Introspection has been the theme for a couple of female music powerhouses of late, producing two of 2015’s best recordings, thus far. Indie country artist (and Academy Award nominee) Allison Moorer explores her recent divorce and her son’s autism on the beautifully emotional, ultimately hopefully Down to Believing.
Cherie Currie, meanwhile, deals with her wild-child past in The Runaways and her current state of well fought for grace on the uniformly excellent Reverie. Combining glittery rockers with well combed pop ballads, Reverie finds Currie sounding better than ever, vocally, while also allowing her to serve as a well traveled life guide for listeners, as well.
The opening track swells with psychedelic dreamscapes while positively asserting that “There is nothing I can’t be inside my reverie!” Further hope is expressed in such vibrant numbers as I’m Happy and Another Dream. But the orchestral beauty of Believe makes it the one of the most resonant numbers here, ensuring it will serve as an inspiring track to anyone whose doubts trickle down their bed sleeves in those early morning hours.
Currie’s collaborators are significant, as well. This recording marks famed producer Kim Fowley’s last (and truly heartfelt) work while fellow Runaway Lita Ford adds raucous energy to joyful reboots of American Nights and Is It Day or Night? Currie’s son Jake Hays, also, proves to be an excellent foil to his mother, contributing deeply powerful vocals to their duet, Shades of Me, ultimately, making it another one of this collection’s stand-out tracks. This song, also, emphasizes what seems to be Currie’s prime theme here. Everything changes, including traits of your own personality and, while occasionally traumatizing, it is, also, a necessary and, ultimately, beautiful thing.
Nicely, Currie, who co-starred in such genre offerings as Parasite, Wavelength and Twilight Zone: The Movie, appeases her terror loving fans with a couple of fun lyrical references, as well. In the breezily compelling Inner You, she describes herself as the “she wolf creature from the black lagoon” and the truly propulsive Queen of the Asphalt Jungle mentions “zombies” who are “riding the vampire road”.
All in all, it’s a deeply satisfying recording, one that makes her fans, worldwide, hope that it is far from her last.
You can purchase Reverie via ITunes at: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/reverie/id976269503.
You can, also, keep tabs on Currie at http://www.cheriecurrie.com and https://www.facebook.com/CherieCurrieOfficial.
Until the next time – SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!