Looking for You

Album Review

Because she's from Maryland and working on her stunning, multifaceted pop/rock/blues-flavored debut, Looking for You, with some of the members of the Eva Cassidy's band — including Chris Biondo, who produced half of these tracks — there's no doubt that this powerful and excitingly versatile indie vocalist will rate comparisons to the late D.C.-based singer who inspired a posthumous phenomenon. Yet that would be a bit unfair because it's clear that Janine Davy — a self-described working mom from Southern Maryland — has no problems carving out her own niche. Most of the originals — from the heartfelt "How Much Longer..." to the rousing roadhouse clap along "Happy Hour," the graceful, country-tinged "Valentines on Christmas Day" and the jazzy fingersnapper "Happy Love Song" — were written by the versatile songwriter Steve Digman (whose songs have been covered by, among others, Katie Melua). Digman clearly understands the many ways Davy can express herself; she can put forth powerful emotion with just the right subtlety and she can rock and wail when the mood calls for it. Not that she truly needs them to blow listeners away, but Davy is equally brilliant on covers of "Love Hurts" (with just her own flute and guitar accompaniment), a sizzling "Oh! Darling" and a slightly ambient arrangement of "Superstition." As emotionally overwhelming as Davy and her debut are, her varied musical styles may pose a problem for a narrow-minded music industry — the same problem Cassidy once had. Hopefully, discriminating listeners won't worry so much about categorization and will discover this amazing yet seasoned new talent.