By: Liz Levine
Rating: 7.5/11

Kim Garrison’s incredibly moving voice is the clear star of her debut album You Are Loved (2009 – Red Pants Records). Part of its show-stealing strength is that, simply put, Kim Garrison fits the definition of being “good.” She could easily fill a part in a Broadway musical, where range, crispness, and likability are key. But beyond that cookie-cutter ability, there’s a knowing edge, a hard coreness that understands a thing or two about being thrown around by life and could turn burly heads at a biker bar.

Garrison carries a hint of Catpower-like whisper at times, bringing a lounge act element to some of the more bare tracks, whereas on others she soars expertly to cooing high notes that suggest a completely different range of emotions. The album’s accompaniment – Garrison herself on electric guitar, and alternately subtle and rockin’ drums played by "a rotating cast of characters" – takes a backseat, as understated picking weaned on 90’s rock guides the vocals through their lovely performance.

For such a pipes-driven album, the fact that Garrison is also incredibly emotive creates a double-whammy situation. Chill-causing flourishes and embellishments slip naturally out of the lines, adding to her talent as a storyteller and proving how much personal experience is inserted into the lyrics. Comparisons to Jeff Buckley come to mind, and are indulged by a cover of his “The Sky is a Landfill” as a secret track. A difficult task to be sure, Garrison floats through the song gorgeously without a hint of hesitation, proving it the perfect backdrop for her range. Both artists croon in such an immensely personal way that listening to a performance is not only moving, but suggestive of a journey where the audience is privy to all the lessons learned.

Garrison’s story is mostly one of love and the age old struggle to understand its ups and downs. Though the album’s title You Are Loved is cute and seemingly in tribute, the songs float between happy and sad relationship moments and are never quite so direct. In fact, they’re a bit cryptic as Garrison chooses to use short ideas and afterthoughts that could mean anything out of context but become mysterious and poetic on the track. In “Beware of Water,” one of the album’s most poppy numbers, she sings “Beware of water/ she’ll pull you in/ and just like your lover/ you’ll be fooled again,” a warning in the form of private metaphor intent on teaching a lesson. “Anything Alive” surprises with a System of a Down guitar riff and a heaviness appropriate for her lament, “One hand on the bottle/ one eye on my need” before diving into wordless vocal explorations. Kim Garrison packs her lyrics with honest looks at the moments that shake her, adding punch to an already moving voice that would sound good humming nonsense. You Are Loved is a platform for this singing talent, and an honest declaration from someone not afraid to share.