Colleen Rennison, 25, knows a good song when she hears it. The sultry Canadian-when she's not acting-is singing...and it may be time to give up her day job. There's something about her voice that only the greats have. Piaf, Lady Day, Ronstadt. You can't exactly put your finger on it or describe it in any meaningful way. you have to feel it. And Colleen Rennison makes it hurt so good. See The Sky About to Rain (Black Hen Music), is the stunnign debut. And those songs? Spoiler alert: Maybe I was so knocked out loaded upon hearing the iconic openings of these songs that it made an indelible impression. The "shock of recognition" is strong and heady stuff that elevates your own personal nostalgia into a more concrete musical experience (for, after all, nostalgia for nostalgia's sake is a wimp's way). I suggest you traverse the same road as I and not know what to be in store for. Just trust me. For those of little faith, fine, if you really have to know...
She takes on The Band ("All La Glory" and "Stage Fright"), Joni Mitchell (Coyote), Townes Van Zandt ("White Freightliner"), Leonard Cohen ("Why Don't You Try). Bobbie Gentry ("Fancy"), Tom Russell ("Blue Wing"), the Neil Young title song and Booker T. Jones ("My Crew") amid the 12 tracks. It's sublime. Magic. She's got the best of the Canadian best backing her up. She's even got Nashville legend Tim O'Brien on fiddle and mandolin. Make some room on your 2014 Top 10s.