Goodbye Yesterday

Amber Rhodes

Stray Dog Music

4 stars (out of 5)

Amber Rhodes music may not be traditional country, but that's OK, she'll tell you that herself. Her debut CD, Goodbye Yesterday, mixes pop, rock, and country to create a sound that is not only unique to Amber, but also darn good. Her strong vocal ability is enhanced and showcased by the music and lyrics she has written and co-written.

From fiery, up-tempo kiss-off songs, to tender, love-infused ballads, this CD has something for everyone. The first two songs on the CD set the pace. Both songs address the issue of ending a relationship, but each one from a different point of view. "Burn," a rock-infused song has a catchy beat to it telling the tale of a woman turning out her arrogant boyfriend. In "So Long, Goodbye," the woman is the one getting the brush off. She's hurt at first, but then she decides she's better off without her man and tells him she doesn't care and she'll be just fine without him.

Although all of the songs on this CD are produced and performed well, when Amber does a ballad, it's time to stop what you're doing and listen. Amber pours her heart and soul into her ballads and when she sings, you can feel that emotion. "Your Heart or Mine" delves into the heart-wrenching problem of having to end a relationship. It's no longer right, but you don't want to hurt the person who is still in love with you. "Return Again," is a bittersweet story of a remembered youthful romance. There was so much good in it, but there were problems and it didn't end well. Although she doesn't want to get into "what might have beens," there are still times when she wishes he would return again. A beautiful tribute to a mother's love for her child, the mostly acoustic "Goodnight Lullaby" is a song that any mother could identify with.

Although you can hear touches of country instruments throughout the CD, "Can't Go Back" is easily the most country-sounding track. This is a strong song about a woman finding the strength to walk away from a bad relationship. The man in her life has been her biggest pleasure, but he's also brought her misery and she knows she can't go back to him.

In all, Amber Rhodes has put together a wonderful debut CD. I can't say there's a bad track on the album, which is a strong statement considering I don't always care for pop-oriented material. I definitely recommend this album. Amber has great skills as a songwriter as well as a vocalist and, if you love music, whatever it's genre, you'll love this CD.