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TANYA RADTKE
(tanyaradtke.com)
On her debut disc, folk-country songstress Tanya Radtke surrounds herself with a gifted ensemble of local players, including keyboardist/cousin John Campbell. Tunes like "Frank's Song," "Insecurities" and the title track establish Radtke as a thoughtful storyteller. "Wouldn't It Be Nice Dear" lends a funky swagger to the acoustic proceedings, and "Mu Mu" — with its refrain, "Please don't make me wear fill-in-the-impractical-fashion blank" — is all plucky-but-gentle girl power. The sounds are authentic, contemporary Americana — steeped in warm harmonies, as on the sunny road tripper "Travelin'," and Radtke, whose earthy voice often recalls Natalie Merchant, shines on "I'm Still Alive." 3.5 stars
This article appears in Feb 20-26, 2008.