Romantic Blunder #4

Album Review

While romance serves as a good muse for songwriting, romantic blunders seem to provide even more grist for the writing mill. Perhaps it's the conflict of yet another relationship that doesn't work out that leads writers like Megan Toohey to try to work it out in song. Romantic Blunder #4 does just that. The titles alone — "Pulling Me Under," "Another Sleepless Night (Test)," and "Even the Rain" — speak of the dog days that follow a relationship gone sour. Interestingly, the solid pop/rock sound of the album has been concocted by Toohey herself, who plays all the guitars, keyboards, and bass while also sitting in the producer's chair. Toohey delivers a moody vocal against a spare backdrop on "Four Months" before breaking out the heavy guitars and multi-tracking her voice on the chorus. She opts for a dense pop sound on "Billy" and underpins the lovely melody with an acoustic guitar. Toohey's vocals are expressive, filling her self-penned lyrics with anger, sadness, and doubt. She's a rock & roller on a slow-burner like "Everything" and a sensitive pop singer on "Locket." Toohey will appeal to fans of Lori McKenna and Erin McKeown, and her album will appeal to anyone trying to get over his or her latest romantic blunder. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., All Music Guide