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Cooper, Amy Amy Cooper is the quintessential chick alt-rocker. Following closely to the free-spirited indie-rock ethic, Water/Fire is a mod-pop experiment in melodic vocals, articulate arrangements, and weathered attitude. Produced by John Vanderslice, Cooper carries herself as a weary veteran ala Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon. The sunny pop vibe of album opener "Undone" is cleverly offset by a gritty backdrop of drums and guitar, illustrating the potential beauty of Cooper shadowed by her rocky exterior. The linear riffs and harmonies of "Cold And Empty" add more weightiness to the mix. Cooper's vocals are strong, dry, and memorable; you're not hearing youthful angst, but rather a substancial angle on art-rock from a compelling feminine position. The arrangements that shape Water/Fire draw from eclectic sources of organic art-pop, and Cooper usually keeps her songs to the right of lush jams and to the left of acoustic balladizing. The acoustic base of "Flying" is warm and endearing, and Cooper's raw vocal provides a lovely emotional charge. The album's centerpiece, "Life Is Changing", is a highly introspective folkish song that muses over the inevitable transitions we all face...truly affecting. As the record progresses, instrumentation strips down, leaving an artist exposed to her bare vocal talents and tidy song structures. Amy Cooper has created an artful version of pop-rock that works without being either angelic or cheezy. Few female artists have made solo efforts as poised and concise. Water/Fire is solid and enjoyable. For fans of Jill Cunniff, Amy Mann, Yo La Tengo and Sonic Youth.
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