Pope, The Lonely Heartstring Band dish out new sounds

Rise & Shine

By all accounts, Cassadee Pope has led a glitzy life. She was the first female winner of "The Voice." She then had a record deal at 17, a spot on a sold-out tour with Fall Out Boy at 18 and eventually garnered a Grammy nomination. Her discography of country-pop is generally glitzy, too. Well, not this time. "Rise and Shine" is a stripped-down acoustic effort by the 30-year-old singer that is thoughtfully introspective without being brooding or too deliberate. ...

Smoke & Ashes

The Lonely Heartstring Band's debut, "Deep Waters," was uneven. Certain tracks lacked vitality, but the positive qualities - the keen instrumental interplay between the musicians, and George Clements' lead vocals - impressed. "Smoke & Ashes" surpasses its predecessor by a significant margin. The opening "Reverie" sets the tone: tasteful, somewhat mysterious and abounding with an appealing tension. The tension comes from LHsB increasing the ...

Stages

Although Cassadee Pope's "Stage" album includes a few too many pop-country songs for comfort, it closes with a true winner. The ballad "I've Been Good," which turns a customary greeting response on its head, is a true show-stopper. She's been 'good,' yes; good at drinkin' whiskey and nearly everything except getting over a breakup. With its drinking song lyrical reference and sincere vocal sadness, Pope earns her wings as a fine country singer. ...