Music review: Cam – 鈥楿ntamed鈥�
California native Camaron Ochs satisfyingly closes out 2015 with her major-label debut featuring 11 tracks that deliver a refreshing blending of infectious pop and commercial country styles.
Since releasing a pop-flavored album in 2010, the singer-songwriter moved to Nashville and shortened her name to Cam, releasing 鈥淲elcome to Cam Country鈥� in March of this year.
The four-song EP contained 鈥淏urning House,鈥� the tune that would ignite her music career.
After penning songs for artists such as Maggie Rose and Miley Cyrus, Ochs finds her own groove by co-writing every track on her new album.
With 鈥淯ntamed,鈥� the vibrant singer stylishly demonstrates her crossover appeal and shows why she鈥檚 currently one of country music鈥檚 hottest female artists.
The title track and album opener gently starts with the sounds of crickets and a slow-moving train in the distance before bursting into a spirited number that has Cam rolling off the chain after Main Street is rolled up and the real fun begins. 鈥淗ungover on Heartache鈥� compares the pain of a broken heart to the torment of a hangover with both requiring the proper time to heal what ails you.
The infectious wit of 鈥淗alf Broke Heart鈥� places a spotlight on heartache as CAM sings, 鈥淎 half-smoked cigarette鈥檚 still smoked/And a half-broke heart鈥檚 still broke.鈥� 鈥淲ant It All鈥� melodically flows with contemporary pop leanings that would fit comfortably on a Katy Perry album.
With 鈥淐ountry Ain鈥檛 Never Been Pretty,鈥� Cam matches Miranda Lambert鈥檚 sassy confidence with tongue-in-cheek lyrics that profess that some female country singers worry too much about polishing their appearance as opposed to experiencing the basic elements of small-town life.
The highlight of the album comes on the haunting 鈥淏urning House.鈥� Already RIAA-certified Gold, the smoldering number about holding on to a crumbling relationship is carried by Cam鈥檚 fragile vocals and prevailing sense of hurt and vulnerability.
鈥淰illage鈥� completes the album鈥檚 diverse collection of arrangements with its simplistic structure and poignant message about loss and recovery.
鈥淯ntamed鈥� celebrates Cam鈥檚 growth as an artist and propensity for writing a memorable song.
The rising star will serve as the opening act for Brad Paisley鈥檚 2016 tour.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at crhodes@heraldstandard.com.