Over the past seven years, Amy has released three very powerful albums. I have already written about her first solo CD, “Fable,” and about her second one “Songs For Bright Street” in a previous article for Ear Candy. Now, I am glad that I have the opportunity to write about her third solo CD, “The Killer In Me.” While her style has slowly evolved, the raw, sincere emotion of her music has continued to grow expressively with each effort.

I saw her play on Tuesday, St. Patrick’s Day (March 17th.) of this year at the River City Grille in Marble Falls, TX. She played an acoustic set with guitarist Rich Feridun. They played a mix of songs from both “Bright Street” and her new CD. I was fortunate enough to arrive early and chat with Amy and Rich prior to the show. They worked up their set list on a cocktail napkin. While Amy went to tune up for the show, Rich and I spoke about her music. We also spoke about his time with her band (The Tearjerks), as well as, the time he spends between Hoboken, NJ and Nashville, TN.

The following day, I saw Amy and her full band play a showcase at Threadgills in south Austin. This time, Amy and her full band (the Tearjerks) played only material from her new CD. This was an outdoor show during SXSW, and I was immediately impressed with how tight her band was. That Saturday, I caught Amy and her full band at the Soho Lounge on Sixth Street. This was the first time I had seen her play in a club setting with a superior sound system. The contrasts in her music were more powerfully obvious. Her vocals were mixed extremely well. This was one of the best shows I have seen this year. Amy’s Publicist, Julia Reinhart, gave me an advanced copy of her new CD after the show.

I have been listening to her new CD (“The Killer In Me”) for the past few months. Amy has roots in Folk, Country, and Alt-Rock. Still, I would have a hard time pigeonholing her musical style. There are twelve tracks on her new CD, along with a bonus track. The opening track, “Dog Days,” begins with a driving acoustic guitar. It slowly builds to a dark, bass-heavy chorus with incredibly descriptive lyrics: “Red sun, yellow moon, green grass, breathing room” sung quickly and leading into the chorus which changes with each verse. This song deals with each phase of Amy’s life from childhood, to a lover’s partnership, to separation and death. It immediately grabbed my attention, and set the tone for the rest of the disc.

The title track, “The Killer In Me,” is slower and more Country oriented. Again her lyrical depth and soulfully evocative vocals complement a well written song. “Better” is a catchy, more Pop-oriented tune. While it is upbeat, it deals with a relationship which has lost its romance and become stale. “This Love” is another stellar example of Speace’s songwriting prowess. It gets down to the brass tacks of the raw emotion in a romantic relationship. I could feel the unsurpassed strength, sincerity, and even desperation in this one. Superb, indeed!!!

“Haven’t Learned A Thing” is my favorite song on the disc. It reminds me of her first solo CD (“Fable”). In my opinion, it is an intensely well received ballad. There is a sense of angst, and a longing to exhale that lingers to the end. Still, the soft, subtly silent tone of the song is its strength. “Would I Lie” has more of a Rock feel. Amy’s vocals remind me of early Rosanne Cash in this one. The lyrics deal with heroes, historical figures, stereotypes, and modern-day inconveniences in life. It asks the age old question: “Would I lie, just to get by?”

“I Met My Love” is another typical example of Amy’s “tongue-in-cheek” lyrical ability to sing about the elusive side of imaginary love and loss. “Piece By Piece” is the apparent final song on the CD. Amy’s powerful vocal range is showcased in this one. This is perhaps the most complex song I have ever heard by Amy. It tracks at six minutes and fourteen seconds. The slow, emotionally charged beginning reaches a crescendo, then slows again before an almost symphonic and electrically charged pseudo-ending -- killer stuff!!!

“Weight Of The World” is a bonus track on the CD. Amy did a video with servicemen and women in upstate New York for this one. The lyrics are reminiscent of the Dixie Chicks “Traveling Soldier.” Only, this song is about a familiar relationship, not a romantic one. It just now occurred to me that this is the only song on the disc where I compared Amy directly to another artist and song. In my opinion, Amy’s talent has slowly evolved over the past seven years into a style all her own. Soon, I believe, other artists may be comparing their songs to hers. What a “Killer” compliment that would be for Amy. I wish her nothing but continued success.