Theresa Sokyrka — These Old Charms

These Old Charms

Maplenationwide/Universal

Brian Wong (CHARTattack)

05/03/2005 3:34pm

Canadian Idol runner-up Theresa Sokyrka kind of sounds like Nelly Furtado without the nasally delivery. Sokyrka's unmarked voice manages to be sweetly girly without sounding whiny, which makes her jazz-pop debut record a pleasant, if mostly unaffecting, listening experience.

Unfortunately, she doesn't match Astrud Gilberto's range of colour on a bland take of the bossanova classic "Corcovado," or Jann Arden on the piano-lite "Good Mother." It's Sokyrka's trio of originals, however, that are most passionate, especially the stark, hand-drum-backed "She Let Her Down" and the simple, campfire-ready "Change The World." The next album — if she focuses on her own material — will be better.

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