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Sue Menhart: Forever EP

CT-based singer/songwriter Sue Menhart taps a deeper, more soulful vein on her third studio effort due out June 21, 2011 on New London's Good Sponge Records.

Forever, a soul-infused five-song EP, is a loosely knit conceptual record that follows the course of a single romantic relationship from 'love at first sight' to its eventual demise.

Working with world renown multi-instrumentalist/producer Ron Zabrocki, (Mariah Carey), Menhart cast off her well-known blues-rock diva persona for the Forever sessions and focused on writing stirring vocal melodies over pristine, jazz-influenced chord progressions.

What arises is a deeper, soul–drenched record that sounds at once fresh and familiar: Fusing together Etta James, Susan Tedeschi and Alicia Keys and the songwriting stylings of Brian McKnight and Babyface, Forever emerges as a bold new direction for Menhart.

Backing Menhart on Forever are long-time companions Kevin Clark on drums, Dave Foret on bass, and Zabrocki on guitar and keys. Forever is Menhart's third release following Gypsy Soul (2009) and Torn (2008), both recorded with the Sue Menhart Band.

Forever will be available worldwide June 21 at iTunes, Amazon MP3, CD Baby and most other online music outlets, at www.suemenhart.com, and locally in Southeastern Connecticut at The Telegraph in New London and Mystic Disc in Mystic.

CD Review By Adam Wujtewicz:

Soul music has always been a way for singers to exercise demons.   It’s personal … it’s putting yourself out there without all the trappings and it’s a way to tell people what’s in your heart and on your mind.  Forever does just that. 

The music flows well, but behind Sue’s voice, it’s really just texture. The pace is slow and the content intimate justifying the relaxed feel of the band. Sue could’ve taken that as her cue to show off the vocal acrobatics that most modern soul singers use but instead Sue puts her effort into hitting her notes and making sure that each one has power and conviction. 

The blues has always been a big part of Sue’s music and even though she’s not rocking it out on Forever she uses the phrasing and the vocal riffs to keep things familiar and strong.  The subtle nature of the record gives it class and allows Sue to shine in ways that those who know her wouldn’t expect and those that don’t will see immediately.