Streets of Heaven (CD - 2003)

Personnel: Sherrie Austin (vocals); Steven Sheehan, Larry Beard (acoustic guitar); J.T. Corenflos, Jerry McPherson (electric guitar); Russ Pahl (steel guitar, banjo, dobro); Mike Johson (steel guitar); Larry Franklin, Jonathan Yudkin (mandolin, fiddle, kalimba); Tim Lauer, Jimmy Nichols (keyboards); Michael Joyce, Mike Brignardello (bass); Wayne Killius, Lonnie Wilson (drums); Kim Parent, Russell Terrell (background vocals).

Producers: Dan Huff, Jeff Balding, Will Rambeaux.

Sassy Sherrié Austin, the Australian-born songbird and writer who first coaxed country radio to turn up her upbeat "Lucky in Love" followed by the smash "Never Been Kissed," has released her best effort yet. The 11-cut CD (plus one hidden track, "Heart on Ice") is entitled Streets of Heaven and showcases Austin as the tremendous vocalist and songwriter she really is. The material on Streets of Heaven shows tantalizing diversity. The singer takes on the sobering topic of life-threatening childhood illness in the title cut, inspired by events in her youth. At the same time, the playful Austin listeners have come to enjoy doesn't disappoint. "Like a Cat" fits the singer's image perfectly. The choice cut of the CD is "Driving into the Sun," with its universal theme about young love and its addictive melody. Stylistically, Austin takes the country thematic and couches it in a pop sound, which is exactly what audiences want to hear these days. Her continued work with co-writer Will Rambeaux demonstrates a unique understanding of the songwriting and storytelling process. Sherrié Austin says she was a bit lost and confused prior to recording this album, forced to reconsider her direction and purpose as an artist. All that confusion and introspection are surely the driving forces behind Streets of Heaven. The album is sultry, sexy, and vibrant. ~ Rick Cohoon

Improbable though it might seem, vocalist Sherrie Austin left her native Australia and became a U.S. country star in the 1990s. A few albums down the road, the range of her music has expanded, and STREETS OF HEAVEN marks her growth. "Small Town Boy" is a pulsing, up-tempo country/rock/pop amalgam whose combination of propulsive forward motion and percolating banjo riffs faintly suggests the Eagles' "Take It Easy." On a more contemplative note, the piano-meets-dobro ballad "Fools Like Us" chronicles the second time around for a pair of lovers willing to try again after a breakup.

Showing the singer's emotional range, the sassy, grooving "This Town Is That Small" features tongue-in-cheek lyrics sending up small-town gossip, and sports one of Austin's most personality-filled vocal performances. On the other side of the coin, the album's title track and centerpiece is a nakedly emotional piece that finds a mother having a candid conversation with God while praying for her ailing daughter. minimize