Greta Gaines: Lighthouse & the Impossible Love

Greta Gaines
Lighthouse & The Impossible Love
(Big Air)
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

With such high profile gigs as film actress, ESPN TV show host, NORML spokeswoman and winner of the Women’s Extreme Snowboarding World Championship, it’s a wonder Greta Gaines finds time to release solid, well-crafted Americana pop rock albums. This is her fifth such studio effort which should squash any criticisms that she’s not thoroughly serious about this aspect of her busy resume. She has even been lauded by Sheryl Crow, who along with Aimee Mann, is closest to her organic, somewhat ’70s inspired melodic rock sound. Like those two, Gaines aims for tougher ground. She eschews acoustic for electric guitars and thumping drums as on the driving “Jaded” and the following riff heavy title track that keeps the hint of a sensitive side away from the majority of these songs. Even on slower ballads like “Willie’s Song #3,” Gaines exudes a swampy, edgy swagger that sounds like she’s singing while wearing leather. Programmed drums occasionally derail the otherwise rock oriented approach but one listen to her tough, salty, sultry voice on the Chrissie Hynde-styled “The Quickening” is all you’ll need to realize that Gaines is in this music game for more than just sport.