the ultimate question: Why doesn’t Cooper
utilize that talent more often on
Alyssa? Both “Fade From Me” and “Getcha Groove On” feature
Cooper more often rapping the lyrics than singing them. Maybe it’s
that Cooper wants to prove she can handle all sorts of genres and
styles – but she still needs to learn that once you find something
you excel at, stick with it.
Alyssa is the kind of disc that challenges the listener –
sometimes, in fact, pushing the challenge a little too far. After
much careful thought and cotemplation of this disc’s music, I know
I have no problem with Cooper working in the African and Indian
influences into her music. But “Beats” is a track which almost asks
a little too much leniency from the listener, especially one whose
whole experience of world music might be snippets they hear on a
television show, or a latter-day Beatles album. Even for someone
like me, who’s had more experience to different musical styles,
“Beats” tries to bite off more than it can chew. Cooper gets
applause for trying to break pop music out of its never-ending
stagnancy, but this particular track almost comes off as too heady
in the rhythm alone. (The song itself could have used a tune-up or
two in the lyrical and structural departments.)
If you take the time and give
Alyssa a closer listen, you’ll hear the potential Cooper has
of being a talent in the near future. Cooper even admits that these
particular recordings are early selections from her career. One has
to hope that Cooper recognized her mistakes early on and has worked
to remedy them. As it stands,
Alyssa is a very challenging listen that has its flaws, but
does hold out some hope for Cooper’s future.
For more information or to order this CD, please
visit Alyssa’s
Web
site.