Hailing from New Jersey and Florida, singer/songwriter Maryann Stefanik delivers another collection of rock-leaning tunes with TIME – five songs dancing between various genres, but still conveying that incomparable pseudo-punk, 80s-baked attitude. So, is TIME worth a listen, or perhaps something irrecoverable after pressing “<play>”? Let’s break it down:
The album kicks off with “Sharpen Your Knives,” a gritty, guitar-driven track steeped in new wave punk. And Stefanik’s voice, with its ever-defiant character, truly drives home the rebellious, perhaps violent inclinations here. This is particularly punchy, rather raw, and positively packed with attitude.
Track two features Stefanik’s crack at an ominous classic – “House of the Rising Sun.” How does it compare with The Animals’ renowned interpretation (because in this writer’s mind, it’s the gold standard)? Firstly, this is all acoustic, so it’s really just Stefanik’s voice and a singular instrument – a stripped down means to absolutely clarify Stefanik’s bold, aching vocals. Basically, if The Animals brought the power, Maryann Stefanik brought the angst and considerable more heartache.
“Every Time I Think of You” is a well-strummed acoustic-led number featuring more subdued vocals. But don’t be fooled – that defiant element of Stefanik’s voice shines through, especially with the very British punk delivery of “You.” There are some nice, clean electric guitar splashes and accents, granting audible space to the piece; it leaves the impression of great distances covered within the song’s implied arduous travels. Good stuff.
Track four, “The Outsider,” is another song built on acoustic guitar with some clean electric guitar lifting the chorus. The vocals are doused in some liberal autotune functionality, making the voice bend in interesting, unnatural ways. But it fits – it fits the song’s character, and seems to fall away during the very powerful, more human chorus.
The finale is a live version of “Pitch Perfect” – just Maryann Stefanik and acoustic guitar. It’s a personal testimonial that features some interesting vocal stylings reminiscent of, at times, Bob Dylan. It’s the perfect, more peaceful piece offering an antidote to previous high-energy assaults.
But…is it good?
With promotion by both FYC by MoPromo and Bongo Boy Records – the absolute champion of independent artists – TIME is anguish, attitude, confidence, and emotional collateral damage rolled into a singular, unassailable package. If you like your singer/songwriters raw, candid, living with one spiritual foot in the 1980s, practically hemorrhaging attitude, and unafraid to blissfully rock out, you’ll love Maryann Stefanik.
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BELOW: Listen to TIME and check out Maryann Stefanik on SoundCloud, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Pandora, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Please support Maryann Stefanik by visiting her website and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing her music. And, as always, thank you for supporting real music.
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