Gem and I Dead Daisy Records***
Emm Gryner has been poised for household recognition ever since her collection of Irish covers,
Songs of Love and Death,in 2005. She's no blow-in, though;
Gem and I, a collection of duets with everyone from Def Leppard's Joe Elliott to Bubbles from TV mockumentary
Trailerpark Boys, is her 12th album. With producer Greg Wells glazing these tracks with an even, easygoing cadence, it's a fine introduction to the Canadian's laidback piano-pop style. Dashes of Carpenters, ELO, Beatles and Carole King speckle these 10 tracks, but it's the frisky numbers (
Lose My Head, Get Brave) that whip up interest, rather than the prosaic ballads dotted throughout (
Revolution Don't Roll). Nevertheless, it's a perfectly pleasant way to pass 35 minutes. See emmgryner.com
Download tracks: Lose My Head, Gold Soul of Rock 'n' Roll