The sign of a promising new talent? When a fairly effective cover of Coldplay’s “Yellow” is easily forgotten after listening to the whole album. No, there’s nothing wrong with singer/songwriter Jamie Lee Dale’s take on “Yellow”; in fact, she does quite well in capturing Chris Martin’s swooning romanticism. It’s just that Dale’s own material, with lyrics dating back to when she was only 15, holds its own; a newcomer with a knack for infectious pop hooks and emotionally involving song craft, Dale uplifts and inspires relentless toe tapping on her debut effort, Let Me In.
The Filipina-American Dale is part of a new generation of young artists who have one foot in the indie scene and another in pop music. The result is a union of both worlds as Dale freely draws together elements of each. The opening track “League” is brimming with Coldplay’s incandescent glow but its teen-diary confessions echo Top-40 radio at its most succulent. “I Was a Falling Star” flirts with country territory, especially in its twang-tuned intro, and subtle touches of Nashville are sprinkled throughout, which really isn’t surprising since she’s based in Houston, Texas. The best track is “Trade It All,” wherein Dale’s dreamy, honeyed voice reaches the height of unbridled joy.
