It’s been a long time coming for a collection of new music from Cascade Pope. She did release “I Am Invincible” last year and that powerful ballad showcased the musical evolution of Cascade Pope but it is this EP, Summer, which fully announces a woman who should be country music’s next big power vocalist. She writes and records songs that recall the best of Jennifer Nettles, Faith Hill, Trisha Yearwood and Martina McBride and prove that while she became a pop/punk kid in her teens as she’s matured country music is a natural spot for her.
The title track of the EP is the lead single and while fun and perfect for radio at this moment, it’s not the best song on the EP. That distinction belongs to “Kisses At Airports.” Skeptics would say then why wasn’t that the EP’s lead single and I’d say that’s because Cassadee Pope and Scott Borchetta want to remind radio that Cascade Pope is a country radio star and that she can deliver more than one huge hit (“Summer” is still a song deserving of being a huge hit). Written by Connie Harrington, Jessi Alexander and Chase McGill, “Kisses At Airports” is an emotive song that requires the right kind of vocal nuance and Cassadee Pope delivers.
“Piano” and “Alien” (which like "Summer" were co-written by Cassadee) are both strong songs too, helping the whole “statement” feel of the Summer EP. This is only a taste of what’s to come from the forthcoming album, which Cassadee is working on with Corey Crowder in the producer’s chair. They’re a strong team (like he is with Chris Young, the guys behind Cassadee’s first #1, the duet “Think Of You.” After “The Voice,” it was easy to see Cassadee Pope as someone cashing in on country music’s more open borders but with the Summer EP, she delivers and may become that show’s first true superstar.
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