California singer-songwriter Penny Nichols opens with a strong set of tunes in “Charlie Bad Boy” and the terrific “Guadalupe” and a near as impressive “Poco Al Poco”. Nichols in her notes mentions how through her father being into buying and selling properties she attended nine different high schools because of the fact, living in San Gabriel Valley, Orange County and Los Angeles amongst lemon groves, tract houses, alongside eucalyptus trees, palm trees and golden sandy beaches it was far from an unpleasant upbringing.
“Guadalupe” with is bilingual attraction and a feel somewhere in between Tish Hinojosa and Kimmie Rhodes you have a song awash in a warm Spanish rhythm enough to have me marking against it 5-stars, and listing it as something I must hear again. With her beautiful tones exuding simple loving melodies to share at will “Poco..” likewise has a wonderful melodic Borderland flow run through it. With some delightful vocal harmonies, electric lead guitar and shuffling beat “Kick The Can” offers something different. Good it is too. While the remaining tracks don’t posses the same attraction, but her lyrics on the likes of 1970s fashioned “Mr. Sad Eyes” still posses a whole load of quality, sensitive more often than not they are too.
A duet with writer Jonita Beede on “Winter Fire” has her shows up well, and for that matter “Stevie Wonder” has a catchy feel to it. Although I prefer her simple, acoustic styled material better. “That’s You, Jim” boasts a contemporary edge as it speaks of bars, drugs etc treads a darker feel, and though good and a little southern she spoilt me with her superb earlier efforts. “Carbon Canyon” with its mandolin and chugging rhythm comes near more to the former gems but it's still rather lightweight.
Maurice Hope