On Tap Magazine

By Tom Peirce

Chrissy Coughlin strikes a pose on the CD's front cover: a blond bombshell ready to knock your lights out. The back photo, however, depicts her minstrel-like trudging down a path with her guitar case. Whichever pose best fits her personality, one thing is for certain, she's created an engaging, impressive freshman release.

You Never Know is the kind of debut which makes one wonder why so much crap gets airplay when genuine talent like this exists, waiting to be discovered. Coughlin's soulmates would likely be Natalie Merchant, Sarah Farmer, The Indigo Girls, and Sarah McLaughlin, with a twist of Dylan. Still, her songs have their own identity.

One nice change from standard fare is that the tracks typically extend beyond four minutes and something. The tune, "Hallelujah", for instance, clocks in at over six minutes. That's perfect for a song like this that has so much weight and substance. It is a truly uplifting and inspiring melody, the kind of track that would win awards if it was part of a movie soundtrack. It draws a perfect melodic balance between lightness and darkness.

While most artist seem to to have an annoying need to showcase their diverse abilities by mixing styles on CDs, Coughlin wisely keeps her mood consistent throughout: rock with tension, grace, intelligence, and style.