The “Noel McLeary EP” offers 4 high energy tracks of danceable, funkified pop rock, and one piano power ballad, a la Alicia Keys, the dramatic “Innocence.” Two are songs written for McLeary by Rachael Lampa, the optimistic “(It’s a) Beautiful Thing,” a funk-pop track about “getting together and getting along,” and “Emptied.” The latter gives you a chance to see what McLeary can do when given the opportunity. Her strong vocals soar over this buzzy rocker, probably the strongest track on the project, along with “Innocence.” It’s also the clearest, best produced track. Sad to say, several tracks are more muddy than you’d like, distilling those strong vocals. McLeary wrote the last track, “Nothing Left,” a pop rocker with a solid melody line and tight beats, but all of the electronica leaves a somewhat cluttered feel. She’s got a tight rhythm section behind her, shining on the funky dance track, “Get On up,” but everyone gets a bit lost in the sauce of the production.
Noel McLeary has the goods, though, no question about it. Hopefully, her upcoming full length will give her opportunity to strut her stuff with less distraction, let all that rock power loose for all the right reasons. Looking forward to it.
