While recordings for major labels tend to always be of high quality, independently released recordings quality can vary from major label-like to too cheap to even want to listen quality.  While the advent of low cost, high quality equipment (Pro Tools, Macs, etc.) has made recording much easier to do, it still does take a good producer/recording engineer who will help guide the artist to get the best out of them.   Signed to a small label, newcomer Melanie Denard certainly could’ve fallen in the low quality side of the indie artist ledger but thanks to a good team around her, Dare To Live sounds as good as any mainstream album you’re gonna hear out of Nashville these days. 

The record kicks off with the Steve Dean/Adam Wheeler co-write “Something I Never Thought I’d Say.”  The tune immediately showcases Denard’s ample vocal chops over an energetic melody.  The tune finds Denard surprised at her ability to finally be over that one man who ‘dragged her down’ for years.  “Cure For You” is a bluesy slice of country rock which finds Melanie singing a tune that would be equally at home on a Carrie Underwood or Gretchen Wilson record.  “Bourbon” is the kind of honest, introspective country song that details how tough addiction can be.  If anyone really wanted to know how powerful addictions can be, take a listen to “Bourbon.”  It is brilliantly written, produced and performed by Melanie Denard. 

Current single “All I Ever Did Was Love You” is an attitude infused little number from the pens of Victoria Shaw, Gary Burr and Kylie Sackley.  It’s a smoldering slice of soulful country rock which would get, in a perfect world, as much attention as the latest singles from the country radio format’s top stars.  Fans with a long memory might remember “I’ll Try Anything,” a tune originally released by co-writer Amber Dodson.  Phil O’Donnell, the longtime producer of Craig Morgan, co-wrote the tune.  The title tune is a slide guitar-rich slice of inspirational country music that describes a woman who will not be held down and instead decides to take life by the horns and live each day to its fullest.  It’s the kind of tune that Jo Dee Messina has made a career of and I dare say that Melanie Denard’s as good a vocalist as – if not better than – Jo Dee. 

Melanie’s producer, Dan Frizsell co-wrote “Tryin’ to be Me” with Rodney Clawson and Sherrie Austin.  It’s another strong, vocal heavy tune, this time with Russ Pahl’s solid steel guitar leading the musical accompaniment.  “Baby You’re Back” is a song co-written by Sharon Vaughn, John Rich and Gretchen Wilson.  From the moment this record started, the attitude and vocal style did beg for Gretchen Wilson comparisons, a similar thing which also happened to Chrystal Shawanda, who recorded this tune on her debut album Dawn of a New Day.  Melanie’s version shows off her strong and downright awesome vocal.  “Richest One” is a smoldering slow jam while Melanie’s take on the classic “Son of a Preacher Man” ends the album on a nice note.

This album could’ve easily been one of those ‘sound bad’ albums but fortunately for Melanie Denard, she found a production/engineering team (and a label) that can compete with the output of the major labels, if not better it.  Dare To Live is an album that should appeal to fans of Underwood, Wilson, Terri Clark and Jo Dee Messina as much as it will appeal to people who just love good music.

You can support Melanie Denard by purchasing this album at Amazon | iTunes.