Twice the Speed of Life

is a shot at the big-time for a trio of who have languished on the outskirts of and for the better part of a decade. had a career of her own as a recording artist, was in , and is the new discovery, previously fronting , who never had recorded. With her powerful, soulful voice sounding a bit like a mainstream, -oriented , is the frontwoman in , and she gives the trio sex and commercial appeal, turning the professionally crafted songs on the group's debut, , into something that's charmingly mainstream. may have been stuck playing in the circuit and may have had little more than a cult following, but both have considerable skills as writers, crafting sturdy, melodic songs reminiscent of a streamlined, -ready, less quirky . If there's any flaw with , it's that it plays it a little too safe, fitting too comfortably into the confines of radio, but it does its job so well, it's hard to complain. Besides, once finds an audience with this debut, the group will be able to stretch out on the second record. Based on how solid is, they'll likely find fans who will be eager to hear how they grow. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine