It’s hard not to like Emily Hurd. In fact, why bother trying? Hurd’s music is retro styled, but holds up well in the modern music scene, too. It’s all basically pop music, but there’s quite a bit of range within. At times Hurd sounds like Janis Joplin, but I’d say she’s better. This is a cool set and should prove entertaining to music fans with a wide range of tastes.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2013  Volume 1 at lulu.com/strangesound.

There’s a classy, retro soulful sound to this number. I like it a lot. There are hints of country music on this.

Here we get a stripped down, slow blues styled jazz number that’s quite retro in texture. The melodic guitar solo brings more of that country music reference, but blended with the jazz sound.

This is a mellow cut based on a piano and vocal melody. It’s a pretty one and works quite well. It’s also rather stripped down in a lot of ways.

While this tune is completely different than the previous one in terms of melody and song structure, the arrangement is relatively the same. There is a jazzy sound to this one, but it’s mostly just piano and voice. It’s also great.

I really love the shuffling retro pop music vibe of this cut. It has a lot more energy than the last couple tunes and just oozes cool.

Blues and country blend on this cool retro tune. Hurd’s vocals sound a lot like Janis Joplin here. Then again, that’s prevalent throughout this disc, just more so here.

Here we get an accessible rock tune that’s arguably the most modern sound of the whole set. It’s also one of the best tunes here.

Starting with a familiar piano melody, this works out to a tasty ballad. It’s effective and a great way to end the set in style. It’s another that’s rather modern in sound.