Jackie Bristow: Thirsty

By GRAHAM REID

(Herald rating: * * * * )

Gore-born and raised, played in pop, rock and acoustic bands around the South Island, graduated musically in Sydney where she got a recording contract, and put together this impressive album of originals (some co-written) in LA, Nashville, Sydney ...

Bristow has an interesting story to match her maturity on this debut, which comes with production (and occasional bass) by Larry Klein (Joni Mitchell), David Leonard (Prince) and Matt Fell (Kasey Chambers).

Very much in the new country-style/singer-songwriter crossover area (Shawn Colvin, Mary Chapin Carpenter, a more intelligent and less commercial Shania Twain), but with some ripping rock guitar textures and sensitive arrangements where required.

Bristow and her co-writers clearly understand her strengths and work them without strain (quiet intimacy, coquettishness, the slip to a telling minor chord in the ballads) and so this stacks up consistent and coherent over the 11 tracks.

Some will cite Sheryl Crow comparisons in the pop-rock constructions (slightly unfair, it's an idiom with familiar templates) but there's no doubt that the title track and simple but literate Silly Girl could find a rotate place on radio.

Bristow is one of the most promising voices and writers - only the vapid and cliched Just Wanna Feel Love here is cloying - and in the judicious use of programming shows she isn't afraid to push past the constraints of the singer-songwriter style and make a pitch at mainstream acceptance without compromising the songs.

One of ours, and the kind of talent that gives Gore a good name. Recommended.

Label: Liberation