This delightful five-song E.P. comes from Kristina Cottone, who in the Chicago area (and parts elsewhere) is known as the lead singer for Honey & The 45’s.  Here, she steps out on her own with the aptly-titled Bow and it’s quite a joyful sound within these tracks.

The quiet groove of “Bad For Me”, along with Ms. Cottone’s sultry and soulful voice is immediately enticing; the funk-oriented strums of the guitar and her cutting-loose vocals gives this song all it needs for impact and in a wonderfully odd twist, the melody and tempo switches to a more pop vein in the middle before turning back into the slower jam vibe.  “BFF” is a clever piece of soul-pop with a slight-ska rhythm and deadly punches of horns, guitar and her voice adds to the instruments – a strident, catchy moment; “Boston Boy” is rhythmically sleek and uses complex vocal effects which works in building up the dramatic tension in the track and “Ukelele Summer Love Song” is a sweet, somewhat old-fashioned piece with a delightful melody and a heart-warming vocal delivery.

Five songs are a fine introduction and this is a fine debut solo E.P.  Kristina Cottone has the obvious vocal chops and talent to belt out a song in numerous styles and that’s more than good enough criteria.  That the songs she offers here have charm, tunefulness and memorability is even better.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Bow is currently available

https://www.kristinacottonemusic.com/

EP Reviews, Music, New Artists

Tagged in:

, , , ,

About the Author

Rob Ross

Rob Ross has been, for good, bad or indifferent, involved in the music industry for over 30 years - first as guitarist/singer/songwriter with The Punch Line, then as freelance journalist, producer and manager to working for independent and major record labels. He resides in Staten Island, New York with his wife and cats; he works out a lot, reads voraciously, loves Big Star and his orange Gretsch. Doesn't that make him neat?

View All Articles