Her full-time gig with Canada's Stars and contributions to Broken Social Scene have seen singer/guitarist Amy Millan's popularity rise, making it the perfect time to release a solo album.
Written several years ago, the low-key "Honey From The Tombs" sees the songstress exploring different musical terrains from those her fans are accustomed to. Although she doesn't totally eschew her pop-rock past, the majority of tracks on "Honey" are firmly rooted in alt-country and folk. Whereas Stars' clever compositions are filled with love and sexual innuendo, Millan's debut laments broken hearts with a barrage of whiskey-soaked tears.
Although the disc's quite good, Millan's treatment of her strongest asset -- her enchanting, seductive voice -- prevents it from being truly memorable, like the work of Neko Case, another indie rocker turned country chanteuse. Millan has tried to remove some of the luster from her soft, sweet vocals, but they lack the forlorn grit to make many of the tracks on "Honey From The Tombs" stick with you. She croons, "I don't think I can take this world no more," on the wonderful bluegrass number "Blue In Yr Eye" -- but her singing is still just a bit too polished to truly make you believe it.