REVIEW: Noble whispers and shouts freedom on new CD

By Diana Nollen

A quiet fire burns through Keri Noble's self-titled third CD, occasionally flaring to great heights before dying back to a smolder.

It's like someone poured a little Alanis Morissette onto Norah Jones to watch the sparks fly.

Or like Noble poured a little of her Detroit roots onto her more mellow Minneapolis home- and workscape.

Nearly all of the songs spin around a theme of breaking free and finding your own voice.

And nearly all are empowering - except the heartbreaking “Remember My Name,” where Noble sings of a young woman caught in a downward spiral of sleeping with men who won't remember her name in the morning. Mournful guitar, keyboards and violin engulf this disturbing tale.

Even though many of the tunes deal with bad relationships, they end with a hopeful light of escape and emancipation. The first track sets the tone, as Noble enters with a quiet breathiness on “Watch Me Walk,” before belting out her intent to walk out of a bad relationship, head held high.

The themes are serious, but it's not a disc of gloom and doom.

The second track, “Emily,” puts a peppier beat to lyrics just dark enough to fit into an episode of “Grey's Anatomy” this year. “Ooh-Oh” captures a hopeful feel through declaring “I am ready finally for something more than this,” tempered by a jolt of realism in wondering “What if it's too much.”

The melodic moods vary around the central theme, as well, with the country cry of slide guitar on “Red Wine 'til Daylight,” a gospel organ flair on “Born Again,” a '70s horn and soul guitar sound blazing through “Go Proud,” ending with an all-out rockin' gospel revival on “Life #9.”

Catch the many facets of Noble on Monday night at CSPS in Cedar Rapids. You'll remember her name in the morning.

FAST TAKEInformation: www.legionarts.org/music/Noble.htm and http://www.kerinoble.com/

Title: “Keri Noble”

Artist: Keri Noble of Minneapolis

Label: Telarc

Performance: 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16

Where: CSPS, 1103 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids

Tickets: $9.50 plus fees in advance at www.iowatix.com or $12 at the door