Vicci

After placing third on the 2011 season of The Voice, singer/songwriter Vicci Martinez delivers an exceptional long-player, her first for a major label. And though it's immediately apparent in the sleek production, Vicci also sounds mixed with the good taste of someone with years of recording experience. The opening song, “Come Along,” is a perfect example. It sets a cool mood with Rod Cook’s dusty old slide guitar playing bluesy tones over a pristine radio mix, as Martinez and Cee Lo Green sing a fetching duet. “Run Run Run” follows, with pitter-patter rhythms pedaling alongside softly distorted synths and handclap percussions. But the song's chorus blossoms with skyward-soaring melodies as she sings somewhat like a tougher Norah Jones. “I Can Love” gives Martinez gives more room to rock out in the verses with crunchy guitars, until the refrain explodes into a disco-dappled slice of neo-soul. Here she has ample room to tilt her head back and let her soulful voice wail like the Studio 54 era never ended.