Colvin pleases audience

Music review

Shawn Colvin has something to believe in. Since the release of her debut album “Steady On,” her career as a folk singer has taken off. The reception she received at The Grand Friday night is a clear indication that Colvin is carving a name for herself among diehard folkies.

Alone on stage and with guitar in hand, Colvin sang several songs from her album, including “Steady On,” “Diamond in the Rough,” “Another Long One,” “The Story,” and “Something to Believe In.”

“Ricochet in Time” was her best number from the album, however. It was her most honest and penetrating performance.

Colvin also performed songs written by Bruce Hornsby, Rosanne Cash, Richard Thompson, and the Talking Heads.

Many critics have admonished Colvin for her depressing themes of misery and failed relationships. Most of the songs she performed Friday fell into this category. Her lyrics seemed to contain some well-kept secrets and are often self-pitying or cliched.

Although her solo performance revealed more vocal expressiveness than her studio-produced album, Colvin was not particularly intimate with the audience. For a folk artist, this might be considered a drawback, but the audience at The Grand appreciated her nonetheless.