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Beth Boucher
“Mess You Up”
Virt Records
2002
Damn. More than anything, I wanted to like this CD. I listened to it a few times just waiting and waiting to hear something that struck a chord with me. Sadly, University of Maine alumna Beth Boucher comes across as just another pissed-off folkie with very little new to say.
Musically, Boucher and her backing band are fairly strong. The press release pitches her as alternative folk-rock, and that’s pretty accurate. I’m sure this goes over well in the coffee shops and yuppie clubs that Boucher must frequent. Basically, it’s a Sheryl Crow meets Patty Griffin type of sound, which Boucher and company pull of well. I have no complaints with this CD musically, beyond being rather uncreative. Boucher’s vocals are good, but nothing is especially striking about them.
The problem really lies in the angry-chick, second-rate Meredith Brooks-esque lyrics. From the very first song, “Elusive Thing,” it’s clear that Boucher has basically nothing new to say: “Love is an elusive thing/you can’t choose it, you can’t force it/can’t describe it, can’t define it, can’t deny it.”
You get the picture.
It doesn’t get much better as the disc goes along. On the title track, Boucher laments that she has been through tragedies and astrological charts and has come to the conclusion that the worst thing that can happen is for her lover to break her heart.
I’m guessing Boucher has had some relationship “problems.” That’s all well and good, and can make for some excellent musical inspiration. Alanis Morrisette, Ani Difranco and Tori Amos all deal with difficult relationship issues in their music, and each does it in a unique and refreshing way. Boucher, on the other hand, is shooting for Sarah McLachlan lyrical mastery, but unfortunatly she falls somewhere short of Paula Cole.
Nevertheless, if this sort of music is your thing, then I suppose I would recommend this CD. After all, she does have talent and a great deal of potential, and the music is competent enough. It just fails to bring anything new or exciting to the singer-songwriter genre. Buy this is if you want to support a former UMaine student and if you aren’t picky about female singer-songwriters.
Bangor Daily News