All She Wrote
August 30, 2005
Independent release
Distracted
Distracted starts off with a powerful rock intro and then when Samantha Latino’s vocals kick in the song gets going. It’s a good opener. The drums are very powerful and the guitar riffs are very tight. The vocals are very good on this track. They bring another dimension to the lyrics. When Samantha sings: “I don’t want to be left behind/Why’d you hurt me nothing is free” it’s like she’s really talking to you. Also the first verse: “Oh long ago, an far away/I fell in love with you, it was to stay/And now here we are, we got nothing to say/Well we’ve come so far an travelled long/to throw it all away” feels really personal. All She wrote found a way to bring this track to a higher level. Energetic, powerful and personal are the keywords.
Decline
The 2nd track of this album sounds fabulous from the start. Samantha’s astonishing vocals merge with Tony Esparza’s guitar and Paul Wright’s steady bass. The excellent drums by A.J. Condosta make this masterpiece complete. One of the best songs on the record this is a genuine rock n’ roll song that you can rock out to perfectly. It could be a song to spice up things during a live set but it also is a potential single. With lyrics like: “I can’t breath cause you’re down on your knees/and my heart can’t take the beating you are giving” or “Well we have to choose/Will we win or lose/Cause I can’t be yours for eternity/I oh I’m sorry, I’m sorry/…Well I’m sorry” almost anyone can relate to this song.
Rescue Me
Rescue Me is a decent song but not the best one on this album. The best thing in this song probably is the guitar. Even though sometimes it gets a little repetitive it builds up to a climax and than breaks down to build up to the next one. The drums/bass are tight too but nothing too special. Samantha’s vocals are very clear but don’t excel in this song. They lyrics on the other hand are phenomenal. This song is really poetic and that really gives this song more credit. For example: “Sitting alone in my room I am contemplating/Things that I should not, but I’m hesitating/Why should I live, what good am I/Who’s gonna miss me when I die/I can’t take it anymore” give this song a dark/heavy atmosphere and meaning. You’ll have to swallow once or twice when you read stuff like that. It’s a sad song and it is a song that can definitely grow on you. The first time I heard it I wasn’t convinced by it but every time I listen to it, it gets better, so.
Believe
Probably one of my favourite songs on the album. It takes a bit to get going but Believe is a very intelligent song. With lyrics like “Toss it to the wind/And take it through the fire/Believe/Throw it all away/And start over again” it’s easy to connect to Believe. Samantha’s superb vocals really add to this song as do the guitar effects (especially in the 2nd half of the song). Also the bass and drums are excellent. The energy and emotion in this song are amazing. I won’t say too much about it, just listen to it.
Surely
This, I think, is my absolute favourite on the album. The bass excels on this track as does Samantha as a vocalist. The soothing guitar gives a bit of a driving yet laid-back sound to it. You can literally feel the emotion in this song. When Samantha sings “I made you see me cry, cause I wanted you to feel my pain/When the sun doesn’t shine my way/Sympathy for me will be the remedy/I’ll change you see/Make me a promise that you’ll stay…along the way” you just want to lay your arm around her shoulder and tell her it’s gonna be alright. This is definitely single material. One of those songs you find once in awhile that hit you the first time you hear them and that you will never let go of. Top class.
Wrong
Wrong begins with an interesting intro and I think the drums are really good on this track. The guitar also is above average. I don’t think the vocals are as good as some of the other tracks on the album. It feels like Samantha is pushing too hard a few times. The bass is steady but nothing really special. Personally I’d say this is the weakest track on the album. The lyrics aren’t as poetical as most of the other songs either. I’m not saying this is a bad song but if all songs were like this I wouldn’t have bought the album.
Grass
One of the better tracks on the album. Exceptional vocals and excellent work from Paul Wright on the bass. Those two elements are the major forces in this song. Personally I think this would be an excellent opener for a live set. Especially with the refreshing guitar effects and the mysterious mood this song sets. And with lyrics such as: “They say/The grass is always greener/On the other side/But I’m just fine/Right here where it has died” you feel that once again a controversial topic is taken to the spotlight.
Liar
Liar would be a perfect first single off of this album. Energy-driven guitar riffs, powerful drums and excellent bass work combined with amazing vocal work by Samantha Latino this is a song that has potential to get big in the alternative circuit. It’s refreshing, alternative, full of variety and original. Everything a band needs to find in a single. Not one of my personal favourites but I can’t deny this song has potential.
A to the D
First of all, I absolutely love the intro of this song. It’s magical. And then when the vocals kick in I immediately fell for this song. There’s something about it that I can’t go around. It’s awesome. The drums are out of this world and the guitar & bass fit in nicely. Some synth & keys in it makes the song complete. The full, sometimes even bombastic, sound give this song a different atmosphere. And it fits the song perfectly. To stay faithful to this song: “We must agree to disagree.”
Life Preserver
Interesting use of sound effects and well-produced. Life Preserver isn’t the best song on the album but it has a lot of interesting choices in it. It also is the longest track on the album. A good choice as last track. At least that’s what you think. The guitar in this song is excellent and so are the vocals. The bass and drums keep a good rhythm and this song is a good musical composition. It misses some of the ‘specialness’ some of the other songs on the album have but it definitely fits right in. With amazing lyrics like “I’m drowning in you/I’m sinking fast/Please don’t throw the life preserver in/I don’t want to be saved/When you’re washing over me like a wave/I’m drowning in you” this song has some lyrics that can be taken either way. Good song.
Back Door
Appearing to be a live recording of Back Door, All She Wrote managed to give us an extra treat on the Coschade album. Great quality. This song seems to have a lot of energy and the drums are really powerful. Vocals are terrific and it seems that this performance was exceptionally great. It’s a good track but I think especially live. But you just gotta love it. At least in this version.
A very promising debut from a very promising band. Female fronted rock is alive and kicking. And delivering top quality songs with a passion.