My One And Only Thrill - Melody Gardot

Melody Gardot is one of those artists whose name I've heard, and indeed heard great things about, but never really bothered to properly check out. So when I saw her new album, My One And Only Thrill, getting rave reviews I decided the time was right to correct that flaw. And boy, am I glad I did.

Granted, if you are going to enjoy Gardot you're going to have to be pre-disposed to her lilting late-night jazz and introspective blues sound but if that seems like it could be your kind of thing you are going to love this.

Whether it be the the jazz-noir of Your Heart Is As Black As The Night, the string-laden Deep Within The Corners Of My Mind or the sultry shuffle of Who Will Comfort Me, Gardot has unleashed an album packed full of quality.

Indeed, perhaps the only wrong note is the uncharacteristically breezy bossanova version of Somewhere Over The Rainbow. It's a perfectly pleasant version of a famous tune, but seems incongruous in the company of Gardot's self-penned tracks and you are almost tempted to think that it's been tagged on purely for commercial reasons. Still, you can't let that spoil all the greatness that came before it.