By Joshua Knopp/entertainment editor
Listening to her new CD Cry Till You Laugh, it’s easy to see that Terri Hendrix has been around a while.
The singer/songwriter has been making the rounds in Central Texas for about 15 years now, and this concept album reflects on the experiences that have collected over that time span.
Accompanying the album two months after its release in June was a book by Hendrix, also called Cry Till You Laugh. The book is a collection of essays she’s written about life and music over her quietly successful career, all of which are tied in with the music of the album.
To buy this album purely for its sound would be unwise. Despite her surname, Hendrix is only adequate with a guitar, though “The Berlin Wall” is a notable exception. Also, her voice seems awkwardly loud when juxtaposed with the music, leading to jolting changes in volume multiple times within the same track.
Sound was never Cry Till You Laugh’s main draw, however. Very much a concept album, the 15 songs carry the listener through a journey of introspection. The singer is mildly depressed in her songs but seems to rise through it rapidly through every song and slowly throughout the album. Anyone can sympathize with the subject matter. Young, old, male or female, everyone has something they can relate with these songs.
While meant to be listened to attentively and altogether, this album makes great background noise as well. Once the listener adjusts to the aforementioned volume, the CD’s blues/folk/pop/jazz melody is charming and relaxing.
This is a solid CD and a good buy. It’s got everything a concept album needs, and Americana fans everywhere should enjoy it immensely.
