CD Review: Exciting New Music From Singer/Songwriters Sarah McGowan And Shaina Taub

First up from Darien, CT, comes the full-length debut album from Sarah McGowan titled "For Whom They Sing." She delivers an exciting pop approach to her music without giving up her folksy songwriting edge. Her voice and style have been compared to Natalie Merchant, but she has a fun innocence to her songs as in "Williamsburg Boy" and "Full Moon Kids." She delivers the dark moving rock ballads "For Who They Sing" and "Indian Summer" that balances her up-beat pop/rock side. She brings in a classic Motown sound with the retro girl group feel of "Desperate As You" and closes with the simple plea of never being a "Young Bride." To find out more about Sarah McGowan and her latest release "For Whom They Sing," please visit her Facebook page at facebook.com/sarahmcgowanmusic.

From New York comes the the latest release from Shaina Taub titled "Visitors." She combines classic soul with elements of jazz into her folk style songwriting, turning the songs "When" into a gospel sing-along and "O Luck Outrageous" into a memorable build-up that places her voice in the spotlight. The ten-song release is filled with grace and poetry as Shaina's songs may not find the pop charts, but have a more realistic, distinct sound as in "Honest Mistakes" and "The Visitors." She returns the church of Soul music with the exciting sound of "Joyful Noise," before closing with the short piano solo of "Room." The album adds a bonus track, the R&B flavored "So Comes Love," which draws similarities to the great Norah Jones. To find out more about Shaina Taub and her latest release "Visitors," please visit shainataub.com.