After being signed with Atlantic Records for a couple of years (and releasing chart singles “Like My Mother Does” and “It’s A Girl Thing,” Jesse Lee has secured the rights to her eight track album Come After Me and released it digitally.
Working with Paul Worley, Mark Bright and Nathan Chapman in the producer’s seats, Jesse Lee comes off a very capable artist with a strong set of songs. The title track – a co-write with Heather Morgan and Leah Crutchfield (who is in Coldwater Jane), finds Jesse pleading to her guy to follow after her and fix the mistake that she made when she decided to break off her relationship with her boyfriend. It may be a familiar lyrical idea but Jesse’s vocal is as strong as anything from any of those singers who have appeared on American Idol and shows like that. Her voice is the kind that recalls a young Faith Hill, particularly on the sweetly youthful “Cry Baby,” a song written by Stephanie Chapman and Eric Church. It might be a little ‘familiar’ melodically but again, that voice is what sells the song.
“Talk To Me” is a sweet ballad that shows of a sweet little quiver to Jesse’s voice that’s just downright sexy. The song is strong lyrically and while firmly contemporary sounding, it’s not a song that could be considered anything but a country song, the same thing which can be said about “Just Like Yesterday.” The torch ballad “If I Were You” is absolutely gorgeous and that vocal quiver (something that Lee Ann Womack and Ashley Monroe of The Pistol Annies have as well) shows up yet again.
How radio missed the boat with Jesse Lee remains a mystery but that doesn’t mean that she cannot continue to carve out a market with her fantastic voice, strong songwriting skill and ear for songs she didn’t write as well. Come After Me is a strong opening statement and if I was a guy able to put money to start a record label, I’d certainly be approaching Jesse Lee to see if she’d wanna be the flagship artist on the label. She’s got the whole package with a great voice, great ear for strong material, a great look and a sweet personality that is engaging.
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