Pop Dee-Lite : Dri : Smoke Rings

Back in the mid-90s, I had a thing for Everything But the Girl. I still contend that Missing is a timeless song, and it's one of the few that I never get tired of hearing. There will never be a permanent replacement for EBTG, although I still hold out hope that they'll release more albums. But thanks to a tip from a friend (thanks, Matt!), I discovered someone with a voice and sound that instantly reminded me of EBTG. She goes by the name Dri (pronounced Dree), not to be confused with D.R.I., or the Dirty Rotten Imbeciles. A poster at her show last week in Minneapolis clarified that for confused D.R.I. fans. But I digress.

Dri, or Adrianne Verhoeven, currently a member of Art in Manila and formerly of Fourth of July and the now-defunct The Anniversary, released Smoke Rings late last year on Range Life Records. I just wish I would have known about the Lawrence, Kansas, native's solo effort sooner, but better late than never. Smoke Rings offers up smooth, laid back grooves with a retro-soul vibe, perfect for the waning days of summer. Dri's sultry voice effortlessly flows over the lounge-friendly tracks with something of a mesmerizing effect. (Scarlett Johansson, eat your heart out.) This is most evident on Two Are One, where accompanied by an organ and some minimal drum beats, she struggles with the reality that the person in her bed is just a stand-in for the person she's really in love with. It's an easy-to-relate-to concept conveyed with an eerily captivating voice and sound that are both empty and full at the same time.

The glossy Free Tonight, accented by sparkling chimes, is easily my favorite track off the CD. It inspires listeners to head straight to the dancefloor - but not in an "Oh my God, I love that new T-Pain song and must run to the dancefloor like everyone else" sort of a way. It's more of a, "Damn, life is good and I'm young and free and I'm going to let loose and dance" kind of thing. Other standout tracks include Don't Wait, You Know I Tried, What's Real, Inspiration, and Hot as Hades, all with Dri's light and airy sound enveloped by her husky voice.

Sure, Dri could use a little polish here and there, but that's what sophomore albums are for. For now, listeners should be content to put the top down and soak up her relaxed sound. She just finished a stint on the West Coast opening for Conor Oberst and a handful of Midwest dates with the Handsome Furs. Look for more tour dates coming soon.

Dri - Free Tonight

--------------------------------------------------------

MySpace | More MP3s | eMusic | Subscribe To RSS Feed