I paid my cover – a New York subway ticket – and headed down into the Times Square subway station for this show. While I may have been the only one who was in the station solely to hear Susan Cagle perform, the size of the crowd revealed the extent of her reputation among New York commuters.
The performance featured most of the songs from Cagle’s forthcoming The Subway Recordings. The album was recorded in both Times Square and Grand Central Stations, complete with the requisite station noise. What it lacks in studio production it more than makes up for in charm and appeal.
Both live and on record, Cagle’s music has an engaging organic quality to it. Her lyrics, while simple, are honest and heart-felt. Adding to the mix is Cagle’s delicate and expressive voice, the perfect complement to her self-described “urban folk.â€
Album opener, “Shakespeare,†captures all of these qualities and has all the makings of a major hit. After luring in listeners with jangling guitars and a driving rhythm, Cagle chronicles a young lover cautiously exploring a new relationship. “Do you like Shakespeare, Jeff Buckley, watching movies on Sunday,†she asks, “I need to know, what do you like?â€
Dig deeper on this album and you’ll find many satisfying moments, such as the melancholy “Happiness is Overrated†or the yearning “Manhattan Cowboyâ€. But the most rewarding aspect of all is to see a great new talent emerge from underground.
Although the album isn’t going to be released until May 23rd, those in the New York area can get a preview each Thursday in April when Cagle plays in the Times Square Subway (42nd and 7th Ave. entrance) beginning at 6:30pm. You might even see me there…
To hear two tracks from the album visit Susan’s at MySpace or see a video profile.
Stand-out Tracks: Shakespeare, Manhattan Cowboy, Stay, Happiness is Overrated.
About the author: Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night.