Ashes Ashes – Katie Costello Ashes Ashes – Katie Costello (Free Download / Buy)

When we posted Katie Costello’s (@katiemusic) single “Ashes, Ashes” back in December, the February 22nd release of her new album Lamplight felt like an incredibly long way away. Thankfully, the wait is finally over, and her second full-length is officially available!

This album sprints to life with the enormously catchy “Cassette Tape”. While this song may be the most bouncy on the album, the others strike a perfect balance between the slow and enchanting piano melodies of “Stranger” and the more upbeat tempo found in “People: A Theory”. Her voice, though, is absolutely perfect for the mixture of moods found on the album. Cheeky at times and soulful at others, Katie Costello captures the emotional vocal elements of her music perfectly.

One of her greatest strengths is also being able to succinctly express her notions in terms that everyone can relate to and understand. Unlike in Broadway’s The King and I, getting to know people can actually be a pretty frustrating experience, and Katie so cleverly describes the desire to expedite the process by wishing, “there was a social excuse to make you a cassette tape / I’d teach you all about my life from Side B to Side A.” She can also delve into quirky humor by featuring lines like: “My good friends know that I’ve never tried boysenberry/ My good friends know that in the wintertime my legs are hairy.”

In the end Katie Costello has two strong suits: piano and poetry, and she delves into themes of self-exploration and the human condition with pure honesty. For instance,  “Fading Lately” is a boldly candid realization where she admits, “I don’t know where I’ve been lately / All I see is myself fading.” This album’s deeper content proves that Katie’s ability to craft a beautiful ballad both instrumentally and lyrically simply cannot be rivaled.

In light of her sweet new endeavor, you can catch Katie Costello in a plethora of northeastern shows during March and April. I can’t think of a better way to usher in the springtime!

03/08/11 – Los Angeles, CA – Hotel Cafe
03/22/11 – Brooklyn, NY – The Bell House
03/23/11 – Bridgeport, CT – Acoustic Cafe
03/25/11 – Washington D.C. – Kennedy Center Millennium Stage
03/31/11 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground
04/01/11 – Albany, NY – The Egg
04/02/11 – Foxborough, MA – Showcase Live!
04/03/11 – Derry, NH – Stockbridge Theatre
04/15/11 – New York, NY – Rockwood Music Hall
04/20/11 – Vienna, VA – Jammin’ Java
04/21/11 – Ashland, VA – Ashland Coffee and Tea
04/22/11 – Kennett Square, PA – Kennett Flash
04/23/11 – Philadelphia, PA – World Cafe